Dr Newton Jibunoh, Founder
Dr. Jibunoh, PhD holder from the Nnamdi Azikiwe Universty Awka and University of Benin, has successfully driven across the Sahara Desert three times based on his undying thirst to bring attention to the ravaging effects of the Sahara and resultant impact on neighboring communities. His background is in Engineering with a specialization in Soil Mechanics. He worked for the Costain Group where he rose to Chairman/CEO, a position he held for 16 years. He is a fellow of the Nigerian institute of builders (NIOB), with over thirty-five (35) years experience in the building and construction industry. He has also acquired over forty (40) years of relevant experience in Environment, where he has carried out various research themed visits and survey works on desertification, including a 3-month study visit to the Ben-Gurion University at Negev Israel where he acquired training on “desertology” and went on a study tour to the Cold and Arid Regions Environment and Engineering Research Institute in China. He was also part of a team that was sponsored by the United States Consular Office in Abuja for a 2-week course at the University of Arizona. He is a member of the federal government’s delegate to Climate change conferences haven taken part in conferences held in Bangkok, Copenhagen and more recently Cancun. He is an Emeritus Ambassador of Environment for Lagos state. Some of his research work and findings have been documented in his books, “Me, My Desert and I” and “Bridging The Sahara Desert”.
Onuorah Aligbe, Programme Director
He has an MSc in Geology and PGD Petroleum Engineering. A consultant with experience in hydrogeology, construction, and environmental management, Mr Aligbe is an Engineer and the former Deputy Managing Director of Costain West Africa, a position he held for 7yrs. He has over 20 years of experience in the building and development industry as well as consultancy in Nigeria. He is also a Consultant to FADE on issues of Geophysical surveys and general environmental development. He is an excellent team player and a good manager of people. He is also computer savvy and works very well with most operating software.
Abdul-Azeez Abba, Project Coordinator (North)
He has a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and a master’s degree in Crop Protection from the same institution. He has garnered over thirty-five years of experience in agriculture and environmental issues. His previous work experience spans the Agricultural Supply Company Limited where he was the first indigenous managing director. He was the Chairman of Kano state consultative committee/task force on pest control and was able to secure assistance from the Food and Agriculture (FAO) and the British Overseas Development Administration now DFID to control periodic outbreaks of crop pests. He was permanent secretary in various ministries with Kano State Government from 1993 to 2010 and secretary of the Northern States Committee on Desert Control. He acts as the principal consultant at ASCAS Integrated Agricultural Concept Limited. At FADE, he is responsible for coordinating the northern projects of the organization and providing technical input into the desert-fighting strategy employed by FADE in the species of trees to be planted which will simultaneously provide economic sustenance.
Fatima Ado Mohammed, Environmental Field Officer
She has a degree in Biochemistry from the University of Maiduguri. At FADE she is responsible for routine monitoring of the schools' greening project and handles all administrative requirements for FADE’s projects in the North. She is the liaison officer between the officials at the Ministry of Environment, Kano Emirate Council, various school communities and FADE. She also serves as FADE’s Monitoring and Evaluation officer for the MDGs – DRG funded projects and programs for North – West Zone and coordinates the team of field officers that carry out the monitoring functions.
Omobolanle Atobatele Media and Communications Strategist
She has a B.Sc in Agricultural Engineering from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife and an M.Sc in Environmental Engineering from Newcastle University U.K finishing with a distinction. She has consulted for Safety Environment Quality Management U.K and formerly worked with Stanbic IBTC Pension Managers in charge of the establishing the Relationship Management unit before heading the Benefits Management unit. She is a member of the Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) and Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA). She is presently the media and communications strategist with FADE Africa where she liaises with the organization’s corporate sponsors, is in charge of preparation of technical proposals, strategic analysis of potential projects that are community driven, prompt information dissemination to relevant print and electronic media and handling of the organization’s logistics.
Chukwuemeka Jibunoh, Project Manager
He is a graduate of Mass Communications from Babcock University. He handles the tree planting initiatives for FADE and haven spearhead the tree planting exercised in states like Lagos, Oyo, Delta, Imo, Rivers, Enugu, Cross Rivers, Kano and F.C.T Abuja. He is the expedition and logistics manager in charge of the renowned green reality show tagged “Dr Newton Jibunoh’s Desert Warriors Reality Show”, which is in partnership with Lagos state Government Ministry of The Environment. During the course of the last expedition in Agadez, Niger Republic, he coordinated the planting of thousands of trees in the space of a week.
Akin Olukiran, Fundraising Consultant
He holds an M.Sc degree in Voluntary Sector Organization from the London School of Economics (LSE) and a BSc Honours degree in Political Science from Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife. Presently acts as FADE’s representative in the United Kingdom and coordinates the European activities of the Foundation, including strategic alliances, fundraising strategy and strategic change management. He has over 15 years’ senior management experience in the voluntary sector in the United Kingdom. As the Chief Executive Officer of CAPS Nig Ltd (Complete Africa Philanthropy Solutions) with a passion for building the capacity of voluntary and community sector organizations (NGOs), he has a wealth of experience in the leadership and management of charities, fundraising and capacity building initiatives. In the social welfare sector, he has held various executive level positions including the Chief Executive of Disability in Camden (DISC), CEO of CultureLink UK Ltd and he was at various times in the past, Head of Finance and IT of a large social housing provider (SHP) and in the late 90s as Executive Director (later as Chair of the Board) of Adzido Pan African Dance Ensemble, then the largest black arts group in Europe.
Adaure Achumba, Media Consultant
She studied Mass Communication at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. She is an internationally trained broadcast journalist and the CEO/Creative director for Five Cowrie Creek Media Ltd, a Media Solutions, Public Relations and new media production and consulting firm. She is a freelance journalist for international news agencies like Reuters and Franc 5 TV and is presently the media consultant for FADE Africa where she is responsible for coordinating the production of the documentary and acts as the intermediary between media organizations and FADE Africa. She is best known for her work as a former morning news anchor, breakfast show presenter, news reporter and producer at Silverbird TV. Before being recruited to work in Nigeria with the Silverbird Group, she interned with CNN's Los Angeles Bureau. She has also been a presenter/reporter on the popular lifestyle and travel show on MNET, Studio 53.
Ogechi Ukaogo, Administrative Executive
She has a B.Sc in Geography and Meteorology from Enugu State University of Science and Technology. At FADE, she is responsible for the overall supervision of the Lagos office and handles the administrative requirements for FADE projects worldwide. She is in charge of logistics and liaising with FADE vendors, and also doubles up as the Founder’s personal assistant.
We also work with ad-hoc field officers who are familiar with the terrain and assist in ensuring our objectives are effectively communicated to the residents of the community during the entire project phase from initiation to execution.
