YAF Board

Adaku Uche Ekpo

Adaku Uche Ekpo has 17 years of experience working with non-profit organizations in the areas of agriculture, youth development, rural livelihoods, and promoting the rule of law. She currently manages a 50-hectare inter- cropped oil palm plantation while working as a consultant providing capacity strengthening to intergovernmental organizations and non-profits.

Prior to this, she worked with 4-H, a U.S.-based network of youth organizations where she managed fundraising from philanthropic foundations and also provided programming support on agriculture value chain programs for out of school youth in Sub-Saharan Africa. Adaku also headed up business development for the American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative and managed multi-lateral partnerships and global programming for Junior Achievement; a global youth organization focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work-readiness.

She has also served as a board member and a member of the senior leadership team with a few non-profit organizations in the U.S and Nigeria. Adaku has a Bachelor of Arts in Business and Political Science from Warren Wilson College, North Carolina; a Juris Doctor in Law from The Ohio State University; and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ramat Umoru

Ramat Umoru is a proactive, results-oriented, and vision-driven financial management and accounting professional with 10 years of experience in grant management, including organization, research, administration, and close-out. Competent manager of resources and grant processes, with proven success in administering project grants. Committed to inclusiveness, with the ability to work effectively with diverse groups and key community leaders and organizations; utilize excellent public speaking, written communication, and interpersonal skills in establishing and cultivating strategic partnerships and key alliances

Ramat Umoru is currently the Senior Grants Account Officer at Marie Stopes International Organization Nigeria. She provides budgeting and reporting support to the programme team for project implementation. She also works with the finance team to ensure proper coding with close coordination of budget heads.

Previously, she worked for six years with Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice as the head, finance & administration providing leadership and support in project budget reporting, implementation and day to day administrative operations.

Also, she was appointed by the Edo State Government into the Board of Edo State Community and Social Development Project (EDO-CSDP) with funding from World Bank and the Edo State Government.

She has ten years’ experience familiar with the reporting requirements of several donors including DFID, Palladium, LAD, USAID, UNDP, CHAI, UNFPA, British Council (J4A, FOSTER), EED now Bread for the World and Royal Norwegian Embassy among others.

Augusta Akparanta-Emenogu (COR)

A trained and certified Media Practitioner and Capacity Building Expert with strong skills in participatory learning with over 20 years actively working in government and legislative engagement in different capacities; An experienced and development worker with over 10 years consulting experience in local and international development e.g. in the areas of human rights, democracy and governance, social inclusion and gender activism, public relations, fundraising, public finance analysis, and expenditure; module production and facilitation, budget tracking, advocacy campaigning.

Augusta has extensive experience in project management and coordination, organizational development as well as performance reporting. Worked independently in various job roles and led different teams across multiple themes/sectors sharing learning and providing effective proactive leadership approaches to problem-solving.

With enhanced knowledge of organizational learning on regional and social issues, Augusta possesses hands-on experience in budget and program management, portfolio review and evaluation, gender advocacy, community, and social mobilization, as well as policy influencing work. Seasoned professional and a perfectionist with an unwavering appetite for self and institutional development to meet and surpass set targets and goals.

Dr. Etim Frank

Dr. Etim Frank, hold a first degree from the University of Jo’s, Plateau State. An M.Sc International Relations, University of Port Harcourt, M.Sc Public Administration, University of Uyo, a doctorate- University of Calabar – Political Science and Postgraduate Diploma – Sustainable Development- Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI)- the State of Israel.

He had worked in both the Public and the Private sector of Nigeria economy, including; Postal Controller -Nipost, Administrative Manager, Akwa Ibom Industrial Finance and Development Company, Registrar and Secretary to the Governing Council, Akwa Ibom State College of Arts and Science- Nung Ukimm, Ikono. Lecturer, Benson Idahosa University, Benin-City, University of Uyo where he is currently a senior lecturer.

He has been an external examiner to the Department of Public Administration- University of Calabar for three years. An eminentboerson- National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies- Kuru- Plateau State.

He has published widely in local and international Journals and has six (6) text books to his credit. He has graduated a number of doctoral students. He is the immediate past Acting Director, Clement I song Centre for Development Planning, University of Uyo. He belong to several academic associations.

Social Activities: He is a civil society activist, and on the board of many Civil Society Organizations including, Women United for Economic Empowerment (WUEE) Citizens’Right Initiatives (CRI) and Centre for Development Research Englightenment and Advocacy ( CDREA). He is currently a commentator on national and domestic affairs on Comfort Fm Radio in Akwa Ibom State. He has presented several public lectures on National and international issues. Currently a member of the board of YAF