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Introduction: Why Community Engagement is the Backbone of Sustainable Change Across Africa, true and lasting development begins at the grassroots. Communities hold the knowledge, resilience, and potential to
READ MOREJoy Olarewaju is a passionate community health advocate with a strong academic and professional background in both the humanities and law. She graduated with a Second Class Upper degree in English and Literary Studies from the University of Abuja and also holds a degree in Law.
She has gained extensive experience working with international and local health initiatives. Joy served as an Independent Monitor for the World Health Organization (WHO) during routine immunization campaigns and later as a Verifier for supplemental immunization activities, ensuring the accuracy and effectiveness of health interventions.
Currently, she works closely with a team to deliver preventive care and health education to young mothers, with a focus on maternal and child health. Her role emphasizes empowering mothers with knowledge and support to improve family well-being.
Beyond her health advocacy work, Joy also serves as the Legal Adviser and Public Engagement Manager for the Involve Community Engagement Initiative (ICEI), where she combines her legal expertise with strategic communication skills to strengthen community trust and organizational impact.
Her career reflects a commitment to improving lives through health awareness, legal advocacy, and community engagement.
Olurotimi Ayobami Olafadehan is a renowned scholar, researcher and consultant in Animal Production. He has over twenty years of academic and professional experience. He was formerly the Head, Department of Animal Science and the Director, University of Abuja Teaching and Research Farm. He is currently the Head, Department of Dairy Science, University of Abuja.
He holds a PhD in Animal Science from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He is a Registered Animal Scientist and belongs to various Professional Bodies and Associations such as Nigerian Institute of Animal Science, Nigerian Society of Animal Production, Animal Science Association of Nigeria, among others. Olafadehan is well reputed in sustainable ruminant and dairy animal production using environmentally friendly feed resources. His Google H-index is 26 with citations of over 2500.
His research focuses on utilisation of phytogenic feed additives in ruminants and monogastric animal production, biodegradation and utilisation of lignocellulosic materials in ruminant nutrition, nutritional enhancement of milk production and quality, in vitro screening of non-conventional ingredients, enteric methane abatement and cleaner environment production. Olafadehan is well published and has over 100 publications with more than 50% in double blind, peer reviewed, Scopus-indexed, high impact factor journals. He is a reviewer for topnotch Scopus–indexed journals like Animal Feed Science and Technology, Livestock Science, Small Ruminant Research, Animal Biotechnology, Italian Journal of Animal Science, Journal of Applied Animal Research, Veterinary and Animal Science among others. Olafadehan was among the Nigerian scientists listed in the 2023 world top 2% best scientists released in the October 2023 data-update for updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators.
Olafadehan is keenly interested in community development, enhancing the income base of individuals through advocating for sustainable livestock production using cheap and readily available non-conventional feedstuffs, promoting healthy lives through improved nutrition of individuals by encouraging consumption of highly-nourishing animal products as well as mitigation of enteric methane emission from livestock to promote healthy environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He is committed to enhancing the livelihood of communities through information dissemination and training on skills and competencies acquisition in profitable and sustainable smallholder livestock production. He also has a strong passion for raising community and future leaders.
Olafadehan, as a member of the ICEI Board, provides quality leadership and research expertise to achieve the NGO’s mission of mobilizing African communities towards their overall welfare and SDG achievement.
Gabriel Adewale O. is an accomplished public health professional, executive leader, and development practitioner with a distinguished record of advancing health outcomes, strengthening health systems, and championing community engagement initiatives across Nigeria. With over seven years of professional experience spanning immunization programs, disease control, health systems strengthening, and organizational leadership, Gabriel has consistently demonstrated a rare blend of technical expertise, visionary leadership, and community-driven impact.
He currently serves as the Executive Director of Involve Community Engagement Initiative (ICEI), where he leads the strategic direction, governance, and operations of the organization. In this role, Gabriel drives resource mobilization, builds multi-sector partnerships, designs and oversees impactful programs, and amplifies community voices through advocacy at local, national, and international forums. His leadership is grounded in inclusivity, transparency, and accountability, ensuring that ICEI remains a trusted partner for both communities and stakeholders.
Over the course of his career, Gabriel has held technical and supervisory positions with leading global health organizations. He has served as a State Technical Facilitator with the World Health Organization (WHO), where he supported immunization campaigns, trained health workers, supervised vaccination teams, and designed evidence-based strategies to improve coverage. He worked as a State Master Trainer and Supervisor with the John Hopkins International Vaccine Access Center (IVAC), leading the introduction of the HPV vaccine in schools and communities, conducting sensitization campaigns, and engaging media to tackle myths and misconceptions around immunization.
In addition, Gabriel has worked with Sydani Initiative for International Development as a Service Delivery Consultant on the COVID-19 Vaccine Ramp-Up Project and as an LGA Supervisor on the STRICAN Project, providing technical leadership to vaccination teams and strengthening routine immunization activities. His consultancy with the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) on Zero-Dose Assessments and his role as a State Field Consultant with Malaria Consortium further showcase his expertise in data-driven public health programming, qualitative and quantitative research, and stakeholder engagement.
Earlier in his career, Gabriel served as a National Management Support Team Member under the Africa Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET) and the National Stop Transmission of Polio (NSTOP) Program. There, he played a crucial role in polio eradication efforts, supportive supervision, community mobilization, and disease surveillance. These experiences have provided him with deep insights into the dynamics of primary healthcare delivery, routine immunization systems, and public health emergency response at both national and sub-national levels.
Gabriel is academically grounded with a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from the University of Abuja and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Public Health at the National Open University of Nigeria. He complements his academic journey with a wide range of certifications, including training in community organization, management strategies, brand management (London Business School), soft skills development (Jobberman/MasterCard Foundation), behavior change (Imperial College London), and immunization-specific certifications from WHO, CHAI, and John Hopkins IVAC.
His contributions to knowledge and research include co-authored publications in peer-reviewed journals, notably “An Overview of Helicobacter Pylori Infection and Its Mystery” and “Rising Cases of Antibiotics Self-Medication and Its Associated Predicament.” He is also a Moving Minds Alliance Research Fellow, selected among ten fellows from the Global South to conduct pioneering research on the effects of hot climate on dietary practices of breastfeeding mothers and the health outcomes of their breastfed children in Niger State, Nigeria.
Gabriel is a member of the American Society for Microbiology and a collaborator with the Global Burden of Diseases Network, positioning him within global communities of practice. He has also participated in international conferences, including the International Conference on Public Health in Africa (CPHIA), the Future of Health Conference, and Infection Prevention and Control convenings by Africa CDC.
Fluent in English and Yoruba, with working proficiency in Hausa and French, Gabriel thrives in multicultural environments and brings excellent communication, interpersonal, and public speaking skills to his work. He is recognized as a strategic thinker, a problem solver, and a mentor who fosters inclusive organizational cultures. His professional competencies span program design and implementation, resource mobilization, advocacy, data management, and crisis response, all underpinned by a passion for improving the lives of children, women, and marginalized communities.
At his core, Gabriel is a visionary leader and changemaker committed to leveraging his expertise to influence health systems, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). His career journey continues to reflect his belief that sustainable impact lies at the intersection of evidence, innovation, and community participation.
Professor Oluwafemi Kehinde Akande is a distinguished scholar, researcher, and practitioner in Architecture and Sustainable Built Environment with over three decades of academic and professional experience across Africa, Europe, and beyond. He is currently a Professor and Head, Department of Architecture at Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja, and a Guest Professor at Hano Technical University, Mogadishu, Somalia.
He holds a PhD in Architecture from Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford, UK, and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at the University of Leeds, UK funded by the African Research Excellence Fund (AREF). A Chartered Building Engineer (UK), Chartered Architectural Technologist (UK), and a Registered Architect in Nigeria, Professor Akande is a highly respected voice in sustainable housing, environmental health, energy-efficient building design, and community-centered urban development.
His research and publications — spanning over 120 peer-reviewed international journal articles — focus on themes central to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). He has won multiple Best Paper Awards at international conferences in Turkey, Malaysia, Portugal, Morocco, and Indonesia, in addition to recognition from the Next Einstein Forum (AIMS), AREF, and the University of California, Berkeley.
Professor Akande brings to ICEI a strong record of community engagement, housing and health advocacy, and sustainable design research that bridges policy, practice, and academic excellence. He is passionate about advancing “Healthy Homes, Healthy Lives” through human-centered housing design in Africa, improving public health outcomes, and equipping the next generation of architects, engineers, and community leaders with skills for resilience and sustainability.
As a member of the ICEI Board, Professor Akande contributes thought leadership, research expertise, and international networks to support the NGO’s mission of mobilizing African communities towards holistic well-being and SDGs achievement.
