Fellows

Anwuli earned a Bachelor’s of Arts degree in English Literature from the University of Benin in Nigeria. She has worked extensively in media, development, and management consulting. In the early stages of her career, she served as a journalist, columnist, and as assistant editor/PRO Officer at Kachifo Limited (Owners of the Farafina Trademark) working with acclaimed writers, such as Chimamanda Adichie, Chika Unigwe, and Binyanvanga Wainaina. Her other past experiences include stints as a communication manager at FATE Foundation, where she managed the communication strategy of the foundation and worked with budding entrepreneurs; Senior Consultant, Development Communications & Projects, ThistlePraxis Consulting, where she co-designed and lead media campaigns on sustainability for clients such as the Cross River State Government, and Ag Executive Director, Career Development Network (CDNet), a career development based non profit. Also, she has lead projects on youth development. Anwuli is a Fellow of the sustainability initiative at Leadership in Environment and Development Program in Africa (LEAD), a member of the Atlas Community Leaders, and a member of the Global Shapers Community of the World Economic Forum. In addition, she serves as a global volunteer for the Global Dignity Day Project, affiliated with the World Economic Forum. Anwuli is currently in the process of setting up a publishing/communication outfit where she will be co-partner.

Host Organization: Thinking Beyond Borders

Role at Host Organization: Anwuli will contribute to the planning and implementation of Thinking Beyond Borders’ digital communication strategies to promote and advance its mission. Anwuli’s contributions will include engaging take holders, research, planning content creation, building a long-term infrastructure for TBB digital media; disseminating information and promoting discussions on global issues of interest on sustainability and international development in line with Thinking Beyond Borders’ mission.

Oluwabusayomi is a Journalist with over seven years of experience in using storytelling to educate, empower, and encourage positive outlook on rural development, entrepreneurship, and youth leadership in Africa and across the Commonwealth region. A graduate of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, ’Busayomi’s work has been featured on news platforms and magazines with continental and global reach. She has also published in the How We Made It In Africa: The Book. (2018). Oluwabusayomi is the co-founder and managing editor of Rural Reporters – a Nigeria-based news platform with in-depth coverage of under-reported issues in rural communities in Nigeria and across Africa. She also served as the Assistant Editor of Leading Change, the University of Cambridge website for The Queen’s Young Leaders Programme. Her experience in the nonprofit sector includes working as the Communications Officer for Network of Migration Research on Africa (NOMRA), serving as an Editorial Assistant at Development Diaries, and volunteering as an advocate of Women Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Nigeria for Ipas. Oluwabusayomi has worked as an independent research consultant for Euromonitor International since 2016 covering consumer behaviour and lifestyles and other industry-related research in Nigeria. She draws on her experience as both a Journalist and industry watcher to communicate from an insider’s perspective. Oluwabusayomi, a fellow of the International Women’s Media Foundation, enjoys shining the spotlight on people who are breaking barriers in their field and communities. She is interested in making rural development issues an integral part of global development.

Host Organization: Transparency and Accountability Initiative

Role at Transparency and Accountability Initiative: At TAI, Oluwabusayomi will focus on developing and implementing a strategic communications plan for the organization. She will also help TAI undergo a strategy refresh in 2019, disseminate our new strategy widely in 2020, and work on fast changing, globally relevant issues with leading philanthropic funders.

Chris is a public health practitioner with six years of experience in community and public health and development. As a Public Health Officer with Pro-Health International Nigeria, under the CDC-funded Global Health Security Agenda program, he has contributed to strengthening the public health emergency preparedness system in three international airports and two land crossings in Nigeria. His work includes advocacy and technical assistance to the public health institution in Nigeria on Global Health Security, implementation of the International Health Regulations at the points of entry and prevention, detection and response to disease outbreaks within the country. Prior to taking on the role of Public Health Officer, he worked as a Program Officer for four years in the same organization, where he designed, planned and coordinated medical interventions in rural communities in 20 states across Nigeria. Chris has also worked with a community-based organization to engage stakeholders and raise funds for the implementation of rural medical outreaches in Nigeria. He currently also serves as knowledge management and communications expert with Pro-Health, where he manages the organization’s website and social media platforms and leads the development of various knowledge and communication products. As a medical laboratory scientist, he worked with a USAID-funded hospital in the treatment, management, and care of rural dwellers living with HIV/AIDs and Tuberculosis. Through these experiences, he has developed strong capacity building, leadership development, fund-raising and project management skills. Chris has a deep-seated interest in community health and social empowerment.

Host Org: Susan G Komen

Role at Susan G Komen: As the Breast Cancer Fellow, Chris will provide support to Komen’s Global and National Capital Region (NCR) Programs. This includes assisting with the maintenance of a website for the NCR Program and developing an external communication plan.

Comfort is a communications professional with over five years of experience in internal and external communications in various industries like education, media (print and social media), professional training and research as well as operations. She worked as the COO at the KSE Network while also serving as a media account officer at The Alpha Reach. Comfort recently led the KSE Network’s team in a 3 months and 2 weeks training of 100 participants at the #MTNPulseBlowMyHustle campaign which recorded overwhelmingly positive feedback. At This Day Newspaper where she worked as a reporter, she had over 100 articles published in her maiden name (Comfort Umoren). Comfort has an MA (Distinction) and a BA (First Class) in Communication and Language Arts, both at the prestigious University of Ibadan and, an OND (Distinction) in Mass Communication at the former Lagos State Polytechnic. She runs a blog – Unwind With Kam4t, where she writes on issues that affect young professionals and entrepreneurs in a relaxed way.

Host Organization: Deseret Management Corporation

Role at Host Organization: As a Global Communications Fellow, Comfort will assist the global reach efforts of the Deseret Management Corporation, including expanding a mission-driven mandate to help media be a constructive, inclusive part of civil society, in particular as it relates to some of the oft-forgotten issues of faith and values. Comfort will assist in managing a diverse portfolio of activities and partnership in the communications realm. As the supervisor is also the CEO of the Radiant Foundation (the corporate foundation associated with the corporation), there will be ample opportunities to assist with projects that build partnerships and awareness around the foundation’s core issues. Comfort’s fellowship will focus on media brands, on communications, public relations and the nexus of how those issues impact society as a whole.

Jennifer brings five years of experience in the nonprofit and media sectors. Currently she serves as a media coordinator and an executive council member with the One World Youth Project, a youth led organization committed to working towards the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals while empowering young people all over the world. She is also an active voice in her home country of Nigeria. Jennifer works as a journalist while also volunteering for various youth development projects. She served as a youth intern at Journalists Against AIDS (JAAIDS) and was also one of nine Nigerian and nine British youths who took part in a six-month Jos-Birmingham Global Xchange programme sponsored by the British Council and Voluntary Service Overseas in 2005. Jennifer writes a weekly youth column called “Dis generation” (www.youthmakingchange.blogspot.com) for The Nation, one of Nigeria’s national newspapers. Her first book In Days to Come was published by the Young Poet Society UK in 2004. Jennifer is very passionate about the media and youth development issues. She is a vivacious volunteer who encourages young people to engage themselves and build their skills through active volunteering. Jennifer received a National Diploma in mass communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism in Ogba Ikeja Lagos.

Host Organization: One World Youth Project

Ochuko has two years of experience in the nonprofit sector, and earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry from Delta State University, and a Master’s degree in Pharmacology and Therapeutics from the University of Ibadan in Nigeria. While working as a Research Fellow with the Institute for Advanced Medical Research and Training in Nigeria under the WHO-funded malaria program, she helped improve the health of children living with malaria in western Nigeria. She also carried out the implementation and documentation of high quality research including the diagnosis of P. falciparum in saliva and blood specimen using rapid diagnostic test. This study was a landmark study, for the first time malaria was diagnosed using saliva specimen in Nigeria. Ochuko has volunteered as a Community Health Officer in different capacities, including for a help fare program annually held in Port-Harcourt, which involves offering free medical treatment to the poor and less privileged in the society. Over the years, she has accrued competencies in research and community health. Ochuko has a strong passion for maternal and child health.

Host Organization: GBCHealth

Mazhun has six years experience in professional content production and translation for nonprofits. He has a Bachelor’s in Economic Science from Ahmadu Bello University, proficiency certificates in Hausa and Arabic languages. He also possesses MOOC certificates in “Building State Capability” from Harvard Center for International Development and “Creativity Innovation & Change” from Pennsylvania State University. Mazhun is a professional web search analyst, open-source data miner and volunteer linguist. Mazhun has delivered volunteer localization works for Breast Cancer Self Awareness messages under Project PINK BLUE-Health & Psychological Trust Centre. In June 2016 in Kano, Mazhun organized a one-day regional training workshop on sustainable control of Tuta Absoluta tomato pest, sponsored by Russell IPM, London, for northern Nigerian farmers. Five years ago, Mazhun was the acting editor of Al-Ikhtiyar, a monthly Islamic social reform magazine. In his previous employment with a media communication firm, Mazhun acquired content production skills as a guest interviewer, scriptwriter, subtitle supervisor, and cultural adaptation specialist for various TV programs. Mazhun has authored two books, two academic papers, and a number of poems in literary magazines, along with many features in Leadership, The Nation, Daily Trust and News of Nigeria newspapers.

Host Organization: Center for Islam and Religious Freedom (CIRF)

Role at Host Organization: Mazhun will assist with research, education, media production, and advocacy working in partnership with Muslims who support religious freedom. He will take part in educational programs about religious freedom, provide advice about work in Nigeria and other areas, and assist with grant applications.

Victoria has over three years of experience in communications, social and community development, and leadership development. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Strategic Communication from the African University College of Communications, an affiliate of the University of Ghana, where she graduated with First Class Honors. She previously worked as an Event Coordinator at GEMGirl Initiative, where she was involved in several social development programs such as Feed the Homeless 2015 and 2016, Breast Cancer Awareness 2016, Social Entrepreneurship Awareness 2017, and Gem to Gem Initiative. Victoria has also volunteered with Victoria Michael’s Foundation, a subsidiary of the Africa Literacy Development Initiative (ALDI) in Ghana. She’s previously served as an Innovation Analyst with Sankore Investment in Nigeria and as a Business Development Executive and Conference Manager with corporate learning company Innovare. Most recently, Victoria served as an IT Firm’s Communications and Marketing Executive. There she developed various communications strategies and integrated them into the corporate culture. She is very passionate about innovation, community development, gender equality, and youth leadership.

Host Organization: BronxWorks

Role at BronxWorks: At BronxWorks, Victoria will serve as the Executive Coordinator, providing executive, administrative and strategic support to the Executive Director, members of the Executive Team, and Senior Program Leadership.