Board of Trustees (Nigeria)

Name: Dr. Austin Onuoha

CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Dr. Austin Onuoha had his undergraduate degree from the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), Ile-Ife, Nigeria. He proceeded to the United States of America for graduate studies at the Conflict Transformation Program (now Center for Justice and Peace building) at the Eastern Mennonite University, in Harrisonburg, Virginia. His doctoral studies is in Peace building and Conflict Transformation. 

Dr. Austin started human rights as an undergraduate at the University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University). He contested elections and participated actively in the pro-democracy movement of the period. In 1998, Austin joined the then Human Rights Commission, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State (now Human Rights and Conflict Resolution enter), as a program manager. In the position he monitored police cells, prisons and courts. At the community level, Austin engaged such issues as infant betrothal, early marriage, and infant apprenticeship scheme. He carried out advocacy and policy change on prolonged detention without trial, extrajudicial executions, torture and the abduction of relatives of crime suspects. He participated in most of the consultations that developed the United Nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights and Business from 2005 to 2011. He also pioneered the first ever intervention on Human Rights and Business in Nigeria in 2012. He developed the draft National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights in Nigeria for the National Human Rights Commission. Austin also was the first to work on the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights in Nigeria. He led the data collection team for the evaluation of Chevron Nigeria’s Community Engagement Strategy. He was the facilitator of the Multi-Stakeholder Platform (MSP) on Oil Spill in Nigeria for the Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Program (2012-2017) supported by the Department for International Development (DFID). Austin developed the draft Community Engagement Framework for oil and gas industry in Nigeria being piloted in the Niger Delta today. He was elected Ashoka Fellow in 2001 for his innovative work in “harnessing conflict energy for development.” Twice Austin won Misereor grant for formation which supported his graduate and doctoral studies. Austin has worked, researched and written extensively on human rights and the oil industry. He conducts training on conflict resolution, corporate social responsibility, human rights, non-violence and peace-building and development. Austin is adjunct faculty at the West African Peace building Institute in Ghana, National Peace Academy in Nigeria and Institute for Peace, Conflict and Development Studies, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu. He has been conducting trainings for UNDP on conflict sensitive reporting, conflict sensitive development and gender and peace building. He worked on the Federal Government Amnesty Program, the Geneva Initiative and conducted the first ever evaluation for the Consumer Protection Council (CPC). Austin has led more than 100 trainings on corporate social responsibility in Nigeria and abroad. He is the author of From Conflict to Collaboration Building Peace in Nigeria’s Oil-Producing Communities and When Communities Confront Corporations: Comparing Shell’s Presence in Ireland and Nigeria. This was supported from another grant from Cordaid. Austin is on the regional and national board of the West African Network for Peace building (WANEP). He currently directs the Africa Centre for Corporate Responsibility based in Nigeria. Austin led the 28-person team that conducted for the very first time an evaluation of Chevron Nigeria’s Global Memorandum of Understanding (GMOU). Austin has conducted several research projects both in Africa and abroad on different subjects.

Dr. Onuoha also served as a consultant to the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), where he designed and facilitated capacity-building programmes for members of the Partners for Peace (P4P) Network across the nine oil-producing states of the Niger Delta. Through this role, he strengthened the capacity of civil society organizations, community leaders, and local peace actors in conflict prevention, dialogue facilitation, collaborative problem-solving, and institutional strengthening.

As Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Mazik Foundation for Consumer Rights, Dr. Onuoha provides strategic governance, policy leadership, and institutional oversight. His expertise supports the Foundation's work in consumer protection, financial fraud mitigation, digital safety, public accountability, and economic empowerment.

Name: Barr. Agatha Osieke

SECRETARY

Barrister Agatha Osieke  is the Executive Director of WOCAP Foundation for Women Youths and Children Initiative. She was the former Edo State Coordinator West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP) and she is presently the state Coordinator Women in Peace building (WIPNET a project of WANEP). She was the former State Coordinator Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta (P4P) and presently the Central Working Committee member of P4P representing the State. She is at present the Edo State deputy coordinator of Network on Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN). She is also the Edo State focal person for Search for Common Grounds. Barrister Osieke is an active member of the Central Working Committee of the Partners for Peace (P4P) Network in the Niger Delta, where she collaborates with civil society organizations, government agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, and development partners to strengthen peacebuilding initiatives throughout the Niger Delta. She also serves as a Consultant to the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND). Her work focuses on inclusive governance, women's participation in peace processes, community resilience, and conflict prevention. She is a Co-Founder and Secretary of the board of Directors of Mazik Foundation for Consumer Rights.

She has a Law degree from the University of Jos Plateau State and Certificates on humanity and social works. These include certificates on conflict analysis and early warnings; negotiation and mediation. She also has certificates on The Truth about alcohol; the Truth about marijuana; and the truth about drugs and in 2025, a certificate on applied ministry, amongst others. She is an Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC Nigeria). Furthermore, in 2025, the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) gave her a peace ambassadorial award thereby making her a certified peace ambassador. Barrister Agatha is strong gender equity advocate hence her passion to continually propagate inclusiveness in all her interventions. She has used her good office as peace advocate to carry out interventions that achieved remarkable results hence the award of recognition from two organizations. Junior Chamber International and Partners for Peace in the Niger Delta. The issue of women peace and security is so dear to her. She is a passionate team builder and youth elevator. She has zero tolerance to tribalism just as to gender discrimination. She has appeared on several print and electronic media talking on topical issues that affects the less privileged especially women, youths and children. As Secretary of the Board of Trustees of Mazik Foundation for Consumer Rights, she oversees governance and legal compliance while providing leadership in institutional partnerships, safeguarding, gender inclusion, and access to justice. Her extensive experience in mediation and stakeholder engagement enhances the Foundation's ability to build trusted relationships with communities and public institutions.

Name: Sir Godwin Ebbeli

FINANCE/ AUDIT

Sir Godwin Ebbeli is a highly accomplished banking and finance professional with more than forty years of experience in commercial banking, financial management, investment services, accounting, and nonprofit governance. He holds a Higher National Diploma in Marketing and a Master of Science in Finance and has served in senior management positions in both the banking and financial consulting sectors. 

His distinguished career includes leadership roles with Nigeria-Arab Bank, Mutual Trust Investment Company, and Olusola Adekanola Chartered Accountants and Revenue Consultants, where he developed expertise in treasury management, financial planning, auditing, and organizational governance. Sir Godwin Ebbeli also served as the Founding Chairman of the Central Working Committee of the Partners for Peace (P4P) Network in the Niger Delta, where he provided strategic leadership during the establishment of one of the Niger Delta's leading multi-stakeholder peacebuilding platforms. Under his leadership, the Committee promoted collaboration among civil society organizations, development partners, government institutions, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders working to reduce conflict and promote sustainable development across the region. Networked with Actionaid Nigeria, P4P and Situation Room on peace building and election matters.

As a member of the Board of Trustees of Mazik Foundation for Consumer Rights, Sir Ebbeli provides oversight of financial management, audit, internal controls, fiduciary compliance, and risk management. His extensive governance experience strengthens the Foundation's accountability and stewardship of donor resources.

Name: 

Professor Uchenna Ngozi Uzokwe

RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

Professor Uchenna Ngozi Uzokwe is a distinguished academic, researcher, agricultural extension specialist, and institutional development expert with over four decades of experience in higher education, research, rural development, and community capacity building.

She earned academic qualifications from the College of Education Abraka, Bendel State University, and the University of Ibadan, culminating in a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development. She retired as Professor from Delta State University after an outstanding career in teaching, research, academic administration, and international technical service.

Professor Uzokwe has authored numerous scholarly publications and contributed significantly to research on women's empowerment, environmental sustainability, agricultural extension, community development, and participatory learning. Her work has influenced policy, education, and rural development initiatives within Nigeria and internationally.

Although her professional career has been rooted primarily in academia and research, her expertise in evidence-based programme design, capacity development, and community engagement complements the Board's extensive experience in governance, peacebuilding, and institutional development. At Mazik Foundation for Consumer Rights, she provides strategic leadership in research, training, programme evaluation, knowledge management, and organizational learning, ensuring that the Foundation's interventions are grounded in credible evidence and international best practices.