Board of Trustees (Nigeria)

Name: Dr. Austin Onuoha

CHAIRMAN, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

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.

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.

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. 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.

Name: Sir Godwin Ebbeli

FINANCE/ ACCOUNTANT

Educational Qualifications:

FSLC 1965

WASC 1971

HND marketing 1982

MSc Finance. 1995

NYSC with African Continental Bank, Calabar 1983-1984

Working Experiences:

Nigeria-Arab Bank, Lagos. 1984-1992

Mutual Trust Investment Coy(Finance House), Lagos 1992-1996

Olusola Adekanola(Chartered Accountants and Revenue Consultanta), Port Harcourt 1996-2007

Private life and NGO Sector 2008-date

Networked with Actionaid Nigeria, P4P and Situation Room on peace building and election matters

Some Course attended:

1) Management Development Course

2) Treasury Management

3) Leadership and Entrepreneurship

4) Internal Audit

Very active on social media with the name Godwin Ebbeli

Name:  Prof. Uchenna Ngozi Uzokwe

EDUCATION/ TRAINING

Uchenna Ngozi Ada Uzokwe attended Umukurushi Primary School (Shell Staff School) Port Harcourt, Queens School Enugu, College of Education Abraka, Bendel State University Ekpoma, and pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Ibadan. She holds an N.C.E. and a degree in Home Economics Education, an M.Sc. in Agricultural Extension Services, and a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development.

Her illustrious career spans over 40 years, beginning with 15 years of secondary school teaching before transitioning to university teaching. She retired voluntarily from Delta State University as a Professor. Additionally, she spent a sabbatical year at the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria and two years at the Department of Natural Resources in the Republic of Seychelles, where she provided technical aid and capacity building for extension staff.

Throughout her academic career, she held numerous leadership roles, including Faculty Representative in the Senate, Faculty Representative on the Postgraduate Board, Coordinator for General Studies, University Liaison Officer, Hall Warden, and membership in various university committees. She has over 40 publications in both international and local journals. Most of her work is on women and environment issues.

Prof. Uzokwe-Igbadi has also been an active member of the University of Ibadan Alumni Association, serving as Vice Chairman of the Asaba Chapter, 1st Vice President worldwide, and contributing to the worldwide executive for a decade. Currently, she serves on the Board of the Mazik Foundation for Consumer Rights.