Foundation Members

Meet the dedicated members of the Vulnerable Persons Rights Protection Foundation. Our leadership team brings together expertise in law, human rights advocacy, education, public health, and community development to advance our mission of protecting vulnerable persons and promoting peace across Nigeria and beyond.

Foundation Leadership

The following individuals serve as members and officers of the Vulnerable Persons Rights Protection Foundation. They are responsible for the strategic direction, operational management, and program delivery of the Foundation. For general inquiries, please contact the relevant member directly or write to info@vulprif.org.

Dr. Amina Okonkwo

President & Founder

Dr. Okonkwo founded VULPRF in 2017 after two decades of work in peacebuilding and human rights advocacy across West Africa. She holds a Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution from the University of Ibadan and has led community reconciliation programs in Plateau, Kaduna, and Benue states. Under her leadership, VULPRF grew from a grassroots initiative to a UN ECOSOC-accredited organization serving over 127,000 beneficiaries.

Ibrahim Musa Hassan

Vice President

Ibrahim Musa Hassan serves as Vice President, overseeing program strategy and institutional partnerships. A former senior advisor at the National Peace Committee, he brings deep expertise in interfaith dialogue and youth engagement. He coordinates VULPRF's engagement with UN agencies and regional bodies including ECOWAS and the African Union.

Grace Nkechi Eze

Executive Director

As Executive Director, Grace manages day-to-day operations and leads the senior management team. She previously directed programs for a major international NGO focused on women's rights and has 15 years of experience in nonprofit management, M&E, and organizational development. She holds an MPA from Ahmadu Bello University.

Barr. Chinedu Okafor

Legal Counsel & Director of Policy

Barrister Okafor leads VULPRF's legal aid and policy advocacy work, having argued over 340 cases on behalf of vulnerable persons before Nigerian courts. He specializes in child rights, disability law, and gender-based violence litigation. He also drafts model legislation and engages with the National Assembly on human rights reform.

Fatima Bello Abubakar

Director of Programs

Fatima directs VULPRF's portfolio of community programs spanning children and youth, women's empowerment, disability inclusion, and peace education. She has designed and implemented projects funded by the Ford Foundation, OSIWA, and the UN Peacebuilding Fund, reaching communities across 18 Nigerian states.

David Adeyemi

Director of Advocacy & Communications

David leads VULPRF's public advocacy, media relations, and digital communications. A former journalist and communications consultant, he has shaped campaigns that influenced 89 policy reforms at state and federal levels. He manages the Foundation's UN ECOSOC advocacy engagement in Geneva and New York.

Mrs. Patricia Danjuma

Secretary to the Foundation

Mrs. Danjuma serves as Secretary to the Foundation, maintaining corporate records, ensuring regulatory compliance with the Corporate Affairs Commission, and coordinating Board and General Assembly meetings. She is a chartered administrator with over 20 years of experience in nonprofit governance.

Vivian Li

Director of Liaison Officer

Vivian Li is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. She serves as Liaison Officer for the Foundation with UN ECOSOC Special Consultative Status. She focuses on institutional communication, multi-stakeholder coordination and international partnership development, and advances the Foundation’s global outreach, academic exchanges and public-welfare programmes.

Dr. Halima Yusuf

Director of Research & Data

Dr. Yusuf leads VULPRF's research and data unit, producing evidence-based reports on human rights conditions, conflict trends, and program impact. She holds a Ph.D. in Development Studies and has published widely on gender-based violence, displacement, and access to justice in northern Nigeria.

Samuel Tunde Bakare

Director of Operations & Logistics

Samuel manages field operations, security, logistics, and supply chains for VULPRF's programs across Nigeria. He has extensive experience operating in complex and conflict-affected environments and ensures that staff and volunteers can deliver services safely and effectively to hard-to-reach communities.

Blessing Chioma Obi

Director of Fundraising & Development

Blessing leads resource mobilization and donor relations, cultivating partnerships with institutional funders, individual donors, and corporate sponsors. She has successfully raised over ₦2 billion in grants and donations since joining VULPRF and also directs the Foundation's annual fundraising gala.

Yakubu Sani

Volunteer & Internship Coordinator

Yakubu coordinates VULPRF's network of over 2,500 volunteers and manages the Foundation's remote internship program. He recruits, trains, and mentors young professionals from across Africa and the diaspora, matching them with meaningful roles in legal research, communications, program operations, and data analysis.

Join Our Team

VULPRF offers remote internship opportunities and volunteer positions for passionate individuals committed to human rights and peacebuilding.

View Internships Contact Us