West Africa Civil Society Institute wacsi.org

Revd. Dr. Aidan Gregory Msafiri is an ordained catholic priest with experience as a lecturer in philosophy and ethics and theology. He possesses a PhD from Vienna University, Austria. He works as one of the “young” African Theologians for the World Council of churches. Currently, he is the head of the philosophy and ethics department at SUAT, Tanzania. Dr. Msafiri has written several articles for journals and various papers for international conferences.

Daphne Nabila holds a LL.B and LL.M from University of Ghana and Harvard Law school respectively. She has experience in designing courses and teachings in business Law. She is also a lawyer with a specialty in Human Rights Litigation, capacity building and ngo management.

Janah Ncube holds masters in Gender and Women's Studies (MERIT) from University of Bradford, UK. She has solid experience in policy development, African institutions, mechanisms, politics, Parliamentary reforms, civil society issues, Gender and women's human rights and conflict resolution and peace building. She has skills in programme development and organisational and financial management. She is currently the CEO of Centre for Citizens' Participation in the African Union (CCP-AU).

Nyambura Ngugi holds a MA Development Studies and BA International Development Studies and Economics from University of East Anglia, UK and Saint Mary's University, Canada respectively. She is an expert in gender mainstreaming, governance, project management and researcher.

Nkiranuye Jean has over 12 years of experience in institutional management, training and research, project or program writing, management, monitoring and evaluation (human rights, conflict and peace management, democratic governance). He has worked as a Consultant with international organizations (UNESCO, UNDP, Francophonie), international NGOs (IREX), and academic or research institutions from Africa and Europe.

Hannah Nyameke is a PhD candidate in Agricultural extension at the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She has over 8 years’ experience as a researcher, lecturer, gender specialist, strategic programme developer and as a specialist in agriculture.

Edwin Nyanducha is an accounting, corporate finance and training professional with over 8 years of professional experience. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance option) from the University of Nairobi and is a qualified accountant registered with the Kenya Accountants and Secretaries National Examination Board. He is the founder and principal consultant of Inkubate Ltd and is actively involved in many business and development issues including finance raising and development.

Ebenezer Obadare is currently Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA. He took his PhD in Social Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 2005. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in History (1989) and International Relations (1992) respectively from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. A former award-winning journalist, Dr. Obadare’s research interests span the broad areas of civil society and the state, religion, civic service, and citizenship. He has published extensively on these subjects in leading refereed journals.

Rosaline is an advocator for women and children’s rights at national and international levels. Her focus is on capacity building, gender mainstreaming, advocacy and human/women's rights. She has held managerial/leadership positions in international reputable organisations. She possesses a MA Governance, Development and Law from University of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Odukoya Atinuke possesses a Masters in Public Administration from University of Lagos, Nigeria. She is a co-founder of the Centre for Women's Health and Information (CEWHIN), Nigeria. She has experience in gender analysis and planning, project development and implementation and research. She also has skills in community mobilization and participatory strategic development plans and capacity building trainings.

Kenneth Ofori-Boateng is a Ph.D candidate in the Department of Economics, University of Ibadan, under the collaborative Ph.D Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa, sponsored by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC). His current research focuses on the impact of climate change on cocoa production in West Africa. Before Joining the AERC programme he was the administrative officer for the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS). He had previously held the position of Administrator in the City of London Business College (Accra) and a Teaching Assistant in KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana.

Oka Obono is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Ibadan. He has sustained commitment in teaching, research, supervision and community service with experience in population, communication, health and policy process. A leading global social science methodologist and African policy analyst, he has over 20 years' experience working in academic environments. He is the originator of Life Aspirations Theory (LAT), and chief proponent of a transdisciplinary view in investigations of and interventions in behaviour change communication, health, gender and conflict analysis in African contexts. Obono writes a weekly column on state policy and African civil society.

Mojúbàolú Olúfúnké Okome is an International Political Economist whose regional specialization focuses on the African continent. Educated at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Long Island University, New York, and Columbia University, New York, she’s a Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College, CUNY and past Women’s Studies Program Director as well as past Deputy Chair for Graduate Studies in the Department of Political Science at Brooklyn College.  She is also past President of the African Studies Research and Forum. She is an author on different books.

Olagboye Benjamin is a Ivorian with years on expertise in political science, peacebuilding, peace keeping, development, governance and youth and security. He is a PhD candidate in History of International Relations, University of Cote D’ivoire.

Olawale Rafiu OLAOPA, a Nigerian, is a thorough bred Policy Analysis and Public Administration specialist with varied experience as a researcher, consultant, project management and evaluation expert, and administrator. He is a Senior Research Officer, Department of Training and Research, National Center for Technology Management (NACETEM) (an agency of the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology), Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He is currently at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa where he is conducting a Doctoral Research on the Politics of Local Government Financing in Southwestern Nigeria. Mr. Olaopa has widely published both within and outside Africa

Olayemi Olufemi is a young enterprising university scholar with diverse interests using his career development to chart a new direction for the future generations. He obtained BSc Business Administration and also studied Management at Masters level from Ahmadu Bello University and University of Lagos respectively. Currently in thesis writing stage to complete a Ph.D degree in Management with special interest in Strategic Change & Entrepreneurship Management. Olufemi has six years teaching and research experience in the university system, where he has closely interacted with younger generations thereby molding destinies to change our political and economical landscape and of Africa continent at large.

Isaac Opakunle is a chartered accountant with over 20 year’s experience with core competencies in financial management, financial analysis, taxation, internal and external auditing, performance measurement, grant management, people and project management. Currently, he is the finance and administration manager at IPPF Africa, where he manages over $20 million yearly budgets for member associations.

Jane Quaye is the executive direction of FIDA, Ghana. She is a lawyer who has always advocated for women’s rights and training of community of paralegals. She is also an expert in program management, implementation and evaluation.

Augustin SAGNA holds a MBA and PGD in Law, Classic University of Lisbon.  He has been the special Investigator of the National Commission of Truth and Justice of Haiti, Military Observer for the UN and occupied many positions in Elections Observations and Legal Counseling among others.

George Sarpong’s expertise includes media law, policy, security governance, management, peace and conflict, elections, transitional justice, youth’s orientation and alternative dispute resolution. He is an experienced journalist and a trainer where he currently leads, design and trains journalist across Ghana. He is very skilled in establishing, nurturing and managing organisations. He is an expert in youth development having founded You-Net, a youth coalition in Ghana. A member of International press institute and other associations.

Sawyerr Akilagpa is a Retired Professor of Law, with years of university management and leadership at the national, continental and international levels. Active involvement in teaching, academic research, public service and working with NGOs, nationally and internationally. He has consulted for national and international institutions on a range of subjects, including law and trade; higher education leadership and management; human development; minerals and mining law; and negotiations. As chairman/member of several national and international bodies, he has been engaged in the management of public institutions, especially in the minerals and energy sectors.

Amadu Sesay is a Professor of International Relations, researcher, accomplished writer and publisher. His areas of expertise include African Politics, security and conflict studies, conflict analysis, human security and post conflict peace building. He has won several prestigious awards and distinctions. Prof. Sesay joined the services of the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, in 1978. He holds a BSc in Economics and PhD in International Relations from the London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom.

Mabel Takona has over 16 years experience in programme development, management and administration, women's leadership and gender analysis. She also specialises in policy advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, participatory research and analysis. She possesses an MBA from University of Exeter, Uk.

Abiola Tilley-Gyado is an expert in inetrnational health policy and development, programming and management. She has recognised performance in international strategic frameworks for child development, adolescent health, MNCH, HIV and AIDS. She is a writer and an experienced and accomplished leader in influecing, networking, advocacy, media, coaching and mentoring expertise.

Abdou Togola is a specialist in the administrative and financial management of organization, including personnel management, budget preparation and implementation and financial reporting. He has experience in adult training and NGO capacity building. He is also extensively experienced in translation from French into English and from English into French.

Uzoechina Okey is an expert in Conflict Prevention and Security Sector Governance (SSG), Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR), Access to Justice and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Climate Chanage Adaptation (CCA). He has undertaken various studies in the fields linking it to ECOWAS framework. He has skills in negotiation and mediation. He provides programme leadership to the FOREWARN Initiative in its overall objective to strengthen ECOWAS’ capacities in anticipation, adaptation and innovation to reduce vulnerability to emerging threats at the regional, national and sub-national levels.

Kamagate Vahama holds a PGD in Corporate Law. His areas of expertise include Legal Counseling, Training, Project Management, Public Relations Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, Report Writing and Program Development. He also has a rich experience in training and project management.

Funmi Vogt has spent the last 12 years working on issues concerning the African continent, with a specific focus on peace and security issues as they relate to women’s development. She has a background in research, and in program development and management. Her research and advocacy interests include issues around violence against women- particularly in conflict situations; issues of women’s marginalization and agency; and social and economic relationships between Africa and the rest of the world, and between Africa and the African Diaspora. Funmi Vogt holds a B.A. in English Literature from Loyola Marymount University in California; an M.A. in African Studies from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS); and has training in Human Resource Management.

Wakesho Peris is a counseling psychologist with 13 years’ experience in HIV and AIDS, Reproductive health, Advocacy and Gender programming, management and implementation. She has vast experience in programming, managing and running youth friendly services and certified in psychological counseling and human resource management. She is currently undertaking MSc. Forensic Psychology and Criminal Investigation, University of Liverpool, UK.