Our Amazing Trustees .
Mrs. Josephine Effah-Chukwuma
Josephine Effah-Chukwuma is the Founder/Executive Director of Project Alert on Violence Against Women. Josephine had her early education (primary and secondary) at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Yaba-Lagos. Thereafter, she proceeded to the University of Calabar to study English and Literary Studies. After the compulsory one year National Youth Service Corps, NYSC programme, she had a brief stint as a journalist with the now defunct Democrat Newspaper in Kaduna, before proceeding to the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, The Netherlands in August 1992, for a Masters Degree in Development Studies, specializing in Women and Development.In January 1995, after returning from The Netherlands, Josephine joined one of the two main human rights organizations in existence in Nigeria at the time, Constitutional Rights Project, CRP, as the pioneer Programme Officer, Women and Children. She held this position till December 1998, when she disengaged from CRP, to set up Project Alert. Project Alert under her leadership, has published several reports on violence against women in Nigeria; and set up the very first shelter for abused women and young girls in Lagos, Nigeria, known as SOPHIA’S PLACE in May 2001. Recently, she was a Fellow at Indiana University on the Executive Leadership Transition Programme, ELTP.
She is a member of several national and international academic and professional associations such as Association on Research & Non-Profit Voluntary Action, ARNOVA; Association on Research on Civil Society in Africa, AROCSA; and seats on many Boards and Executive Committees such as CLEEN Foundation; Network on Police Reforms in Nigeria, NOPRIN; and Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School Old Students Association, OLAOSA.
Josephine has won many awards internationally and nationally for her relentless efforts to promote and protect the rights of women and young girls in Nigeria, especially from all forms of violence. These awards include the Ashoka Award for Social Entrepreneurship (awarded to her for setting up Sophia’s Place); Doctor of Human Letters (Honorary Doctorate) by the International Circle of Faith University, United States of America; Rare Gems Award; Excellence in Advocacy for Women’s Rights Award; Friend of the Needy Award in recognition of her support for abused women and children (especially young girls); Cross River State Amazon , also in recognition of her outstanding achievements, amongst others. She is married with children. .
Prof. Ngozi Osarenren
Professor Ngozi Osarenren had her early education in Abia State and all her tertiary education at the Faculty of Education, University of Calabar, between 1982 and 1990. She obtained B.A (Hons) Second Class Upper Division in Education/History in 1986 and a PhD in Guidance and Counselling in 1990.She joined the services of University of Lagos in the Department of Educational Foundations in 1992 where she is the current Head of Department and had previously served as Head between 2006 and 2008. A former Commissioner of Education in Edo State, Nigeria, she has over 70 publications in the areas of Counselling, Psychology, Education and Gender issues in reputable journals both nationally and internationally.
Prof Osarenren served as a member: Presidential Task Team on Education, 2011; National Committee on Implementation of Almajiri Education Programme in Nigeria, 2010; and the Implementation Committee on National Secondary Education Commission, 2010. She is a member of American Counselling Association; British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy; a Fellow of the Counselling Association of Nigeria (FCASSON) and member Board of Trustees, Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria (APROCON). She is presently the Chairperson of Association of Professional Counsellors in Nigeria ( APROCON) Lagos Chapter.
Prof Osarenren has a deep-seated passion for quality education and gender equality at all levels. She is a regular commentator on educational and political issues both in the print and electronic media.
Mrs. Sylvia Effah-Diejomaoh
is a graduate of Economics and Statistics and Masters in Business Administration. She has a working career in Inventory Planning and Logistics. Sylvia is an Associate member of Nigerian Institute of Management and an active member of the world's largest humanitarian organisation, LIONS Clubs International.Mrs. Bridget Osakwe
Bridget is currently the National Network Coordinator for the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding in Nigeria, before now the Program Manager, Women In Peacebuilding WIPNET program in Nigeria provides a platform for women’s groups and associations to advocate for the vulnerable groups in conflict and promote social justice.Bridget has a Masters Degree in Peace and Reconciliation studies from the Coventry University, UK, has relevant trainings to her work both national and at international levels including Terrorism and Counterterrorism: Comparing Theory and Practice. She has spoken and facilitated several national and international dialogues and conferences.
Bridget is a Chief (Eka Emem – Mother of Peace of the Duke Royal House), a Melvin Jones Fellow for Dedicated Humanitarian Services of Lions Club International Foundation has some books and publications to her credit. .
