Board of Trustees

people. process. power.

Professor Akinwándé Oluwo̩lé Babátúndé S̩óyinká was born 13 July 1934. He attended St. Peter’s Primary School in Abeokuta, Abeokuta Grammar School and Government College in Ibadan, at each time exhibited the literary and theatrical genius in him and won several prizes for his outstanding craftsmanship.

After studies at Government College in 1952, he proceeded to the University College Ibadan between 1952–54 affiliated with the University of London at the time, majoring in English literature, Greek, and Western history. Later in 1954, ‘Kongi’ relocated to England to continue his studies in English literature, under the supervision of his mentor Wilson Knight at the University of Leeds (1954–57).

After graduating in 1957, he wrote the play, The Swamp Dwellers (1958) which by The Lion and the Jewel, a comedy in 1958 which were both a ménage of his Yoruba heritage and European theatre conventions. In 1957, his play The Invention was the first of his works to be produced at the Royal Court Theatre at the time when his poems, “The Immigrant” and “My Next Door Neighbor” were published in the Nigerian Magazine Black Orpheus founded by the German scholar Ulli Beier while he worked as a play reader for the Royal Court Theatre in London.

He returned to Nigeria in 1959 having received Rockefeller Research Fellowship from University College in Ibadan (now University of Ibadan) producing the all -time satirical work The Trials of Brother Jero. His work A Dance of The Forest which largely criticized the elite class at the time and bewailed the state of the nation was selected as the official play for Nigerian Independence Day on 1 October 1960 and he founded the amateur acting ensemble, “Nineteen-Sixty Masks”.

On 6 August 1960, the Isara Remo wordsmith wrote the first full-length play titled My Father’s Burden to be produced on Nigerian’s first television- Western Nigeria Television (WNTV) directed by a colleague and longtime friend, Segun Olusola. He was promoted as a headmaster and senior lecturer in the Department of English Language at University of Lagos in 1963.

He was imprisoned for 22 months during the Civil war (1967-1970) for his active partisan participation.
In 1968 while he was in prison, Soyinka translated from the Yoruba novel by D. O. Fagunwa, Ogoju Ode ninu Igbo irunmole to The Forest of a Thousand Demons: A Hunter’s Saga.

In 1971, his poetry collections: A Shuttle in the Crypt was published and Madmen and Specialists were produced. In the same year, he published the work The Man Died (1971), a collection of notes from prison. In 1973, his plays: The Bacchae of Euripides, Camwood on the Leaves and Jero’s Metamorphosis were published. As a visiting fellow at Churchill College Cambridge University 1973-74, he wrote Death and the King’s Horseman. In 1976, he published his poetry collection Ogun Abibiman,

In Nigeria, Soyinka was a Professor of Comparative Literature (1975 to 1999) at the Obafemi Awolowo University formerly the University of Ife.[5] With civilian rule restored to Nigeria in 1999, he was made professor emeritus.[3] While in the United States, he first taught at Cornell University as Goldwin Smith professor for African Studies and Theatre Arts from 1988-1991.

Soyinka won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1986 becoming the first African laureate.

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people. process. power.

Mrs. Francesca Yetunde Emanuel (nee Pereira) was born in Lagos on 19th September 1933. Started her education at the Christian Mission tradition, attended the Methodist Girls School, Lagos between 1938 to1940 and Princess School, Lagos (1941 1945) and Holy Child College, Ikoyi, (1946 to 1951). In 1952, Francesca gained admission into University College, Ibadan, to study Geography and left in 1955 for the She left for the United Kingdom where she got her B. A. (Hons) Geography from the University College, London, in 1959. She equally made time to give actively participating in drama and other extra-curricular activities.

Upon her return from London in 1959, she secured appointment at the Federal Ministry of Works. She was appointed the Secretary of the Federal Public Service Commission and announced as the first Nigerian female Federal Permanent Secretary on July 7, 1975 heading 9 different ministries namely: The Cabinet Office, the Ministries of Establishments, Health, Commerce and Industry, Science and Technology, Information, Social Development, Youth, Sports and Culture, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies and again Social Development, Youth and Sports until her retirement in 1988.

As an astute administrator, her distinguishable skills towards the controlling and directing issues of national importance in the academics, banking and finance, government and the Civil Service has ensured fast paced development and recorded great successes.

She has held posts such as: Commissioner of United Nations International Civil Service Commission, New York (1987-1992), a member of the Governing Council of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (1989 to 1993), a foundation member of the Nigerian Environmental Forum (1981), a member of the Lagos State University Visitation Panel (1992), a Commissioner of the National Salaries & Wages Commission (1992-1994), a member of the National Merit Award (Humanities) Committee (1989 to 1991), a Director of the Board of Macmillan Nigeria Publishers Limited (1991 to date), a Director of Ecobank Nigeria Plc (1998 to 2004) and Chairman of the 2nd National Film Festival Organizing Committee (2002 to 2003) and many others.

Mrs. Francesca Emanuel is a recipient of both local and International awards.

She is an incredible performer, accomplished artiste, poet, dressmaker, mother and wife. She is a member and a leading light of the Musical Society of Nigeria, MUSON.

people. process. power.

Sir Peter Badejo is a teacher of African performing arts, a renowned artiste and artistic director of the London-based contemporary African dance company. He has earned for himself appreciable level of respect in the world of arts world over for his unceasing contribution, timeless repertoire of researches of African performing arts.
He choreographed the dance in Langbodo, a drama piece at the Second World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture (FESTAC 77) written the theatre, the late Wale Ogunyemi and directed by Professor Dapo Adelugba. To date, he has produced not less more than six nationally acclaimed productions. He has performed, choreographed, directed and taught in Bulgaria, India, South Africa, Cuba and the United States etc.
Badejo’s classic production, “Elemental Passions” based on the myth of Sango, the revered god of lightning and thunder was premiered on 26th April 2003 in Ipswich (UK).

In the same year, he was the Head Choreographer and Artistic Director for the 2000 ensemble that featured at the opening and closing ceremonies of the 8th All African Games hosted by Nigeria and organised by The 8th All Africa Games Committee called Comite d’Organisation des Jeux Africains (COJA).

He is the most decorated choreographer in Africa and dancer, Peter Badejo is also a storyteller, a master musician and singer, and an accomplished director and actor.
He is a recipient of the globally coveted OBE by her Majesty the Queen of England for his services to dance in England.

people. process. power.

Mrs. Gbemi T.L. Odedina is an avid supporter of causes supporting education, youth development, and hunger-relief in Nigeria. She is an Assurance Director at Price Water House Coopers U.S. and has extensive experience providing auditing and accounting advisory services to clients across several industries and countries. After graduating from California State University, Northridge, she started her accounting career in the auditing department of Ernst & Young LLP in Los Angeles California. She later joined Price Water House Coopers in Lagos, Nigeria in 2009 primarily serving clients in the oil and gas industry. In 2017, she relocated with her family back to the U.S. and joined the Price Water House Coopers U.S. as an assurance director. She has a BSc and Msc in Accountancy and is a Chartered Accountant in Nigeria, and Certified Public Accountant in California and New Jersey in the U.S.

Mrs Odedina resides with her husband and two children in New Jersey, U.S.

people. process. power.

MR. OMORUOKE IRUOJE JOHN is the son of the prominent music producer, Odion Iruoje. He hails from Sabe area of Edo state.

Born in 1972, he grew up in Lagos and was particularly influenced by the artistic embodiments of his family, thus growing his inclination for the Arts.

He attended International school, University of Lagos for his primary education; Mayflower Secondary school, Ikenne for his secondary school and graduated with a Bachelor degree in Zoology (Environmental Management) from the prestigious University of Lagos.

After graduating in 2002, he worked with a nonprofit organization, Green Business Foundation. This new experience sparked the desire to help Small and Medium scale entrepreneur grow their business. After a brief spell with the NGO, he travelled to the US to further undertake a Master degree program in nonprofit management.

He is currently an adjunct professor with the Indiana University, USA. He has equally taught in different universities across the world.

people. process. power.

Nayeju Ayo was born in Ondo State and attended Mayflower Junior School, Ikenne, Ogun State from where he proceeded to Federal Government College, Ido-ani, Ondo Stae for his secondary school education. After his secondary school education, he got admission to study law at Ambrose Ali University (formerly Edo State University), Ekpoma, Edo-State from where he graduated and proceeded for his National Youth Service Corp exercise in 2001. Shortly after his National Youth Service in 2002, he proceeded to the Nigerian Law School where he graduated to be a barrister at law in year 2004.

His legal experience has spanned a period of about fifteen years from working in a litigation firm in his early years with Aderemi & Co as a junior counsel in 2004, Oserogho and Associates in 2006/7. By 2008 he joined he joined L & A legal consultants, a firm rooted in the entertainment industry and intellectual property sector. By 2009 he moved into the corporate and commercial environment where he was able to cut his teeth in the understanding of proper corporate, commercial law practices and legal drafting.

By 2013, he was able to establish his private law practice in partnership with a learned colleague with whom they graduated together from the law school. Currently, he is the Managing Partner of Dayspring Barristers and Solicitors where he proffers legal solutions to both individual and corporate needs. He is also the company secretary/legal adviser to some private companies and has continued to undertake the establishment of businesses in Nigeria by foreigners with its attendant requirements.

people. process. power.

Dr. Emeka Christian is a native of Mbokwu in Awka North L.G in Anambra state.

He attended St. Finbarrs College, Awka and proceeded to study Dentistry in the College of Medicine at the University of Lagos and graduated in 2000. He had his Post Graduate in Head and Neck Surgery at the same school and graduated as a fellow in 2015.
His interested in research and clinical work does not debar his love for personal development, mentoring and teaching the younger ones. As a father of five, he is driven by the passion to see a new world.

people. process. power.

MRS. JANET OLAJIDE

 CNAP, MBA, Dip. Th, DM (ABD) CERT-Graduate in Forensic Accounting

“Be the source of change you wish to see in the world” (Olajide, 2014)

Janet Olajide is a proficient manager of funds, a writer, an editor, business strategist, policy maker, a philanthropist, a top-flight Christian executive, and one of the world’s leading expert. She is a Bachelor’s degree holder in Business Administration and a Masters of Business Administration from Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts. She is a graduate of Forensic Accounting from the American University in Washington, DC. She is presently on a Doctoral Degree program in Management (ABD) with focus on Organizational Leadership at the University of Phoenix.

She is the current Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of one of the oldest and pioneer of foster-care organization in Maryland, USA. Before her assumption of present portfolio, this outstanding accountant have worked in the same organization in the capacity of Comptroller for an uptrend of nine years.

Her advocacy for more funding for the children in the foster care in Baltimore City is seen as legendary. In a show of deep love and empathy for the children, she testified before a Legislative Audit committee in Annapolis, Maryland in advocating which yielded additional funds for the children. Janet is a community leader who has served in top echelons of leadership position in various schools in Howard County. Her appointment as the PTA president of more than 600 families, SIT Rep for Clemens Crossing, a representative for schools and issues relating to children. She is the past Board Treasurer for African Diaspora Medical Project.

A successful wife of Issac Olajide and loving mother of three – Emily, Esther and Emmanuel. She is a Janet recipient of 2010 Elizabeth Chief Financial Officer excellence award, a visiting professor to Morgan State University School of Social Work, one of the 24 women professionals to deliver papers on accounting issues in the same year and a very active professional member of the American Society of Women Accountant. As a seasoned juggernaut in financial matters, she also delivered paper on the structure of the Nonprofit Sector in the U.S.A both in Moscow, Russia and at St. Petersburg, Russia as she has done in several international conferences.

Janet Olajide is the Board Treasurer for the Children of Uganda, a non-profit organization and Matron for Abiye Orphanage Home in Oshogbo, Nigeria. She is a Sunday School teacher at CAC House of Praise in Hyattsville, Maryland. She is also one of the Financial Advisory Committee Member to Christ Apostolic Church, North America. She is the Church Matron of CAC Mountain of Eternal Life in Ibadan, a member of the finance committee and the internal auditor for the church.

She holds a degree in Practical Theology from International Seminary in Florida. Janet is an ordained Lady Evangelist with Christ Apostolic Church Mission.

She is a minister of the gospel.

She founded mydailyblessing ministries.