Shizawali Abu

Dr. (Mrs.) Ronke Gbaja (Vice-Chair, Board of Trustees)

Dr. Gbaja is a 1987 graduate of Veterinary Medicine from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with various certifications gathered over the years. She is the CEO of Ronnie's Table Water, VETCARE Services Ltd and Vice President of Livestock Nutri Solutions Limited. Dr. Gbaja is a member of United Nations conference on trade and development UNCTAD group called EMPRETEC. This is a flagship capacity building programme of UNCTAD for the promotion of entrepreneurship and micro, small and medium sized enterprises to facilitate sustainable development and inclusive growth. Dr. Gbaja is passionate about empowering women, youths and families to thrive in all spheres of life. She does this through writing, counselling and mentoring. She hosts interactive seminars on family values, etiquette and nation building. Her motto is, 'I'm empowered to empower others'.

Mrs. Oluwafunmilayo Ajibulu | Trustee

Oluwafunmilayo Ajibulu is a seasoned administrator of over a decade, and a relationship counsellor. She is an alumnus of the University of Ibadan where she had a first degree in Zoology and a Masters in Genetics. Oluwafunmilayo pursues growth with energy and strives for personal and organisational excellence. She is a Girl-Child and Women advocate, passionate about women and teenagers wellbeing, development and protection. Funmilayo constantly seeks and creates avenues to mentor and empower teenagers. She sits on the Board of Abike Farms Plc.

Mrs. Olufunke Baruwa | Trustee

Olufunke Baruwa  is a gender and development expert with over two decades experience working with government, civil society and international development organizations focusing on public policy, gender advocacy, civil society strengthening and governance.

She works at the Ford Foundation’s West Africa Office as Regional Programme Officer for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Justice where she leads work on ending violence against women and girls in West Africa.

Before then, she was the Civil Society Advisor to the U.S. Government in Nigeria and Media Specialist in the Peace & Democratic Governance Office of the US Agency for International Development, Nigeria where she designed and led multi-million-dollar civil society strengthening projects. She has led several social policies and reforms in Nigeria and has served at various times as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women's Trust Fund, a technical and financial resource for women in governance in Nigeria; Programme Officer at the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund and National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP); Gender Advisor at the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on MDGs; and as a Technical Assistant Research, Policy & Planning in the Ministry of Communication Technology.

Olufunke Baruwa holds Business Administration and MBA degrees from the University of Abuja and Nigeria, Nsukka, a post-graduate certificate in Gender and Public Policy & Management from the Universities of East Anglia and York and an MA in Corruption & Governance from the University of Sussex.

Mrs. Atinuke Asegieme | Trustee

Atinuke Asegieme is a marriage and relationship coach, passionate about helping people find greater fulfillment in their relationships, marriages and family life. She studied Law at the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She was later called to Bar amongst the first graduating set of lawyers from the Nigerian Law school, Bwari, Abuja. Atinuke is the convener of Lineage of Hope Empowerment Initiative with 7 volunteer professionals. Her passion is womanhood, the family, revival and youth empowerment. Her mandate is to restore dignity to womanhood, young girls, and restore hope to people who have lost their direction and essence. Atinuke organises empowerment programmes for girls and women. Some of these programmes include; “Catch them Young”, an outreach for girls of secondary school age, “Queens Indeed”, an initiative to prepare women of marriageable age and “Battered Women” to give hope to battered women. Her ultimate desire is to ensure every woman lives purposefully, regardless of where she finds herself or what she’s been through. Author, revolutionary thinker, and voice of hope to many, Atinuke has earned her reputation as a catalyst in Marriage and Relationship counselling. She is a sort after speaker around the globe.

Shizawali Abu (Secretary, Board of Trustees)

Shizawali Abu is an advocate of women and girl-child equality. Her passion is in advocating the well-being of marginalised women and children. She has been involved in rural women empowerment programmes right from her teenage years. The Kaduna State Local Government initiative for Women empowerment is one of the programmes she volunteered in. Shiza is fierce against cultural and traditional norms. Having grown up in the Northern part of Nigeria known for deeply entrenched societal norms and stereotypes that are retrogressive to women, her advocacy is focused on breaking stereotypes and unlearning indoctrination in the form of age-long societal norms, and constructs limiting women and the girl-child.

Esther Omotosho

Olufunke Olukoju-Fagbeja

Alheri Osinuga