Our Team
Dr. Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba MD, MPH - CEO
Dr. Akudo Anyanwu Ikemba is Founder and CEO of Friends Africa (Friends of the Global Fund Africa).For 3 years, she served as Technical Advisor for Global Fund Projects in Nigeria, under Columbia University's Access Project.
In this role she provided technical assistance to countries to enable them access and manage the Global Fund to Fight AIDS TB Malaria (GFATM) and was successful in securing $480 Million in funding for Nigeria from the Global Fund.
She has worked for the Centers for Disease Control - (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia and as an Associate Scientist with Life Technologies in Palo Alto, California.
She has also worked as a lecturer at Tufts University School of Medicine and has done extensive molecular biology research at Tufts University and Katholique University, Belgium on DNA analysis of Cryptosporium parvum and the motilin protein respectively.
She holds a Doctorate degree in medicine from Tufts University, a Masters degree in International Public Health from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University. She has also done post graduate studies at the University of London and the London Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
Her interests are in infectious diseases, economic development and in public-private partnerships for health in developing countries. She is deeply affected by Africa's astoundingly poor health indicators and the low quality of health systems and infrastructure. Her life goal is to play a pivotal leadership role in improving Africa's health status and development as a whole.
Ms Chioma Nwachukwu - Associate Project Manager
She holds a Masters of Science degree in Health, Population and Society from the London School of Economics and a Bachelor of Science in International Affairs from Georgia Institute of Technology.Her experience spans research, geographic information systems, project planning and project coordination. She also worked as a Research Associate at the Center for Geographic Information Systems and Cref Creflo Dollar Ministries in Atlanta. Her interests include HIV/AIDS, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and child health.
Mr. Bello Bissalla, Partnerships and Research Manager
Mr. Bello Bissalla graduated with a Second Upper Honours Degree in Political Science from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria in 2006. He is an alumnus of the University of Lagos Computer Centre. Mr Bissalla has attended professional training programmes with Kaduna Business School (New Venture Creation), LEAP Africa (Business Leadership Programme), Fate Foundation (Business Plan Writing, Marketing & Presentation Skills), Abuja Enterprise Agency (Customer Care & Public Relations, Business Plan Writing). He has also participated in business contests such as the Dragon’s Den Business Reality TV Contest, as well as first Abuja Enterprise Agency (AEA) Business Plan Competition where he emerged as the Second Runner-up.
Mr. Bissalla has variously consulted for start-ups, small businesses, and the Nigerian National Assembly in strategy, ICT, Budget preparation. He has key interests in business development, strategy and project management.
Miss Mercy Iyogun, Accountant
She is a graduate from Edo State University, Benin city, Nigeria with a degree in mathematics. She is a chartered accountant and a member of the Association of Chartered Accountants (ACA). She joined Friends Africa in 2008 as the Accountant. She has worked with Olushola Adekanle & Co as a tax auditor and financial consultant.
She also worked with Victor Uzodima & Co as a financial consultant, finance internal control and risk management. She worked with Olushola Adebayo & Co as an auditor, financial adviser and Management consultant.
Ms Aimee Miller - Research and Advocacy
She holds a Masters in Public Health degree from the Global Health Track at Columbia University and a Bachelors degree from Harvard University.
She has worked as a Case Manager at the AIDS Service Center NYC, a Research Coordinator in Kinshasa, DRC with the University of North Carolina, an intern at UNAIDS, and in the Monitoring and Evaluation department of the Millennium Villages Project based at Columbia University.
Her interests include reducing the burden of disease in the sub-Saharan region through policy change and the involvement of the African private sector in funding public health projects.
Ms Nwabundo Onyeabo - Communications Associate
She holds a Masters in Business Administration, with a focus on Marketing. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations from Morgan State University and has done Public Relations projects in the medical, business and educational fields.She has been involved in projects with the United Nations Department of Public Information and has interests in strategies to achieve all the Millennium Development Goals.
Mr Ned Winn-Dix, Communications and Advocacy Associate
Mr. Winn-Dix holds a Bachelors degree in Liberal Studies (International) from the University of Sydney.
His skill areas cover media engagement, film and video production, and document writing and editing.
Mr. Winn-Dix is interested in the media's role in behavioural change communication (BCC) in developing countries.
Miss Tinuola Aina, Administration and Governance Assistant
Ms Tinuola Aina holds a bachelor’s degree in French language from the University of Lagos. She is a member of Nigerian Institute of Management (Chattered). Her experience spreads across translation, administration and marketing.
She has worked with the Republic of Benin Airport, UAC Dairies and Tinapa Business Resort and Free Trade Zone. Her interests include international relations and economic growth.
Mr. Lewis Kim, Technical Assistant at Friends Africa Technical Assistance Hub
Mr. Lewis Kim holds a Master of Public Health in Global Health from the George Washington University and certification in public health informatics from University of Illinois at Chicago.
His skill sets focus on epidemiology, health informatics, database management, and web contents management system.
He is interested in improving surveillance systems to control infectious diseases through global health diplomacy.
Regional Representatives
Mr Richard Kasesela – East Africa and the Indian Ocean Regional Representative
Mr Kasesela is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Business Coalition on HIV AIDS in Tanzania (ABCT).
Mr Kasesela previously worked for T-MARC in 2004, as well as being the General Manager for Nasaba Tissue before that and working for Kibo Breweries.
Richard holds a degree in Economic majoring industrial economics (BA Economics) and has a masters degree in Business Administration (MBA in Marketing with minor in Human Resources).
He is a member institute for Marketing UK and the Secretary General for Society for International development Tanzania chapter.