Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola
Chairman, Board of Trustees
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, fondly called “Lagun” within the family circle, was born on Saturday, February 3, 1951 in Okuku, Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State into the royal Oyinlola family. His father, Late Oba Moses Oyewole Oyinlola was the Olukuku of Okuku between 1934 and 1960 and has a record of a peaceful and successful reign. Olagunsoye’s mother, Late Olori Comfort Ololade Oyinlola, hailed from Otan Ayegbaju. Her family migrated from Otan-Ayegbaju to settle in Okuku. Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s mother died in 1959 when he was barely eight years old while his father died a year later. Following the loss of both, at a very tender age, the task of nurturing Olagunsoye fell on the elderly members of his family.
H.E. DR. HAJO SANI OON
Member, Board of Trustees
Dr. Hajo Sani is an Educationist and Policy Analyst with many years of experience in teaching and public administration. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counselling and a Doctorate Degree in Public Administration and Policy Analysis. She was a school principal for twelve years before her appointment as Minister of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development (1997- 98). During her tenure, she led a delegation to the United Nations (UN) and defended the 2nd and 3rd Country Report on CEDAW at the 19th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. She is an alumnus of Department of State International Visitor Programme and a fellow of the International Health Programme. Dr. Sani was once the Secretary-General of the West African Women Association (WAWA), Nigeria Chapter, from 2000 – 01
MRS. LYDIA JAFIYAH
Member, Board of Trustees
Lydia Shehu Jafiya, mni was born on 30th July 1967 in Gulak, Madagali Local Government Area of Adamawa State. She attended Central Primary School, Gulak from 1974 to 1980 and Federal Government College, Jos, 1980 to 1985. She then proceeded to Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, where she obtained a B.Sc. Business Administration (specialising in Banking and Finance) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in 1989 and 1994 respectively.
PROF. PETER OKEBUKOLA (OON)
Member, Board of Trustees
He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Osogbo and the Executive Director of Institute of African Culture and International Understanding, Abeokuta, Nigeria .He is the immediate past Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), and he introduced ranking into the Nigerian university system. He is currently working with the leadership of NUC to refine the ranking system and implement the refined scheme at the national level and Africa wide.
CHIEF MRS. NIKE MONICA OKUNDAYE
Member, Board of Trustees
Chief Dr. (Mrs.) Oyenike Monica Okundaye popularly known and called “MAMA NIKE” by her numerous fans, was born on the m23rd May 1951 at a very quiet and hilly village of Ogidi-Ijumu in Kogi State of Nigeria. Nike is a multi-talented individual with a wide range of enduring fortitude. In her early life as a village girl, she was a stage dancer and later became an actress featuring as a lead actress in a local Yoruba film, “Ayaba”. In addition, she has also participated in many documentary films including “KINDRED SPIRITS” sponsored and produced by Smithsonian Museum in Washington DC, and a CNN feature documentary film “AFRICAN VOICES”. In January 2016, CNN again featured Nike in another documentary film “INSIDE AFRICA”. Nike then walked up the ladder to become a rare international icon in art. She is an accomplished professional artist; a painter, a textile artist, weaver, embroider, and awards winner at many national and international art shows. Nike is a member of many national and international professional bodies. She is also principally a social entrepreneur and a well-known philanthropist championing the cause of the neglected Nigerian rural women using art as a tool to accomplish these noble missions.
OMOOBA YEMISI SHYLLON
Member, Board of Trustees
Omooba Yemisi Shyllon is a Nigerian art and culture enthusiast, art collector, philanthropist, and lawyer. He is also a chartered engineer, chartered marketer, and chartered stockbroker.
PROF. OLUTAYO ADESINA
Member, Board of Trustees
Prof. Olutayo Adesina Olutayo Charles Adesina, FNAL, is a Professor of History, the immediate past Head of the Department of History and former Director, Centre for General Studies at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. He is the author/co-author of more than a dozen books and over sixty articles. For more than two decades, the focus of his scholarship on sub-Saharan Africa has either singly or generally summoned intersections of local, national, regional and global history. Prof. Adesina received his education at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU, formerly University of Ife), where he earned his B.A. (1985), M.A. (1989), and Ph.D. (1994) all in History.
PROF. ADEREMI AJALA
Member, Board of Trustees
Aderemi Suleiman Ajala was born in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government, Osun State where he had both elementary and secondary education. He attended the then Oyo State College of Arts and Science for A level certificate. He also attended University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria where he had B.A (Hons), M.A and PhD in Anthropology and African Studies; LL.B (Hons), LL.M in International Law and another M.Sc International Relations. He is currently a Professor of Medical Anthropology and Development Studies.
MR. ENVADU YOHANNA
Member, Board of Trustees
Mr. Envadu Yohanna is the deputy director, UNESCO Desk, Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, Abuja
MR. IFEANYI VICTOR AJAEGBO
Member, Board of Trustees
Representatives of the UNESCO Regional Office Abuja
PROFESSOR SIYAN OYEWESO FNAL, FHSN
Executive Director
PROFESSOR SIYAN OYEWESO, Executive Director, Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, Abere, Osun State, was born on February 1, 1961. A distinguished alumnus of University of Ife, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University), he holds B.A. (Hons) Degree in History (Second Class Upper Division), M.A. History and Ph.D Intellectual History. Oyeweso started his academic career in 1985 as an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of History, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State. He attained the rank of Lecturer II in 1987, and was promoted to Lecturer Grade I in 1989 and Senior Lecturer in 1992. He was appointed an Associate Professor in 2001 and Professor in July 2004.
