Our People
Chude Jideonwo
Founder
Chude Jideonwo is the host of #WithChude – a network of media products across TV, Radio, Podcast, Newsletter and Blog telling stories that enable and strengthen the mind, the heart, and the spirit.
He is also co-founder of media group RED, and human flourishing company Joy, Inc. RED, one of Africa’s leading media, content and consulting companies, has worked on national elections and social movements in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Senegal, and Joy, Inc. has worked with organisations from the Ford Motor Company to the Lagos State Government on building safe, warm spaces across business, government, and culture.
He has been a Forbes 30 under 30 honouree, a CNBC Young Business Leader of the Year winner, an Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellow, and a World Fellow at Yale University. His writing and work have been featured on the New York Times, the Guardian, the BBC, CNN, Aljazeera, the Huffington Post and the Financial Times, and he is the author of two books, ‘Are We The Turning Point Generation?’ and ‘How to Win Elections in Africa: Parallels with Donald Trump’.
He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Pan Atlantic University, and has been a board member at Microsoft 4Afrika, The Initiative for Equal Rights and the Oando Foundation.
Jideonwo’s work centers on storytelling from across disciplines, to inspire new, human-centered narratives about politics, markets, faith, identity, and society in Africa.
Damola Morenikeji
COO
Damola Morenikeji is on the founding team and COO at Joy, Inc., the benefit corporation building happier, flourishing Africans based on the evidence of resilience and human flourishing. Prior to joining the founding team of Joy, Inc., he had founded AllforDevelopment, contributed to global education initiatives, led strategy, research and innovation at two innovation spaces, and contributed to the ethics and governance of artificial intelligence for societal interest initiative as a Berktern at Harvard University. He has been a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, Zurich Scholar and One Young World Ambassador, Fellow of the Obama-initiated Young African Leaders Initiative RLC, Fellow of the Common Purpose UK’s Global Leaders Experience, Fellow of the Social Leadership Academy USA, DESPLAY Fellow, Global Youth Ambassador (for education) and Hive Global Leader.
Damola is interested in contributing to a positive future of humanity, anchored on people, platforms, and policies. He explores with curiosity and occasionally shares what he is learning at damolamorenikeji.com.
Craig S. Bailey
Craig S. Bailey, Ph.D., is an Associate Research Scientist and the Director of Early Childhood at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. Craig and his team facilitate professional development workshops for the RULER Approach with early childhood educators, develop content for practicing and teaching emotional intelligence, and conduct psychological, educational, and intervention research. He works closely with state and national organizations as well as school districts and networks tasked with integrating social and emotional learning into early childhood education. Craig’s research explores children’s social and emotional learning in early childhood classrooms with an emphasis on how teachers support and promote the development of empathy and emotion regulation. With experience as an early childhood educator, Craig is passionate about bridging the gap between research and practice. In addition to his work at the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Craig consults on many initiatives, most prominently as the Director of Measurement and Evaluation for Think Equal, a member of the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning Assessment Workgroup, and a Research Advisor for Sesame Workshop. He is also a proud father of two young children. Craig earned his B.S. in psychology from South Dakota State University and his doctorate in applied developmental psychology from George Mason University.
David Marcotte
David Marcotte, S.J., Ph.D. is a Jesuit Priest and Clinical Psychologist, Clinical Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Clinical Training at Fordham University. His research interests focus on the psychology of well-being, including the role of internalized identity for health-related behaviour. He has developed Spiritual Self Schema Therapy, an empirically supported intervention to increase self-determination and reduce substance use for injection and non-injection drug users. Fr. Marcotte is also a member of the Psychology Coalition of NGOs at the United Nations where he represents the Institute for Multicultural Counselling and Educational Services and works on projects related to health and well-being.
David C. Tate
David C. Tate is a licensed clinical psychologist and an Assistant Clinical Professor in Psychiatry at Yale University. His areas of practice in organizational consulting include coaching and leadership development, conflict resolution, team-building, succession planning and promoting healthy organizational development. In his clinical practice, he sees individuals, families and groups around issues concerning health, relationships, and dealing effectively with life transitions. Dr. Tate is a co-author of Sink or Swim: How Lessons from the Titanic Can Save Your Family Business. He earned a certificate in family business advising from the Family Firm Institute, and serves as the facilitator for the National Association of Corporate Directors Connecticut Chapter’s Family Business Roundtable. He also is the co-founder of the Connecticut Consulting Psychology Group. He received his B.S. at Cornell University, his Ph.D. in clinical psychology at the University of Virginia and completed pre- and post-doctoral fellowships at Yale University before joining the faculty at the University.
Gbonjubola Babalola-Abiri
Gbonjubola Babalola-Abiri is a medical doctor, Consultant Psychiatrist, Managerial Psychologist, and the M.D /C.E.O of Redi-Med Consulting Services, a Medical Consultancy firm. She is a graduate of Medicine from the College of Medicine, University of Ilorin (M.B.B.S) and holds a Master’s degree in Managerial Psychology (MMP) from the University of Lagos. She has received trainings from the King’s College London, the University of Washington and the prestigious Harvard University, Boston USA. Passionate about research in adolescent and women’s mental health as well as occupational mental health, Gbonjubola is a Mental Health advocate who is driven by the holistic view to health, and as such is a regular voice on various print and electronic media. She also uses her knowledge in Psychiatry and Psychology to influence and maximize effectiveness and productivity in the workplace. She volunteers with the Pastor Bimbo Odukoya (PBO) Foundation, the Adorable Foundation International (an NGO against drug abuse), the Live-well Initiative and functions with the Centre for Mental Health Research and Initiative (CEMHRI) as a Project Coordinator.
Laurie Santos
Laurie Santos Ph.D is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Yale University. Her research provides an interface between evolutionary biology, developmental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, exploring the evolutionary origins of the human mind by comparing the cognitive abilities of human and non-human primates. Her experiments focus on non-human primates (in captivity and in the field), incorporating methodologies from cognitive development, animal learning psychology, and cognitive neuroscience.
Jonathan Brakarsh
Dr Jonathan Brakarsh is a psychologist living in Zimbabwe who consults internationally on issues related to emotional and physical pain. He is the author of four books which have been translated into several languages. His most recent book is “Singing to the Lions- A guide to overcoming fear and violence in our lives (Catholic Relief Services, 2017). He is the Director of the Say and Play Therapy Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe and the Co-founder of the Integrated Pain Management Group, a consortium of health and counselling professionals devising innovative treatments for chronic pain.
Zainab Imam
Dr Zainab Imam obtained her medical degree in 1991 from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria, following which she trained at the University College Hospital in Ibadan and worked at The National Hospital, Abuja in General Practice before moving to the United Kingdom (UK) where she retrained as a General Adult Psychiatrist with endorsement in Rehabilitation and Subspecialty interests in Early Intervention in Psychosis and Perinatal Psychiatry; she has worked in Psychiatry for over 10 years and she is currently a Consultant in Women’s Mental Health at Sidra Medicine in Qatar. She is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and she holds a One Year Intermediate Certificate of the University of Plymouth in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. Prior to moving to Qatar, Dr Imam was an Honorary University Fellow of Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry. She was also the Module Lead for the General Adult Module of the Southwest Peninsula Deanery’s MRCPsych Course and she was an approved clinical and educational supervisor and trainer for core psychiatry trainees in the Southwest Peninsula Deanery in the UK. She was also a Trustee and Director of Plymouth Centre for Faiths and Cultural Diversity.
Dr Imam is a member of the Public Education Engagement Board of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, she is a Partner in Psychiatry-UK LLP, the only NHS and CQC approved provider of Tele-psychiatry services in the UK and she is a Faculty member of a United Nation’s Population Fund (UNFPA) Supported joint MANSAG and IDP Diaspora Support Group Trauma Counselling Training Program in Nigeria. She is also a founding trustee of Foundation for Refugees Economic Empowerment (FREE); a Registered Charity in both UK and Nigeria that works closely with Internally Displaced Persons in the North East of Nigeria. Dr Imam is a Muslim; she is married to Ibrahim and they are blessed with 4 children
Martin Niboh
Martin Niboh is Founder & President at Igniting Africa & Torchbearer Foundation for Missions, Reconciliation, and Development. He is also President of Igniting Africa where he recruits, trains, and deploys humanitarian entrepreneurs across Africa. Aspects of his work at Impact Africa include business and economic development, social, civic, and cultural transformation, spiritual and political growth, and educational advancement, especially among the poorest people groups in Africa. For more than 16 years, the Torchbearer Foundation has worked in some of Africa’s poorest communities, training future entrepreneurs, helping small businesses succeed and creating a network of like-minded African entrepreneurs who share Torchbearer’s commitment to creating positive change. Martins Niboh has a Ph.D in Nuclear Physics and had been Professor of Physics and Mathematics, & Humanitarian both at the College of the Ozarks and Whitworth University.
Apantaku Glory
Apantaku Glory is a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of British Columbia with experiences working on qualitative and quantitative analysis projects evaluating health policy programs in British Columbia. She also works with the office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (VPRI) to provide strategic information and resources to researchers at the University to support their major grant applications, in-campus research initiatives and international partnerships. Prior that, she volunteered with the monitoring and evaluation team at FHI 360, a development partner in Nigeria dedicated to the prevention, screening, and treatment of HIV & AIDS on data-driven impact assessment of the HIV prevention program in Lagos. She has a Bachelor degree in Psychology from the University of Texas, Arlington where she was involved in a number of research projects on altruistic behaviour, human memory and welfare policy and currently undergoing further studies in Population and Public health at the University of British Columbia.
Ayodeji Olawale
Ayodeji Olawale, MSN RN is a learned professional in nursing expertise in terms of education, psychiatric/mental health care, community/public health care, research and total nursing care. He provides mental and psychiatric nursing care both as a nurse and adjunct faculty with both Johns Hopkins University and Anne Arundel Community College. He manages the PEP/PrEP (Pre exposure prophylaxis) initiation, an HIV prevention program where he directs the coordination of patients care with interdisciplinary team in Batimore. He had also volunteered at IHVN (Institute of Human Virology of Nigeria) Abuja, in providing healthcare educational expertise and LGBTQI services with mental health assessment. He has a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Morgan State University, a Masters of Science in Nursing from the Notre Dame of Maryland University and is a doctoral degree candidate at the University of South Alabama. A Nigerian professional, Olawale works and lives in the US, and upholds his burning obligation to greatly contribute to progressive development in Nigeria. He remains greatly interested in the true north of his profession – caring.
Lola Oguntade
Lola Airat Oguntade is a second level direct practice graduate student at the School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh with her degree tailored around social change, behavioural health, policy analysis, health policy, clinical care, managed care, research, social welfare, advocacy &lobbying, social justice, community empowerment, community organizing & social administration/action. She currently interns at Community Care Behavioural Health Organization (CCBHO) as a care manager, working with different populations, where she conduct clinical reviews, assist members with after care planning and care coordination telephonically and via onsite meeting participation, monitors the effectiveness and outcome of treatment plan, assist with identifying needed modifications to identify all clinical intervention are provider to the members while working with a multidisciplinary team. At CCBHO, Lola doesn’t meet with members physically, only engage members telephonically using motivational interviewing skills to engage members and use electronic record system to document care coordination, outreach calls and authorization of requested services. Prior to CCBHO, Lola intern with Community Empowerment Association (CEA), as a therapeutic support Intern where she helps children and youth who are challenge with emotional and behavioural issues, develop the skills necessary for greater success at home, school and community. Lola helps youths with managing and resolving stress, she also attend meetings with school administrators to discuss best possible outcome for clients, sometimes attend juvenile court with clients when need arises. Beyond her work in health and social work, She participated actively in the grass root mobilization campaign during 2015 election, engaging Nigerians at the grass root level, through one-on-one campaigns, door to door campaigns, both locally and also using the new media. She recently started a story telling series about young Nigerians who are striving irrespective of the circumstances, furthering her believe that people won’t change their narrative till brighter shining lights and persuasive stories forces them to. With a long term goal of being a social entrepreneur, she plans to develop social interventions programme for different populations, communities and states within Nigeria.
Gbemisola Ogunrinde
A psychotherapist, Gbemisola Ogunrinde is the CEO of The Family Place, a mental and behavioural health services provider, committed to fostering wellness and wholeness in all individuals. With special interest in family development, she conducts marriage and family therapy for couples and play therapy for children/adolescents. She also conducts individual therapy for adults and facilitates professional counselling trainings, parenting education workshops and workshops on mental health. She has been privileged to work with various client populations from different economic strata and ethnic backgrounds, addressing challenges such as relationship problems, marital conflict, anger management, grief, anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidality and phase of life problems. Gbemi holds a bachelor’s degree (BSc) in Psychology from Covenant University, Ogun, Nigeria, and a master’s degree (MA) in Family Psychology from Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, Texas and is a member of Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology. She is a member of The Canadian Association for Child and Play Therapy and has been trained in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy for working with troubled children. She is a Prepare/Enrich facilitator and a certified Counsellor by the Canadian Institute of Christian Counselling. She has worked as the Counsellor and Welfare officer of The Real Woman Foundation, Lagos Nigeria, and also as a therapist with the Olusola Lanre Coaching academy (OLCA). She has also served with The Family Psychology Center, and the Ministry of Counselling and Enrichment, Abilene, Texas. In addition to being the lead therapist at The Family Place, Gbemi serves as an Independent EAP Counsellor for Morneau Shepell and as a therapist on the Ask An Expert and Leke Alder jacknjilive.com platforms. She believes in a new Nigeria and has chosen to play her part by impacting the home front. According to her, the family being the most fundamental unit of society is its greatest agent of change!
Ekemini Mkpong
Ekemini’s interest lies in helping people achieve their best and find joy in wherever and whatever they may be doing. As a member of the Uyo Hub of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum, she is instrumental to producing contents that won the hub the Coca-cola-sponsored ‘Shaping the Future’ grant challenge. In 2017, she started working with small businesses, helping them managing their finances and meeting their financial goals. Ekemini has a Masters degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Essex and a Bachelor’s Degree in Demography and social statistics from Covenant University.
Dami Ajayi
Dami Ajayi is a poet, short story writer, essayist and medical doctor. His debut book of poems, Clinical Blues (WriteHouse Collective, 2014), runner-up for ANA Poetry Prize, was also shortlisted for the Melita Hume Poetry Prize. His poems featured on BBC Radio 4, Prosopisia, World Poetry Book, Badilisha Poetry X-Change, Enkare Magazine and elsewhere. His fiction has been widely anthologised in both print and online journals like Kalahari Review, Afreada, Jalada Africa, Gambit: Newer African Writing and ITCH Magazine. His non-fiction has been published in the Guardian UK, Chimurenga Chronic, Die Zeit, Wawa Review of Books, OlisaTV, and Bakwa Magazine. His latest book, A Woman’s Body is a Country, was selected by Quartz Africa as one of best books of 2017. He is a Senior Registrar of Psychiatry at Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba.
Kelechi Umoga
Named by Business Insider as one of the “Top 19 Incredibly Impressive Students at Cornell”, Kelechi is currently the chairman of Young Shapers Club, a non-profit which exists to provide educational sponsorship for Internally Displaced children who have been victims of recent terrorist attacks in Northern Nigeria. Growing up in Nigeria and drawing from his work in Central America and the Caribbean, Kelechi also developed an interest in health inequity. His focus is in rural communities where he seeks to foster sustainable community ownership of the health care process. Pursuant to this passion, he raised over $45,000 for the establishment and operation of a health clinic in Jeida Village outside of Abuja, Nigeria to help meet the health needs of the communities in that area. He currently serves as its Chief Operations Officer. Kelechi also currently sits on the executive board of Catering to Africans in Need (CAIN) & NEXLEAD Africa. CAIN seeks to bring together students from across the globe who are passionate about making contributions to health care, and education in Sub-Saharan Africa. NEXLEAD Africa provides mentorship for African youths, with a view of empowering them to spearhead initiatives in their spheres of influence. His passion for health care and education serves as a conduit for him live out his core mission which is to share the love of Christ with others. Kelechi holds a B.S degree in Human Biology, Health and Society and Global Health from Cornell University, and is currently an MD-MBA candidate at Yale University.
‘Biodun Awosusi
‘Biodun Awosusi is a physician and health economist with progressively rewarding experience in health and international development. He is health financing advisor at Clinton Health Access Initiative and co-curator of the Universal Health Coverage Policy Centre. Previously, he was research consultant on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation-funded Learning for Action across Health Systems at Oxford Policy Management, Advocacy Manager at ACF International and Technical Officer on the USAID-funded Program to Build Leadership and Accountability in Nigeria’s Health System (PLAN Health) at Management Sciences for Health. He was the Nigeria Country Coordinator of the multi-country Rockefeller Foundation-funded Health for All Campaign for Universal Health Coverage in 2014.
‘Biodun holds master’s degrees in International Health (Oxford) and International Management (Liverpool) with focus on health economics and financing. In recognition of his contributions to health systems strengthening and international development, Biodun has received the Skoll Centre Leading for Impact Fellowship Award, Exxon Mobil Global Health Scholarship, Health Systems Global Young Leader and World Summit Youth Award Finalist Nominations as well as the Lagos State Governor/National Youth Service Corps Honors Award. His research interests include delivery and evaluation of health system innovations and economics of trust and mental health in resource-limited settings.
