Two strong leaders in Africa, Nigeria’s Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli and Agnes Binagwaho of Rwanda, were yesterday, 21 November 2019, announced as additional Trustees of the Rockefeller Foundation, the US-based global health and human services philanthropy.
Nwuneli, globally recognized as an expert in agricultural policy and strategy, co-founded and manages Sahel Consulting, an agriculture and nutrition company operating from Nigeria, while Binagwaho is the Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity, a Rwanda-based initiative of Partners in Health.
The duo resumed duty yesterday as well.
“We’re extremely fortunate to welcome Agnes Binagwaho and Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli to our Board of Trustees,” the Foundation said yesterday on its Facebook Page.
Rockefeller Foundation Board Chair, Richard D. Parsons, said he was thrilled to welcome Ndidi and Agnes who “have demonstrated and been recognized for their dedication and leadership in global health and agriculture, respectively, which are core areas of the Foundation’s work.”
The Foundation, he said, will exploit the duo’s “deep global development expertise and longstanding commitment to improving lives” to assist in the work of “lifting up the most vulnerable people in communities around the world.”
While accepting the nomination, Nigeria’s Nwuneli said: “The Rockefeller Foundation’s efforts to scale innovations that help meet the needs of the most vulnerable communities around the world are just as important now as they were when the Foundation was founded.
“I am honored to join the Board of Trustees to support the Foundation as it continues to build on its legacy of leveraging data, technology and innovation to improve the well-being of humanity.”
Ms. Nwuneli’s Sahel Consulting has been applauded across West Africa not only for helping to shape agriculture strategy and policy but also for implementing large-scale, innovative programs in partnership with public, private and nonprofit sectors.
She has logged more than 23 years in international development sector and has been rewarded with important awards and recognitions for her work.
Nwuneli was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, received a Nigerian national honour of Member of the Federal Republic, and was listed as one of the 20 Youngest Power African Women by Forbes.
In addition to Sahel Consulting, she also co-founded AACE Foods, a social enterprise that processes nutritious food made from the best of West Africa’s cereals, herbs, pulses and spices.
Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli founded LEAP Africa, which works across Africa inspiring, empowering and equipping the next generation of dynamic, principled and innovative young leaders.
She studied for her MBA at the Harvard Business School and completed her undergraduate degree with honors in Multinational and Strategic Management from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
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