The Africa Education Initiative

Bob is currently Associate Director of Biopharmaceutics at Astellas Pharma US, Inc., Deerfield, Il.  He is an RN who holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida.  His wife Jane, a Registered Nurse currently stays at home with their 2 children; Rebecca and Sarah.  Bob and his family reside in Libertyville, Illinois.

J. Lewis Davis

J. Lewis Davis is a Network Administrator at an European Furniture company which has a U.S. office in Chicago. Mr. Davis is also a graphic designer and runs an internet-based company that specializes in website design. Mr. Davis is the Pastor of Newlife United Christian Ministries. He is also the President of the Newlife United Community Center located in chicago. He services on the Board of Directors for the African American Family Association, The Open Arms International Ministries and the DTC Wilson Community Foundation.

Shawn R. Drew

Dr. Drew studied chemistry as an undergraduate student at Spelman College in Atlanta, Georgia, where she received her BS degree in 1991. After graduation, she worked as a research assistant for two years before attending Howard University, Washington, D.C. for graduate school where she obtained her Ph.D. degree in biology in 1998. Dr. Drew is committed to higher education and has established a career aiding the next generation of biomedical researchers and physicians in her role as a biology professor and director of a research-training program.

Ijay & Uzo Egu

Ijay graduated from North Carolina State University with a BS degree in Computer Science. She has completed the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer training and works as a Systems Engineer with a global computer firm in the Bay area, California. Ijay is married to Uzo and they have two children, Iheanyi and Adanna.

Saryu Goel

Saryu Goel is a Research Scientist in the Department of Toxicology at Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA. He graduated from the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria with a DVM in 1988 and MVSc (Veterinary Reproduction) in 1990. He further obtained an MS in 1994 in Immunology from Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, AL and a Ph.D. in 1996 in Toxicology from Auburn University, Auburn, AL. He completed his Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the University of Michigan in Reproductive Toxicology. He enjoys the company of people who care for others.

Kachi & Orieji Illoh

Both graduated from Ahmadu Bello University Medical School, Zaria, Nigeria in 1991 and had their residency training at Howard University Hospital, Washington, DC. Orieji, a board certified pathologist, had a fellowship training in transfusion medicine at the University of Virginia. She is currently an assistant professor of pathology. Kachi, a neurologist, is currently practicing in the Houston area. Kachi and Orieji have a daughter.

Ihay Nduaka

Ihay "Obi" Nduaka graduated with a bachelors in microbiology and has completed the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer training and currently working on becoming a Database Administrator (DBA) in Oracle. Ihay works

in the San Francisco bay area as a Network Administrator for Genentech, the number one biotechnology company in the world.

Obi Nduaka,MBA

Obinna "Chyke" Nduaka graduated from Ahamdu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria in 1998 with a B.A. in Economics and also graduated form Otterbein college, Ohio with an MBA in finance and accounting in 2002. Obinna has worked for Nigeria AGIP Oil Company (AGIP) in Lagos as Assistant Budget Officer; Safelite Corporation as an Account Specialist;Intel Risk Management Corporation as a Sales and Marketing Executive in Columbus, Ohio in 2003. Obinna then became an Interim Administrator for NEF in 2003 and is currently chairman for the mentoring Program. He is the assistance manager for Bank of America

Emelue Larry Ndubuisi

Dr. Emelue Larry Ndubuisi graduated from Abia State University in Nigeria with a medical degree. He has since worked with several hospitals and universities in Nigeria. Dr. Emelue is an active member of several organizations, including the Nigerian Red Cross.

Kenyatta Snipes

Kenyatta Snipe is a computer scientist. He graduated from Tuskegee University in 1994. For several years Kenyatta worked to support a Fortune 500 company in Boston, Massachusetts.

Steven Richards

Steven Richards holds a BS degree in Chemistry and Music from Yale University and a Ph.D. in Chemistry from UC Berkeley. He works as a Medicinal Chemist performing pharmaceutical discovery research in a global pharmaceutical company in the Chicago area.Email: sjresp@hotmail.com

Duplex Tchouente

Mr. Tchouente is an IT specialist and an electrical engineering student based in Liberia. He is the technical manager for Vital Technology, Inc. a leading ISP in Liberia and has published brochures to help novices in the field of computer. Mr. Tchouente also serves as independent IT consultant for various international organizations and banking institutions in Liberia. He is the NEF Liason for Liberia. Email: duplext@yahoo.com

M. B. Umar, DVM

Dr. M.B.Umar is a Veterinary surgeon. Graduated from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria with D.V.M degree in 1991. and MSc from the same institution in 2001. He currently teaches Microscopic Anatomy in the Faculty of Vet. Medicine, ABU Zaria. Dr. Umar is currently the Head, Histology section in the Department. Special interest areas include ICT and capacity building in Schools, Strategic Curriculum Development, Computer-assisted learning( CAL) tools in Anatomy. He serves in a number of NGO’s- one of which is “Digital Nigeria” where he currently serves as co-founder/Vice President (Software/Hardware). He is the NEF Northern Liason for Nigeria. Email: get2umar@hotmail.com

Wale Popoola, MBA

Mr. Popoola’s educational background consists of a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria 1988 and an MBA. His experience includes 8 years Credit & Marketing in two foremost Nigerian Banks. He later moved to the manufacturing industry as part of a turnaround team with key responsibility for change of processes and equipment of a major bottling plant. Mr. Popoola's company is presently Nigeria's representatives of three global French companies with strong involvement in the liquid food packaging industry. He is a member of the Industry Committee of the Institute of Directors (IOD). Mr.Popoola is married with two children and is the South-East Liason for NEF in Nigeria.Email: walex@vgccl.net

Isaac Nketiah Sarpong

Isaac is currently a Senior Manager in one of the Big 4 Accounting firms in Ghana. He obtained a B.S. in Administration (Accounting Major) from the University of Ghana in 1990. He completed the qualifying examinations of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in January 1994 and was admitted into membership of the Institute in July 1996. In August 1993, Isaac gained a Norwegian Government scholarship to study at the University of Bergen, Norway where he obtained a B.S. (1995) and an M.S. (1999) in Administration and Organization Science. Isaac is NEF's Liaison for Ghana.
Email: ISARPONG@eyghana.com

Anayo Nwosu

Anayo Nwosu is am a materials and mettallurgical engineer with Niger-Global engineering company in Lagos, Nigeria. He graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria. He has served in many capacities as a trainee engineer with the Shell Petroleum Development Company Ltd, Port-Harcourt, and a corrosion engineer with Reliant Scan Ltd, Port-Harcourt, Nigeria.

John Leahy

John works with over 100 organizations daily to supervise the multi-billion dollar electric power grid for the State of Connecticut. John has an MBA from Rensselear Poly Institure and BA from the University of the State of New York. He is the host and executive producer of television program Family Institutes. He spent nine years on U.S. Navy nuclear submarines. John is married to his wife Alisa and they have three daughters.

Drs. Keith A. Earle and Angela R. Hughes-Earle

Drs. Keith A. Earle and Angela R. Hughes-Earle are both graduates of Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine, earning their Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1993. Drs. Earle and Earle have worked for academic institutions and drug development companies. Currently, leaders in the pharmaceutical sector employ both doctors. Drs. Keith A. Earle and Angela R. Hughes-Earle specialize in preclinical toxicology and pathology, respectively. Dr. Keith A. Earle is also President and Founder of EGS Management Services, LLC. They have a wonderful son, Keith A. Earle, Jr., who is 6 years old.

Jill Z. Long

Jill is a graduate of Connecticut College with a bachelors in Zoology. She is in the process of completing her masters degree in Biology from Brown University. She is currently an Associate Scientist in the Pathology Department for a Global Pharmaceutical company in Connecticut where she has a concentration in non-invasive imaging. Jill is married and has 3 children.

Ravi S. Vedula

Mr. Vedula graduated from Andhra University, India, in 1998 with a B.S. in Pharmacy degree. He recieved a Masters degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of Toledo. Presently, he is employed as a Sr. Associate Scientist at a global Pharmaceutical company in Connecticut.

Heather Findlay, BS

Heather Findlay is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in pre-veterinary animal science. She is currently employed at a global pharmaceutical company in Connecticut specializing in reproductive and developmental toxicology. Heather is married to David and they have 2 Russian Wolfhounds, India and Lyric.

Olayinka Akinola M.B.B.S, MPH

Dr Olayinka Akinola is an Epidemiologist and Biostatistician. He obtained his Masters in Public Health from the Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, where he also obtained a Certificate in Managing Complex Humanitarian Emergencies and Disaster. He is Doctor of medicine, with a medical degree from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and an active member of the American Public Health Association, Massachusetts Public Health Association and the American Statistical Association.

Frank Pagliusi BA, MBA

Frank received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from the University of Rhode Island in 1991 and an MBA from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has 11 years experience in science and management spanning academia and pharmaceutical industry. Frank is currently employed at a global pharmaceutical company in Connecticut.

Linda Chatman, D.V.M., M.S., M.B.A., DACVP

Dr Chatman is an associate research fellow. Dr. Chatman has been employed as a Toxicologic Pathologist for 15 years with Pfizer pharmaceutical company in Groton, CT, USA.

Edward Okeke, MBBS

Dr Edward Okeke is a physician. He graduated from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria in July 2000 and is currently pursuing a Masters degree in the Department of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health in Ann Arbor. He is concomitantly working as a Research Associate exploring the effects of several variables on Body Mass Index. He is married to Enuma also a physician.

Richard Riese, M.D., Ph.D
Richard studied medicine and received his M.D. and Ph.D. degrees from the Medical College of Wisconsin,    Milwaukee, WI. His Ph.D. studies were in the area of biophysics. He then went on to complete his internship and residency in Internal Medicine followed by a fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA. Currently, Richard is employed as a clinician for a large pharmaceutical company in Connecticut, is married and has one child. Richard is Chair of the public health program for NEF          

Olusegun Friday Akinsanya

Mr. Akinsanya did professional computer studies and Total Quality Management in UNAAB and Advance Studies in theology. He has taught computer science in several schools and institutes and have also held a managerial post in a computer company in Nigeria. He has published three books, one of which is a beginners manual on Computer. Mr. Akinsanya is currently a consultant to an embassy, a school and a film production company in Cameroon.

Adanne Nduaka, M.S.

Adanne Nduaka graduated from Howard University as an electrical engineer and  has a masters degree in electrical engineering. Adanne works as a Systems Engineer for a global defense company.

Chidozie Amuzie, D.V.M.

Chidozie (Dozie) Amuzie obtained a D.V.M from University of Nigeria in 2002, worked as a public health veterinarian in the Niger delta where he observed the realities of anthropogenic pollution as well as intersection between poverty, illiteracy and disease. This experience highlighted the need for biomedical research enhancement in Africa and Dozie is currently pursuing a Ph.D, which combines the skills of clinical and integrative biological sciences in answering questions related to toxicant-induced health effects.  Dozie has received training from International Union of Toxicologists (IUTOX) on chemical risk assessment and maintains a passion for improving the science on which chemical regulation is based.

He is a beneficiary of NEF mentoring program and presently serves as assistant secretary of African Education Initiative. He also serves on the international programs committee of the college of veterinary medicine at Michigan State University and maintains advocacy for science and technology capacity building in Africa through other media.