Amaka, the Founder of Echi Oma Africa Foundation holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria and a Master’s Degree in Public and International Affairs from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.
She has built a career in the Aviation sector, in different roles, where she worked at Arik Air Limited as Cabin Crew on domestic and regional operations and then became an International Cabin Crew before moving to the Commercial Department of the airline.
Amaka has a passion for social, community and international development; she has been a Leadership Effectiveness Accountability Professionalism (LEAP) Africa Youth Leadership Program alumna since 2008. She also participated in the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Emerging Leaders Regional Program (West Africa), a President Obama initiative.
Her passion for development has led her to support orphanages and other Non-profits such as Action-Aid Nigeria and The Hope Center Project, Makoko in various capacities.
Executive Director
Ifeoma Muanya
Ifeoma Muanya is an Executive Director and Board Member of Echi Oma Africa Foundation. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree (B.Ed.) in English Language and Education, specialising in Teacher’s Training from the then Rivers State College of Education in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
She is an experienced educational professional with an experience spanning over 35 years, in the Education sector, specializing in Universal Basic Education.
She has worked in various capacities amongst which are, Teachers’ Training and Curriculum and Schools’ Supervision and Quality Assurance in the Universal Basic Education (UBE) Board, Rivers State. She spends her spare time researching and tutoring teachers and children.
Ifeoma Muanya is passionate about foundational education, human and child development. She has undergone several trainings in educational discipline. She is currently an educational consultant for selected private schools.
She volunteers in the Anglican Communion, Nigeria as a children’s teacher and resource person.
Board Member
Prof. Chinyere Okunna
Prof. Chinyere Stella Okunna is a Professor of Mass Communication (the first female Professor of Mass Communication in Nigeria) and currently the Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Director of UNIZIK 94.1FM at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria. Prof. Okunna obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka; a Master of Arts from University of Leicester Centre for Mass Communication Research, Leicester, England; and a PhD from University of Lagos, Nigeria.
Prof. Okunna is an expert in Development Communication (Behaviour Change Communication). Her research interest is in the area of Communication for Development, particularly women’s development from the perspective of women and the media. She has done considerable work on the role of the media in the effort to empower Nigerian women and improve their condition and status in the patriarchal male-dominated Nigerian society.
Her scholarly works have been published as Books, Book Chapters, Monographs, Articles in national and international Journals of Communication, as well as other publications. For eight consecutive years during the Peter Obi Administration, Prof Okunna served in various positions in the Government of Anambra State, including Commissioner for Information, Commissioner for Economic Planning & Budget which she held concurrently with the position of Chief of Staff, Coordinating Commissioner for Development Partnership/Donor Agencies Activities, Chairman of MDGs Implementation Committee, etc.
Board Member
Capt. Abdullahi Mahmood
Captain Abdullahi Mahmood is a graduate of University of Maiduguri, Nigeria where he holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Geography. Captain Abdullahi is currently the Acting Chief Pilot, Arik Air Limited. He previously worked at Skypower Express Airways prior to working at Arik Air. He has built a career spanning over eighteen years in the Nigerian Aviation sector.
He currently holds and has held the following positions: Acting Chief Pilot/Deputy Fleet Manager, Airbus A330, MNPS Training Captain; Fleet Manager, Canadian Regional Jet (CRJ) 900, Line Training Captain and Member, IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) for Arik Air Flight Operations.
He was trained at Aviation Atlanta Peach Tree Airport, Atlanta Georgia for his Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL); Nigerian College Of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria, Nigeria where he obtained a Private Pilot License (PPL), Commercial Pilot License (CPL) Multi/IR. Capt Abdullahi is a licensed Training Captain from IAGO, CAE Burgess Hill Training Centre in London.
Capt Abdullahi is passionate about young people. Hence, he has mentored and many aspiring and experienced pilots and cabin crew across Nigeria.
Capt Abdullahi is the Executive Director of M.Z. Diamonds and Co. Limited, a water bottling company based in Abuja, Nigeria.
Board Member
Prof. Hilary Inyang
Prof. Hilary I. Inyang is an African Academy of Science Member, former Duke Energy Distinguished Professor of Environmental Engineering and Science and Director of the Global Institute of Energy and Environmental Systems of the North Carolina Charlotte, USA. He was recently appointed to the role of “US Ambassador’s Distinguished Scholar to Ethiopia”.
Prof. Inyang who has previously served in key intellectual and institutional leadership positions including, DuPont Professorship at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, USA; Chairmanship of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Science Board (Engineering Committee) in Washington DC, USA for two terms; Presidency of the Africa University and Science Technology (AUST), Abuja, Nigeria, and Vice Chancellorship of the Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST), Palapye, Botswana. Prof. Inyang has provided advice through a series of seminars; engage in policy development and research framing in many areas such as energy systems, climate change, natural disasters analyses and mitigation, and environmental systems; and provide assistance on the creation of research centres and knowledge integration into sustainable development initiatives.
Prof. Inyang has performed research expeditions to several regions worldwide, including Jiangsu Province of China on mining subsidence and erosion; Khanty-Mansyst Region of Siberia, Russia on oil spills; Slovenia on underground mining; Niger Delta of Nigeria on oil spills and solid waste management; Minas Gerais Region of Brazil on laterite soil dusting; and Alaskan northern areas (USA) on permafrost degradation due to global climate change.
He has authored/co-authored more than 268 research articles, book chapters, federal design manuals and the textbook, Geoenvironmental Engineering: principles and applications, published by Marcel Dekker.
Board Member
Dr. Chinelo Ugwu
Dr Chinelo is a professional teacher, counselling psychologist and a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Education in 1990, a Master’s Degree and Ph.D in Guidance and Counselling in 2002 and 2007 respectively. She has researched, presented and published papers in reputable national and international journals. She has published and co-authored several books.
Dr Chinelo is a professional teacher, counselling psychologist and a senior lecturer in the Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling, Faculty of Education, University of Port Harcourt. She obtained her Bachelor’s Degree in English Language and Education in 1990, a Master’s Degree and Ph.D in Guidance and Counselling in 2002 and 2007 respectively. She has researched, presented and published papers in reputable national and international journals. She has published and co-authored several books.
In August 2018, Chinelo Ugwu’s research publication entitled: Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT): An Intervention Strategy for Counselling Parents of Children Living with Disability published at American Journal of Educational Research, won 2018 World Championship in Educational Research by International Agency for Standard and Ratings, a Division for Certification and Accreditation Directorate of Educational Research, USA.
Presently, Dr Chinelo is the Chairperson Counselling Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Chapter. She is Chairman Governing Board of Archdeacon Crowther Memorial Girls' School, Elelenwo and a member of Education Board of the Diocese of Evo. Chinelo is member Board of Trustees, Don Guanellia Centre for Mentally Disabled Home, Nnebukwu in Imo; an international registered centre for training and educating children living with intellectual disabilities. She belongs to Texas Counselling Association, USA, and National Council for Exceptional Children Nigeria and USA and several national and international associations.
She is a recipient of Millennium Development Ambassador of Teachers Without Borders and a Peace Ambassador of the Universal Peace Federation. Her keen interest is in teaching, helping parents raise responsible children and counselling parents of children living with disabilities to overcome their dysfunctional emotions. Dr Chinelo is an advocate of ‘catch them young’ - every child is a potential achiever when provided with enabling environment.
Board Member
• Amaechi Okobi
Amaechi Okobi is a marketing and communications professional with over 20 years marketing experience having worked in companies such as Revlon, Nigerian Breweries, Globacom, and Guinness. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the George Washington University, Washington, D.C. and is a Past President of Toastmasters International Club (a speech and communication club with branches around the world including Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt).
He is currently the Group Head Corporate Communications & External Affairs at Access Bank Plc.
An Associate member of National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria; he has also been awarded by The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria as an Honorary Senior Member. His experience in several industries including telecommunications, banking and FMCGs, and have led complex teams and managed cutting-edge processes for new product development, communication, and innovation, in the Nigerian, West African, and US markets.
Unlike most people, he enjoys the time spent in traffic as that is the best time to surf the web, and update his Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages with thoughts on marketing, cycling, fatherhood, good food and life in Lagos.
