Over time, the NEF has reached agreements with other institutes to develop student internship programs in toxicology. In our determination to improve the quality of education and learning in Africa, NEF donates computers and other educational aids to universities and institutions in Africa. Institutions of higher learning that have benefited from our donations include the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Abia State University, Okigwe, The University of Ibadan, Nigeria; the United Methodist University (UMU), Monrovia, Liberia and others.
In a bid to enhance research and education of African students, especially science majors, NEF, a United States based non-governmental organization, today stands as a medium through which your donations can impact the lives of many students in Africa.
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President & Board Chairman: Chudy I. Nduaka, D.V.M., M.S., Ph.D., D.A.B.T
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Chudy Nduaka is the president and founder of The
Africa Education Initiative. He is a veterinarian and works as a clinician with
a global pharmaceutical company in Connecticut . He obtained his Veterinary
Degree in 1991 from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. In 1993 he obtained
a Masters Degree in Animal Science from Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama,
U.S.A. Chudy then proceeded to work on a Graduate Degree in Pharmacology at
Howard University, Washington D.C., U.S.A.
Chudy is also an adjunct assistant professor of Pharmacology at Howard
University Washington DC. He currently mentors graduate and undergraduate
students across Africa and the United States. He has a number of scientific
publications and has published his first novel, The Vapor of Life. He and his wife Adanne live in Connecticut, USA with
their children Michael and Michelle.
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Director: Benjamin Kwakye, J.D.
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Benjamin Kwakye graduated from Dartmouth College in 1990. He also holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. He is currently an attorney in the Chicago area and writes fiction in his spare time. Benjamin is the author of The Clothes of Nakedness (Heinmann), a book a novel which was awarded the 1999 Commonwealth Writers Prize For Best First Book (Africa Region). He also contributes to Afriscope as an editor of its BookWorld section.
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Director: Bob Townsend, R.N., Ph.D.
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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.
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Director:
Richard Riese, M.D., Ph.D
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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 and is also a member of the Board of Directors.
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Director: Heather Findlay, BS
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Heather Findlay is a graduate of the
University of Connecticut with a Bachelor of Science in pre-veterinary animal
science. Heather is the co-chair of the Foundation’s Toxicology Internship
Program and also a member of the Board of Directors. Heather is married to David
and they have 2 Russian Wolfhounds, India and Lyric.
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Vice President: Jose
Manautou, Ph.D. ATS.
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Dr. José E. Manautou is Associate Professor of
Toxicology in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the School of
Pharmacy of the University of Connecticut. His research emphasizes mechanisms
of toxicants action and interaction. He has published numerous seminal
articles on these research areas in both toxicology and liver-related journals.
Dr. Manautou was the recipient of the 2006 Achievement Award and the 2008
AstraZeneca Traveling Lectureship Award of the Society of Toxicology. Dr.
Manautou received his B.S. in Pharmacy from the University of Puerto Rico, Ph.D.
in Pharmacology and Toxicology from Purdue University and postdoctoral training
in biochemical toxicology at the University of Connecticut. He is on the
editorial board of six scientific journals.
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Secretary: Adetenu Adeosun, Ph.D.
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Dr Adeosun received a bachelor of science degree with honor in industrial chemistry from university of ibadan, Nigeria in 1991. After working both as a science teacher and as a factory supervisor in Nigeria for few years, he moved to the united state where he obtained his doctorate degree in organic chemistry from SUNY at Binghamton, New York. He did his postdoctoral research in the area of organic and organometallic chemistry at university of Kansas. During his days as graduate student he serve both as the secretary and president of Graduate African student organization (GASO) at Binghamton, New York and was involve with the new york delegates in the drafting of some policy plan of action for the National summit on Africa held in 2000 in united states. He currently lives with his family and work as a Scientist for a multinatinational company in Wisconsin.
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Treasurer: Ravi S.
Vedula
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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. Scientist at a global Pharmaceutical company in Connecticut. Ravi is
currently the NEF treasurer.
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Committees and Committee Chairs |
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Committee
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Chair
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Public
Health Program
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Dr. Richard Riese
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Mentoring & Students Grants
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Dr. Debo Oduloju
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Toxicology internship program
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Adanne Nduaka and Heather Findlay
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Technology enhancement
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Geoff Nosal
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Editor-in-Chief
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Dr. Johnson Afonne and Dr. Chikelue Oragwu
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NEF Administrator
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Dr. Chikelue Oragwu
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NEF Administration Supports - Liaisons |
NIGERIA
Nigeria North - Augustine Awasum, Ph.D
Dr. Awasum Awasum is a University Professor
at the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. He is the Foundation's
representative to the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), the venue
for the Toxicology Internship Program.
Nigeria East - Ejeatuluchukwu Jatex Obi, Ph.D
Ejeatuluchukwu Obi is a
Biomedical Scientist/Toxicologist with Nnamdi Azikiwe University,
Nnewi-campus. He has
a Ph.D in Pharmacology and Toxicology
researcher with more than 30 publications in peer reviewed journals. He is
the NEF Eastern Nigerian Liaison.
Email: ejeatuluobi@yahoo.com
Nigeria East- David chikezie (bio not
available)
Nigeria –SouthWest- Dr A.B. Saba
CAMEROON
Cameroon Buea - Banseka Eric Tungla
Banseka Eric is the liaison officer for Buea –
Cameroon
Email: bandekoe@yahoo.com
Cameroon Yaounde - Wilfred Angie Abia (Acting), MS
Wilfred is a graduate
student and serves the University of Yaounde I Cameroon as a part-time teacher
and also serves the Bamenda University of Science and technology, Cameroon as an
adjunct lecturer of pharmacology. He is the Chief Executive Officer for the NPO
called Integrated Health for All Foundation (www.ihafcam.org).
He is the acting liaison for Cameroon (Yaounde). Email:
abiawilfred@yahoo.com
GHANA : Chris Gordon, Ph.D.
Prof. Chris Gordon was educated at the University of
Ghana where he graduated with a B.Sc. (Hons.) in Zoology and a Master’s in
Zoology (Freshwater Biology option). He obtained his PhD at King’s College,
London in the area of Ecotoxicology and Human Environmental Science.
He joined the University of Ghana in 1986 as a Research Fellow with then
Department of Zoology and the Volta Basin Research Project and now is Acting
Director of the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, His research
interests are in the areas of Aquatic Resource Management, Coastal Zone
Management and Aquatic Entomology.
Prof Gordon serves on several international and national committees related to
environmental and water issues with various organisations such as, UNEP, the
World Conservation Union (IUCN) and local institutions. In 1999, Prof Gordon
received the Distinguished Award for Meritorious Service awarded by the
University of Ghana and in 2003 was recognised as Environmentalist of the Year
by the Ministry of Environment and Science. Prof Gordon is the NEF Ghana
liaison. Email: cgordon@ug.edu.gh
MOROCCO
Hasnae Kamal- Oduloju
LIBERIA - TBD
His Excellency, Ambassador O. Nduaka, BVMS; MRCVS; FCVN 1934 -
2006
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His Excellency Ambassador Ogbonnaya Nduaka served as a member of the Board of Directors. He was a Veterinary Surgeon by training and was the former Nigerian Ambassador accredited to Liberia. He obtained his Veterinary Degree from the University of Glasgow in Scotland. He was a Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons M.R.C.V.S. (UK) and a Foundation Fellow of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (FVCN).
Dr. Nduaka held various government appointments in his home country including many years as lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. For several years, he worked and served as a World Bank consultant in Nigeria and Ghana. Dr. Nduaka has traveled extensively throughout the world promoting and gaining experience in the various fields of science. He has several scientific publications.
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Lucretia Jones, B.S., M.S.
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Lucretia obtained a M.S. Degree
in Chemistry from Mississippi State University. She is currently an
Analytical Chemist for a global pharmaceutical company in the Chicago area.
She is also a member of the National Organization for the Professional
Advancement of Black Chemist and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE), and volunteers
for the Organ Bank Foundation of Illinois in her spare time.
Lucretia's email address is
joneslz2@yahoo.com
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Member Volunteers
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- 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.
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Tim Gauger
- Tim is a tax accountant for a global pharmaceutical company in the
Chicago area. He is currently enrolled in graduate school to obtain a Masters in
Taxation. Tim is married to Kelly and they have two children. Tim was the former
Vice president of the foundation.
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- 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.
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Ihay Nduaka-Akinola
- Ihay "Obi" Nduaka-Akinola 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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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.
Gardner DesRoberts
Gardner is an elementary school administrator and adjunct professor for a private university in Southern California. Gardner has a B.S. in Cartography, a M.S. in Special Education, and maintains credentials in educational leadership, multiple subjects, and special education. Teacher education and critical pedagogy are the foci of Gardner's collegiate teaching. He is married to his wife Aria, and they have three sons and two daughters.
Geoff Nosal
Geoff is a graduate of Emerson College with a B.A. in Media Communications. Geoff has worked as an independent video producer for several years, and is now working in Business Development at HB Group Inc. Geoff is currently living in Connecticut and is married with two daughters.
Debo ODULOJU, DVM, PGCE, MIfL
Dr. Debo Oduloju,
obtained his Veterinary Degree from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ahmadu
Bello Univeristy,Nigeria in 1994 and then a Postgraduate Ceritificate in Science
Education from Gloucestershire University in the United Kingdom.
He is currently enrolled in graduate school at Oxford University to obtain a
Masters in Pharmacology.
He has worked as a Veterinary adviser to the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals(RSPCA) and for a Multinational Bank in the United Kingdom.
He has also taught Veterinary Sciences and Biological sciences extensively at
various educational institutions in the United Kingdom. Debo is currently a
Lecturer in Veterinary health and Animal welfare in the United Kingdom and a
founder and director of a Science & Mathematics Education Consultancy
in the UK. Debo is committed to educating the next generation of Scientists,
technologists and engineers worldwide.
He is a Member of the British Veterinary Association(BVA), member of the
Institute for Learning,(MIfL) UK, member of the RSPCA,England. Debo resides in
Birmingham, England with his family. He is the Chair for the mentoring
committee.
Email: lanre@dvm.com
Chikelue I. Oragwu MBBS
Chikelue is a graduate of the Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, Awka, South-East Nigeria with a Medical Degree in December 2007. He
is currently a postgraduate student in Clinical Investigation Sciences of the
School of Public Health at the University of Louisville, Kentucky. He is a
member of several research and scientific organizations, such as the ZETA 12
Research Group. He is a co-ordinator of the Nigeria page on world library of
toxicology (www.toxipedia.org/display/wlt/Nigeria) He is the Editor for the NEF
Newsletter and also the NEF Administrator
Drew Lawthorne, DDS.
Dr.
Lawhorne is a general dentist in New London, Connecticut. He did his
undergraduate and dental school in Virginia, at Washington & Lee University and
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, respectively. He also
completed a hospital-based general dentistry residency at the Monmouth Medical
Center in Long Branch, NJ. Email: aplawhorne@gmail.com
Afonne Johnson, Ph.D.
Email: oj_afonne@yahoo.co.uk
Jatex Obi, Ph.D.
Ejeatuluchukwu Obi is a Biomedical Scientist/Toxicologist with Nnamdi Azikiwe
University, Nnewi-campus. He has a Ph.D in Pharmacology and Toxicology
researcher with more than 30 publications in peer reviewed journals. He is the
NEF Eastern Nigerian Liaison. Email: ejeatuluobi@yahoo.com
Wilfred is an experienced University teacher with over 8 years of University
teaching experience across 2 state Universities (Buea, and Yaounde I), and a
private university (Bamenda University of Science and Technology), in Cameroon,
teaching biological chemistry; pharmacology; and nutrition and nutrition related
pathologies to undergraduate students.
He is the Chief Executive Officer for the NPO, Integrated Health for All
Foundation (www.ihafcam.org) and is a current graduate student with over 4
publications to his credits. He is the acting liaison for Cameroon (Yaounde).
Email: abiawilfred@yahoo.com
Julius Atashili, MD., Ph.D.
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Augustine Awasum, Ph.D.-
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OLushola Oladipo, DVM
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1. NEF Toxicology internship program (TIP)
The NEF organizes an annual 3-month
prestigious all-expense-paid TIP at the National Veterinary Research Institute
(NRVI) in Vom, Nigeria, aimed at helping interns gain hands-on scientific
research and technical experience by participating in structured projects guided
by a mentor. The 6 years old TIP has successfully trained over 36 graduate
students in biomedical research and undergraduate medical or veterinary students
from across West (Ghana and Nigeria), Center (Cameroon) and North (Egypt)
African regions.
After the course, NEF continues to network with ex-interns
and facilitate their attending of scientific meetings/congresses to present
their internship toxicology research projects. International scientific forums
such as SOT, IUTOX, RASS, just to mention a few has witness NEF ex-interns
present TIP research projects. Publication of TIP papers is not left out.
Applications are usually open in February each year and
students all over Africa are encouraged to apply. More information is available
on the NEF website (www.nef3.org).
2. Well water project
In 2010 the Public Health Committee of the African
Education Initiative (NEF) (www.nef3.org) partnered with the Drop in the Bucket
Foundation (www.dropinthebucket.org)
and built a well for the Kololo Primary School with over 60% girls in a total of
763 pupils amongst whom are an estimated 140 orphans, located in the Nimule
Payam, East Equatoria State of South Sudan
(www.dropinthebucket.org/wells/kololo-primary-school) with little or no
infrastructure, schools or even roads. Strategically, the well serves the school
but is also the only source of clean water for seven nearby villages. The new
well which has made a huge difference to the children from this school and also
to the neighboring villages, has an NEF monumental tile at its base.
3. Orphanage support
As part of the NEF social support services during community
outreaches, recently, June 2011, the NEF officials led by the NEF President Dr
Chudy Nduaka, visited the HOTPEC orphanage in mile 14, Buea, in the South West
Province of Cameroon. The over 105 children the majority of whom are under
fives with over 3 kids of less than 3 months deservingly received food items
especially protein-rich food sources and milk (Nursie 1) for the few months old
babies; clothing; and learning materials include 1 laptop computer from the NEF.
As expressed through rimes and songs singing, the children were particularly
grateful while the management appreciated the gesture.
4. HIV-AIDS prevention of mother to child care
transmission program.
Besides an NEF initiated health care clinic in rural
Nigeria, serving a community of over 20,000 people, and where NEF is still
providing support and life saving medicines for the treatment of most severe
diseases with high mortality rates, the HIV prevention of
mother-to-child-care-transmission (PMTCT) program in Liberia is one of most
impactful public health initiative of the NEF across Africa. NEF partnered with
Global strategies of California to provide anti-retroviral therapies to pregnant
mothers and their children in Liberia and Democratic Republic of Congo.
These programs are still in existence and are fully supported by Global
Strategies for HIV prevention and treatment.
5. Biennial International Scientific Conference in
Africa
As part of the NEF objective to encourage research by
African students/scholars through common platforms (conferences) where students
interact extensively with senior researchers/experts, NEF organizes Biennial
International Scientific Conferences in Africa. The 4th NEF
conference recently took place in Buea Cameroon in collaboration with the
Cameroon Society for Toxicological Sciences (CSTS) and the Society for
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), May – June 2011, after 3
successive conferences in Nigeria East (2007) and Nigeria North (2005, 2009).
During the last conference, the NEF sponsored (travel support, accommodation,
short-courses amongst other) over 43 African students from Cameroon, Nigeria and
Ghana to the conference.
Beneficiaries
National Veterinary Research Institute(NVRI)
Vom, Nigeria
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD)
Abuja, Nigeria
Ahmadu Bello University
Zaria, Nigeria
University of Nigeria
Nsukka, Nigeria
Abia State University
Okigwe, Nigeria
University of Ibadan
Ibadan, Nigeria
Usmanu Danfodio Univeristy
Sokoto, Nigeria
Ovim Girls Secondary School
Ovim, Nigeria
St Joseph Catholic Hospital
Monrovia, Liberia
Redemption Hospital
Monrovia, Liberia
United Methodist University
Monrovia, Liberia
University of Ghana
Legon, Ghana
Methodist University
Dansoman, Ghana
The Lord's Favor Ministry Secondary School
Abia State, Nigeria
The Ovim Community
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