Board of Directors
- About Us
- Board of Directors
Mrs. Mary Abimbola Abogan
Mrs. Mary Abimbola Abogan (nee Orioke) was born on the 30th of January, 1956. She grew up with a strong sense of discipline, service, and compassion, values that would later define her lifelong career in nursing and public health. She is married and blessed with three children, around whom she has built a loving and supportive family.
Her journey into healthcare began in earnest in the late 1970s. Between 1977 and 1980, she trained at the prestigious Wesley Guild Hospital, where she earned her qualification as a Registered Nurse. With a passion for safe motherhood and a desire to support women through one of life’s most delicate experiences, she went on to pursue further training at the Oyo State School of Midwifery from 1988 to 1989, qualifying as a Registered Midwife.
Mary’s pursuit of knowledge did not stop there. In 1993, she attended the Eleyele School of Hygiene, where she obtained further qualifications in Public Health Nursing. Over the years, she expanded her professional capacity, becoming certified as a Community Health Nurse and later a Family Planning Specialist.
Across her decades of service, she has combined professional excellence with compassion, touching countless lives through her work in hospitals, communities, and family health programs. Her career has been a testament to resilience, continuous learning, and an unwavering commitment to public service.
H.E Betty, Anyawu-Akeredolu, Honorary Chairwoman
Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is the founder of the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria (BRECAN), a leading NGO that galvanizes action against breast cancer in Nigeria. She founded BRECAN in October, 1997, as a result of her personal experience with breast cancer. She was diagnosed in March, 1997, undergoing treatment the same year, and survived the deadly disease. Her ordeal became her driving force to start BRECAN, a Nonprofit Organization, with the mission to bring about positive and lasting change in the Nigerian society that has deeply entrenched misconceptions about what causes breast cancer and how it can be treated. Mrs. Betty Anyanwu-Akeredolu is the wife of the 6th Executive Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu, SAN.
Mrs. Anyanwu-Akeredolu is a passionate woman who has won numerous awards both nationally and internationally in recognition of her continuous efforts, against all odds, in raising awareness about breast cancer all around Nigeria. . In late 2017, she launched a two hundred million-naira (N200 million) crowd fund to provide financial aid to indigent breast cancer patients in Nigeria. Mrs. Anyanwu-Akeredolu is widely traveled, and her hobbies include reading, gardening, jogging, yoga and playing lawn tennis.
Folu Dele-Ijagbulu
Folu Dele-Ijagbulu is a deep thinker passionate about enhancing personal effectiveness and driving business growth.
With a wealth of professional experience spanning consulting, energy, government, and the not-for-profit sector, he has held leadership roles in Engineering, Supply Chain, Strategic Planning, and Risk Management. Currently, he is serving as the CEO of BuySimply, a leading process automation solution for mid sized global businesses. He brings a lot of that experience to the board.
Folu earned his degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering from OAU, Nigeria, where he excelled as the valedictorian. Complementing his engineering background, he holds an MBA from INSEAD.
Engr. Olusemire Abogan
Engr. Olusemire Abogan is a Registered Engineer and CEO of Natholab Engineering Co. Ltd, with professional affiliations as a Full Member of the Institute of Road Transport Engineers and the Institute of Motor Industry, UK. He brings decades of leadership experience from both the private sector and the Anglican Communion, where he serves in key roles including Diocesan Engineer, Standing Committee Member, delegate to the General Synod of the Church of Nigeria, and member of the Primate Advisory Council. Widely travelled and deeply committed to faith and community service, he has also held leadership positions within the Diocese of Ibadan and is actively engaged in international fellowship at the Cathedral Church of Saint Martin, Leicester. He is married to Mrs. Abimbola Abogan, and together they are blessed with children and grandchildren.
Dr. Akin Ojesina
Dr. Ojesina is an Assistant Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), with appointments in Epidemiology, the O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. The Ojesina Lab utilizes cutting-edge methods to investigate how microbes (viruses, bacteria, etc.) synergize with genetic changes in cancer, and how these interactions influence cancer development, progression, and response to treatment. This work is applicable to a wide variety of cancers, but the primary focus is on infection-related cancers, squamous cell carcinomas and women’s cancers like breast cancer and cervical cancer. The ultimate goal is to identify better ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Dr. Ojesina’s work has been recognized and supported by the V Foundation, the Damon Runyon Foundation, and the Avon Foundation.
Dr. Ojesina obtained his medical training at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria (with Distinction in Biochemistry), and his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in Public Health at Harvard University. Before his recruitment to UAB, he completed a postdoctoral fellowship in cancer genomics and pathogen discovery at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT.
Ndamati Timothy, Treasurer
Tim joins the board with years of valuable experience as an IRS registered agent. He is the president of S & T Associates, an accounting and business advising firm.
