Executives

Farida is a social entrepreneur and leader with over 14 years of experience in the media, community, and social development sectors. She is the current President of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Alumni Association of Nigeria (MWFAAN), a network of young African leaders who have participated in the flagship program of the U.S. government's Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI).
As the President of MWFAAN, she oversees the strategic direction, governance, and operations of the association, which aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and impact among its members and partners. She also leads the development and implementation of various initiatives and projects that address the challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria and Africa, such as entrepreneurship, education, health, governance, and civic engagement.

Farida is passionate about empowering local communities, especially women and youth, through enterprise development and digital learning. She is the founder and CEO of The Brief Academy, a platform that provides access to affordable and quality online courses and mentorship for female founders from underserved communities. Through The Brief Academy, she has impacted over 3,500 women and 1,000 startups across Nigeria and beyond.
Farida is a 2021 Mandela Washington Fellow, a 2x TEDx speaker, and a published author of two books. She has been recognized as one of Nigeria's 100 Most Inspiring Women, one of Arewa's 100 People of 2016, and a finalist for JCI Nigeria's Ten Outstanding Young Persons and Humanitarian Award Global's Most Exceptional Change Maker. She is also a non-executive director at Republicom Group, a leading media and communication company in Nigeria.

While working as a Program Coach with Future Females Empowerment initiative under the UK Aid-funded business school program, she helped improve the business model and team building strategy of over 500 early stage, female owned, tech-enabled businesses in Nigeria, Namibia, South Africa and Kenya by guiding them through the business school's concierge curriculum and increasing their combined net worth to over $1 Million.

Farida has a background in Biochemistry and business development and volunteers as a career mentor for several groups including; skills outside school foundation, Northbridge foundation, YALI RLC and the US State department’s ECA funded AWE program. She is currently a One League Fellow studying Enterpreneurship and Product Innovation at Stanford Online.
Farida Yahya is the Deputy National president of AWEP Nigeria, where she coordinates and supports it's 1760 members across the 36 states, to scale towards their export dream, into Europe and North America.

African Women Entrepreneurship Programme (AWEP) is an outreach, education, and engagement initiative that targets African women entrepreneurs to promote business growth, increase trade both regionally and to U.S. markets through the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and other trade initiatives.

Susanne Ogunleye is the CEO of JUBS (Jasmine Ultra Blue Solutions). She is a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow with a major in biochemistry, safety, and public health. Susanne initiates transformative healthcare projects. Her versatile career included diverse industries, from clinical hospital to the oil and gas sector and startups, where she excelled as a sales professional.
At Jasmine Ultra Blue Solutions, she spearheads accessible healthcare in Nigeria. Under her guidance, the company has launched pioneering flagship products: the Ultra blue medics for events and programs. UltraBlue Center for comprehensive medical services and UltraBlue Woman, empowering women in fitness and wellness.

Beyond her role as CEO, Susanne empowers women in business and leadership, leading Future Females Lagos. She is also a founding member of Herconomy which is committed to women's advancement.
Susanne is an altruist and a staunch believer in individual potential. Her influence as a recognized healthcare influencer underscores her dedication to a brighter future for women in healthcare and entrepreneurship.

Muhammad Yakubu, is a tech-entrepreneur from Nigeria, with a nine years of industry experience. In 2019, he founded Startup Zamfara, a platform dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized enterprises and individuals with innovative ideas. Passionate about fostering a conducive environment for budding entrepreneurs, Muhammad employs creative strategies to ensure they have access to opportunities. He is a graduate with a bachelor's degree in Mathematics, his commitment to driving change earned him recognition through the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. He actively contributes to the entrepreneurial ecosystem as a TEDx organizer and serves as the Coordinator of Yali Network Zamfara.

Dr. Chioma Nwakanma-Akanno is a reproductive healthcare physician, public speaker and advocate. She’s the founder of Medically Speaking Services, and Creative Director of #DrZobo, a prominent virtual health literacy and advocacy platform dedicated to improving the health and rights of African women and adolescents through witty visual storytelling.
She is the Executive Director of SMILE WITH Me Foundation, a non-profit organisation leveraging digital technology to provide under-served women and adolescents with quality and affordable preventive reproductive healthcare services. Since 2017, her NGO has focused on 4 critical areas; STI and cervical cancer prevention, Menstrual hygiene management, contraceptive care, and Gender Based Violence Mitigation and Response.
She holds certifications in 'Leadership and Management in Healthcare' from the University of Washington, 'Research' from Harvard Medical School, GBViE from American University Yola, and Civic Engagement from the University of Delaware, USA.

Dr. Chioma's achievements include being an alumni of YALI RLC West Africa, a Mandela Washington Fellow, Publicity Secretary of MWF Alumni Association of Nigeria, and a digital health influencer for the International Centre for Journalism Knights Fellows. As a health Comms expert, she has successfully executed multiple public health advocacy projects in partnership with local and multilateral and UN organizations.
Adding to her laurels, she was honoured as the UNDP Geneva changemaker for SGS Geneva 2021, a 2-time Healthcare finalist of the Future Awards Africa, a 2021 recipient of the Royal African Awards, Guardian Woman 2024 and listed as one of the most powerful and Influential young Nigerians under 40. She is a cohort member of the 2023 Leap Women Africa programme for women in tech. These achievements, among many others, affirm her status as a true trailblazer in the field—a guiding light inspiring change and progress in Nigeria’s healthcare sector.

2022 MWF

Muazu Alhaji Modu is an activist and social entrepreneur. He has over eight years of experience in civic engagement, specializing in social accountability, democracy and governance, peace building and climate action. He is Founder and Executive Director of Spotlight for Transparency and Accountability Initiative (ST&A), a non-governmental organization whose mission is to empower and work with communities to demand accountability, improve service delivery, and promote democratic governance using technology through her initiative Citizen-led Tracking. Muazu founded ST&A upon his return Mandela Washington Fellowship in 2018.
Citizen-led tracking started in October 2019 leveraging technology has impacted over 1.2 million rural lives in 200 marginalized communities in Northeastern Nigeria. In 2022, Citizen-led tracking emerged as one of the finalists for the Young Global Changers Recoupling by Global Solution Initiative in Berlin, Germany. A finalist for the 2021 African Civic Action Prize by Africtivites in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Top 20 Best Innovation on Democracy and Governance by African Union, 30 Most Inspiring Digital Innovation on SDGs by Portos's Spindle in the Netherlands and 2022 emerged winner of maiden Active Citizen Award, Award for Civic Activism category by BudgIT in Lagos, Nigeria.
Muazu and his team after 2023 general election for the first time in the history of Nigeria compile and publish name, picture, age, constituency, disability status, tenure of all 994 house of assembly members across 36 states of Nigeria to empower citizen to demand accountability form subnational parliament in Nigerian and launch Beyond The Ballot Nigeria to increase transparency and citizen engagement in the subnational parliament in Nigeria.
Muazu is a 2018 Mandela Washington Fellow, he is also a 2021 African Civic Engagement Academy, University of Georgia alumni. A 2021 Ashoka Changemakers Everywhere Academy Alumni and 2022 Young Global Changers by the Global Solution Initiative. Muazu name among 100 most impact African 2023 by Global Humanitarian Award

Tobiloba has over 14 years experience working with various organisations in the Disability Management Sector.

She holds a degree in Law and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008. She also holds a Masters Degree in International Law.

In 2017, she Launched ‘The Let Cerebral Palsy Kids Learn Foundation to promote Inclusive Mainstream Education for children with Cerebral palsy in Nigeria.

This was born out of a realization in 2016  during her  Mandela Washington Fellowship, Professional Development Experience; that children with Cerebral palsy were being excluded from mainstream education by the school system in Nigeria.

To date, the foundation has provided support to over 650 children and their families  and enabled over 120 of these children access inclusive education while training over 650 classroom teachers representing over 50 schools in 5 states  in a bid to address the knowledge and skill gap of these teachers to meet the learning needs of children with Cerebral Palsy in the classroom.

She is also a published author of 8 books, 5 which are part of the Cerebral Palsy Rollercoaster Series; a set of books that help families navigate the many nuances of daily living with Cerebral Palsy.

Grace is a education consultant based in the beautiful sun city of Yola in Northeast Nigeria. She is enthusiastic about progressive learning and hopes to positively influence special-ed circle. She is a trained exclusive educationist with first-hand experience largely shaped through the Mandela Washington Fellowship in NY, United states.

For the past 5 years, Grace homeschools her 3 tiny humans which involves researching the varying curriculum options and approaches as well as modifying and supplementing curriculum to fit the needs of her children. In addition to her previous teaching experience, Grace has worked progressively with 20 parents of children with special needs and several caregivers on special single file curriculum.

While pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a bestselling author, she desires to encourage parents and older children to take personal responsibility for their own educational options and choices.

In her free time, Grace enjoys reading, cooking and traveling.

Currently An Epidemiologist With CDC at US Embassy Abuja

Testimony Asiagwu is a seasoned Education Technology Consultant with over a decade of experience in the ICT and Education fields. He serves as the Chief Executive Officer at BIGT Infotech Solutions Limited, an ICT company dedicated to narrowing the digital skills gap in Africa through STEM education.
Testimony is the visionary behind the Robotics4kids Africa STEM Initiative - aimed at providing digital literacy skills to underprivileged children and adolescents. Since its establishment in 2019, his team has successfully empowered more than 10,000 adolescents with essential digital literacy skills. In addition to his efforts in STEM education, He takes the lead in connecting local educators with global edtech conferences annually.
Testimony holds a degree in Chemical Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University and an Executive Master's in Business Administration from The Quantic School of Business and Technology in the USA, along with several professional certifications. He is a passionate STEM advocate and a Mandela Washington Fellow recognized with multiple awards and accolades for his outstanding contributions to the education and technology sectors, and he was honoured as the Most Innovative Alumni of the Young African Leaders Regional Leadership Center, West Africa.
Testimony believes providing access to STEM education at the grassroots can transform Africa's next generation and elevate its socioeconomic indicators.
Testimony serves as the Delta State Coordinator for MWFAAN.

Medical doctor, Lecturer and Public Health Professional

Ebenezar Chiemerie .O. has a Masters of Science Degree in Project Management Technology and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Quantity Surveying. He lectures in the Department of Quantity Surveying, School of Environmental Design Technology at Abia State Polytechnic, Aba.
Much more, as a serial volunteer, he is a Faculty member at the Institute For Humanitarian Studies and Social Development Nigeria, helping to facilitate training programs.

He is a member of the prestigious International Leadership Association where he not only learning from best brains in leadership globally, but also shares to the world the leadership challenges and successes of Africa.

He was a 2023 Fellow of the U.S Department of States' Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders. Where he built robust personal and professional connections with organizations and individuals in the United States and Africa, then obtained certified professional training on Leadership in Public Management from Wayne State University in Detroit MI. USA.

He has about 10years experience in Public Management and Business Management, and runs Ebenezar Homes and Enterprises - an Interior Decoration and Furnishing Outfit as the Creative Director. He also leads a leadership consultancy outfit where he demonstrates exceptional leadership through service.

As part of his humanitarian gestures and passion, he is the Executive Director (Founder) of Smile With The Ebenezer Initiative. An NGO that provides humanitarian-assisted social intervention and service programs for the Elderly and other vulnerable persons. His NGO runs ‘STORYCARE’, a project that is conceptualized to showcase the sociocultural stories of elderly persons via video, audiovisual and animations.

Ebenezar has won several international and local awards as a result of living out the true meaning of his name-Ebenezar, by providing help and solutions to the needy. He is motivated by the smiles on the faces of people.

Godwin Henry is a Development Professional with experience in human capital programs, research, and policy. Godwin serves as chapter lead of Lagos Plus Social Good where he leads the team to design and implement initiatives that contextualise the global goals and amplify progress toward the goals. He also serves as Thematic Lead of the Education Policy Commission at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group. He is an alumnus of the Mandela Washington Fellowship, British Council Future Leaders Connect Program and the NESG Bridge Fellowship. Across all his engagements, he is driven by the desire to democratise opportunities for everyone irrespective of socioeconomic background.

Mahfuz Alabidun is an inspiring social entrepreneur and educationist who has dedicated his life to making a positive impact in the lives of others, especially those who are less privileged. His work with the Inmates Educational Foundation, which he founded, is a testament to his commitment to providing educational opportunities for inmates and helping to reduce recidivism rates in Nigeria.

Through the Inmates Educational Foundation, Mahfuz Alabidun has been able to provide educational materials, mentorship, and training programs to over 2,500 inmates in several prisons so far in Lagos, Ebonyi,Osun,Kano States Nigeria. He has also initiated various advocacy programs to raise awareness about the importance of education in rehabilitating and reintegrating inmates into society.

He is a serial volunteer with social, religious, and political groups. Mahfuz is a postgraduate student from the Department of Educational Management at  Lagos State University.

Mahfuz Alabidun's work has earned him several recognitions and awards, including being selected as a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow Fully Funded by the United States Department of State, the 2022 Peak Unstoppable Human of Change Award 2021 Muhammed Sanusi SDG challenge award, Active Citizen Awards and recently Awarded Honorary Impact Award 2024.  He is an excellent example of how one person's passion and dedication can make a difference in the lives of many.