Our Team

Dr. Godwin Etta Odok  

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Godwin is a development specialist. He works in addressing poverty, inequality and promoting environmental and social justice through research, teaching, and the various SamuelDEBORAHprojects. His research and teaching interests coalesce in probing the status of social capital in enabling transformative actions for vulnerable peoples’ groups adapt to burdens and benefits of global environmental and cultural change. His other research interests include social entrepreneurship, endogenous development, humanitarian studies, migration, ageing and health. Godwin holds a PhD in Sociology (University of Ibadan, Nigeria); Law Diploma (University of Jos, Nigeria), and Certificate in ‘Integrated Approaches to Sustainable Development Practice’. Godwin has participated in several local and international conferences/workshops, including the 2012 International Sociological Association (ISA) PhD Students’ Laboratory in Taipei, Taiwan, and a postdoctoral fellowship at the Department of Sociology, University of South Africa.Godwin has published in the areas of climate change adaptation, healthy ageing, endogenous development, African indigenous knowledge systems, civic participation, higher education, health behaviour, migration, gender relations, fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and spirituality. He is the Chairman and founder of SamuelDEBORAH Foundation. He currently teaches in the Department of Sociology, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, Nigeria.

Professor Deborah Egunyomi

SENIOR RESEARCH OFFICER

Professor Deborah Egunyomi is a Professor of Adult Education in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her research and teaching interests are in the areas of informal justice/non-state institutions, development, reproductive rights, population policy and gender,environmental justice, displacement, and civil society, social movements and NGOs. She is the founding Executive Director of Adeola Goodwill Schools, Ibadan-Nigeria. She is also a former Director of the University of Ibadan Continuing Education Centre and Head, Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.  

Professor Olanrewaju Akinpelu Olutayo

MONITORING & EVALUATION OFFICER

Professor Akinpelu Olutayo is SamuelDEBORAH Monitoring & Evaluation Officer and a Professor of Sociology of Development at University of Ibadan, Nigeria.  Prof. Olutayohas been involved in several national and international development projects and programmes including being a Consultant to the World Bank and UNDP Poverty Alleviation Study; Food Basket Foundation International (FBFI) on Sustainable Livelihoods; Youth Communication Initiative; STATCO International; UNFPA on Qualitative Research and Consultant to OXFAM Great Britain on Access of Small Scale Farmers. Professor Olutayo has more than 100 published articles in books, chapters in books, local and international journals and as well supervised more than 30 PhD students.

Dr. Magdalene Eilla Okpotu

PROGRAMME OFFICER, Elderly Care

Dr. Magdalene graduated from University of Calabar, Nigeria with MBBCH (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of surgery). Dr. Magdalene is an astute and innovative general medical practitioner and social entrepreneur. She has planned and participated in several medical outreaches and interventions for the less privileged and vulnerable people, involving various non-profit organizations, including the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA).  She is the founder of Eilla Foundation (EF), a non-profit organization focused at providing empowerment and development, child advocacy, and provision of basic health supports to vulnerable peoples’ groups.

Annah Kahari

PROGRAMME OFFICER, Building Futures

Anna Kahari holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Rhodes University, South Africa and a Masters in Human Rights Law (LLM) degree from University of South Africa. Annah has worked as the React Coordinator for a KP REACH (Key Population: Representation, Evidence, and Advocacy for Change in Health) Global funded project whose main aim was to reduce HIV/AIDS infections amongst vulnerable peoples’ groups in eight countries in Southern Africa. She has also serve as a Regional Advisor to the Rapid Response team (based at the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Brighton) which was responsible for implementing rapid responses to situations or events threatening provision, access and uptake of HIV services to vulnerable peoples’ groups. As the Provincial officer at the National Religious Association for Social Development (NRASD), funded by Global Fund, she was responsible for overseeing and managing the implementation of sub-recipient HIV prevention, treatment and care programmes in the Sedibeng district in Gauteng, South Africa. Annahis currently a Law PhD student at the University of Witswatersrand African Centre for Migration, South Africa.

Dr. Michael Eraye

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Michael Eraye holds a PhD from the Department of Sociology, Federal University Lafia, Nigeria. Michael coordinates all administrative and secretarial support services for SamuelDEBORAH Foundation.