Our People

Our Team

These people are not special by their skills, but they are truly special by their heart.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Prince Gideon Olanrewaju

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Michael Abdullahi

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Opeolu Eniola Adeyemi

DIRECTOR OF M.E.A.L

Bertha Sewuese Agbendeh

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMES

Edidiong Anthony Simeon

SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER

Funmilola Ahmadu Bamidele

Head of HR and Administration

Faith Ginika Emelogu

PROGRAMME MANAGER (GGE)

Ifeoluwa Adewole

PROGRAM MANAGER (DSA)

Maureen London

Digital Communications Officer

Omoniyi Lawson

PROJECT OFFICER (TSW)

Wonderful Toluwanimi Akanbi

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ASSOCIATE

Elizabeth Abikoye

M.E.A.L ASSOCIATE

Chukwuemeka Nwokocha

PROGRAMME ASSOCIATE (DSA)

Lucky Owoicho

PROGRAMME AND PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATE

Oluwadamilola C. Iyiola

HR ASSISTANT

Igwenagu Nchedochukwu

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

Ajibola Ojediran

CHIEF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Prince Gideon Olanrewaju

Gideon is an Educational Development Practitioner and EdTech Policy researcher skilled in pedagogical innovation, organisational strategy and non-profit leadership. Working with and leading teams across four continents over the last seven years, he has vast experience in supporting the design and implementation of educational interventions with particular competence in proposal development, grant/contract compliance, budget management, and program operations.

CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Michael Abdullahi

Michael is an education development practitioner with expertise in community engagement and organizing and has 5years of work and leadership experience in the nonprofit sector while interfacing between businesses, government and NGOs in empowering young people to innovate and translate various forms of education into sustainable, social and economic solutions.

DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS

Opeolu Eniola Adeyemi

Opeolu is a versatile creative with a depth of dynamic work experience. Over the years, her engagement in full-time roles, consulting services, volunteering, and pro-bono work, especially in Corporate Communications and Public Relations, spans the Education Sector, Non-Profits, Broadcasting, Media & Publishing, Health-Tech, Tech-Recreation, Finance & Investment, and the Public Sector.

She is a hands-on creative who accurately conveys the positioning of brands, leveraging the power of brilliant design and strategic marketing for brand management and clear communication.

DIRECTOR OF M.E.A.L

Bertha Sewuese Agbendeh

Bertha is an experienced Monitoring Evaluation Accountability and Learning Professional with diverse experience in data design, collection, analysis and management. She previously worked with Gender and Environmental Risk Reduction Initiative as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer.

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMES

Edidiong Anthony Simeon

Edidiong is a Project Management Professional having over 5 years experience in  designing, planning, implementing  and monitoring  Developmental programs with a proven track record in leading staff members and evaluating project progress to achieve timely results.

With her firm focus in the educational sector, she has demonstrated competence in career development, 21st century life skills training, and foundational skills development.targeted at marginalized children and youths. . She has  also managed various  programs and projects funded by UNICEF, UKFCDO, GlobalGiving, Malafund, etc.

SENIOR PROGRAMME MANAGER

Funmilola Ahmadu Bamidele

Funmilola is an Educational Economist with demonstrated competencies in impact measurement and evaluation and has supported the design and implementation of programs to improve education quality. Also an ardent researcher with a strong background in qualitative and quantitative research methodology, she is well versed in a range of statistical and econometric packages such as SPSS, and Excel for research modeling and analysis as well as ODK and SurveyTOGO for data collection.

Head of HR and Administration

Faith Ginika Emelogu

Faith is a Chartered Manager and experienced Human Resources Professional with professional qualifications from the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management and the Nigerian Institute of Management. She has worked with companies and organizations in a variety of industries and has years of progressive experience in employee relations, recruitment, conflict management, onboarding, time management, and performance management.

PROGRAMME MANAGER (GGE)

Ifeoluwa Adewole

PROGRAM MANAGER (DSA)

Maureen London

Maureen is a development practitioner with over 6 years’ experience designing, implementing and evaluating programs in various fields of health, education, livelihoods and protection. My work in the health and education sector has enhanced close and constructive engagement with diverse groups and stakeholders through participatory engagements and advocacy that strengthens institutions and systems especially for the benefit of the people in underserved communities. Which has resulted in the reduction of the poverty level of marginalized households.

Digital Communications Officer

Omoniyi Lawson

Omoniyi is a lifelong learner with over five (5) years of experience leveraging technology to drive positive change. With a background in Electronics and Communication Engineering, he possesses a solid foundation in understanding complex systems and developing creative solutions. He combines technical expertise with a deep understanding of human needs to address challenges from a holistic perspective. He aims to contribute to a world where technology facilitates positive change and improves the lives of individuals and communities.

He is dedicated to advocating for and creating experiences prioritising usability, accessibility, and inclusivity. He is adept at utilizing his user experience design, engineering, and technological problem-solving skills to create impactful solutions.

PROJECT OFFICER (TSW)

Wonderful Toluwanimi Akanbi

Wonderful Akanbi is a skilled lawyer and development professional with over 3 years of professional work experience in the private sector and in the field of international development. At AREAi, she manages stakeholder engagements, establishes and manages relationships with partners. The impact of her work extends across Nigeria, particularly in the field of education, digital development, climate  and youth opportunities. She also manages the Program and Impact Fellowship program at AREAi, where she trains the fellows to build professional skills and  be competent development Practitioners.

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ASSOCIATE

Elizabeth Abikoye

Elizabeth is a Development Communications Professional with over three years of experience in the education and development sector. She specializes in impact-driven storytelling and is adept at crafting compelling narratives that inspire social and behavioural change. She advocates for the educational rights and equity of refugees, vulnerable children, and other marginalized groups.


Over the years, she has been dedicated to amplifying the voices of underserved communities, using storytelling as a powerful tool for advocacy. Her work emphasizes the critical role of early intervention and support in shaping the future of children through education, driving meaningful change where it is needed most.

M.E.A.L ASSOCIATE

Chukwuemeka Nwokocha

Chukwuemeka is a Data Analyst with advanced proficiency in Python, SQL and Statistics. He has excellent research and writing skills, with experience working with data and in administration as it relates to International development, specifically education.

As a data analyst, he has worked with private organisations and NGOs to analyse and generate reports from data to enable clients to make data-driven decisions. He is skilled with Python’s libraries: Numpy, Pandas, Matplotlib and Seaborn, SQL and Apache Airflow. He is passionate about tech, development, and making a substantial impact.

PROGRAMME ASSOCIATE (DSA)

Lucky Owoicho

Lucky is an Education Development Practitioner of over 5 years and a passionate advocate for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a firm belief that understanding the SDGs provides a blueprint for addressing some of the world’s most pressing challenges, with an interest and experience in Digital Literacy development for children and young girls and women in underserved communities.

His experience has cut across several sectors, working with several rural communities designing and leading projects in sectors like Education, Gender, Agriculture and Civic Engagement.

PROGRAMME AND PARTNERSHIP ASSOCIATE

Oluwadamilola C. Iyiola

Oluwadamilola is a passionate advocate for child rights and a skilled partnerships professional with over five years of experience in education, beginning during her undergraduate studies. She is dedicated to forging strategic partnerships and collaborations with international and local organizations to deliver essential support to under-resourced, underserved, and marginalized women, children, and communities.

Her diverse experience has equipped her with strong skills in grant writing, policy development, and research, enabling her to effectively contribute to initiatives that drive social change and improve the lives of those most in need.

HR ASSISTANT

Igwenagu Nchedochukwu

DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

Ajibola Ojediran

Ojediran Victor Ajibola is a self-motivated and dynamic communication professional with over four years of experience and knowledge in diverse aspects of digital communications, such as documentary photography, videography, graphics, animated graphics design, podcasting, and editing (Images and videos).

He is a self-starter who works efficiently within a team and individually. He is adaptable to change and seeks innovative solutions to achieve business objectives. He is flexible, positive-minded, resilient, and quick to learn.

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