“The work of our board ensures we are able to effectively run programs every year.”
— Shola Ajayi, Founder UR4Africa Project, Inc.
FOUNDER
Olubusola Ajayi was born in Ibadan, located in Nigeria. Her parents moved to Miami, Florida, soon after, and Shola spent her childhood splitting her time between the U.S. and Nigeria. She studied Photography at the University of Central Florida and pursued an MFA in Film Production at Boston University as well as an MA in Media Studies at The New School. Shola’s primary focus has been to create films and new media projects that explore social issues amongst people of color while also developing stories and images that present Africa and Africans, specifically Nigerians, in new and innovative ways. ”Hair: A Conversation, The American Dream: An African Tale, The Sankofa Project, and Champion” are some projects that Shola has developed in collaboration with various individuals to present fresh narratives about African people and people from the diaspora.
Shola splits her time between New York and Lagos and continues her work as a media educator, freelance screenwriter, and community advocate, co-running UR4Africa Project, Inc and designing Public Art Africa programs.
CHAIRPERSON (NIGERIA)
Teleola Olarewaju is an experienced architect based in Lagos, Nigeria, specializing in Sustainable Design, Construction Drawings, and Residential Design. She holds a Bachelor of Technology degree in Architecture and a Master's in Environmental Design and is certified by the Nigerian Institute of Architects and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria. With over fifteen years of practice, Tele has worked with Private Architectural firms in Ibadan, Kano, and Lagos, where she acquired a wealth of experience before establishing her own company in 2014. She has a distinguished track record in entrepreneurship. Outside of her professional commitments, she has contributed to the UR4Africa community as a Public Art Africa mentor and board member, promoting public art initiatives across the continent.
Loveth Igbo is a Mass Communication graduate from the University of Lagos, where she also has her master in Broadcasting in 2012. She began her career as an IT intern with The Nation Newspaper in 2010, she moved to Mutual Benefits Ass Plc as a marketer in 2011 and rose to become a unit Manager. She is a registered insurance agent of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN), a member of Association of Registered Insurance Agent of Nigeria (ARIAN), a certified make-up artist with Makeup Designory (MUD). She has a certificate in leadership/ business from Daystar Leadership Academy and a certificate in leadership/business, entrepreneurship with American Corner a program of US Consulate. Loveth has worked with various NGOs and community development organizations on leadership, skills empowerment and training. She has also been a mentor and a volunteer with IBA Foundation on eradication of malaria in Nigeria/ Africa campaign, UR4AFRICA a pan-Africa media organization where we mentor secondary school students on how to create African content and share it with the world, awareness on Rape, Abuse, waste management, climate change etc, work as a trainer with Pure- Creativiti to teach youths crafts, entrepreneurship skills and marketing skills. She is dynamic, purpose- driven, innovative, a goal setter/ getter, an initiator of social change, passionate about making a difference in her community and in Nigeria/ Africa at large. Her passion is to see people become better, independent hence the need to create a platform to develop micro entrepreneurs and create a brand that will capture the imagination of Nigerians/Africans across the globe. Her entrepreneurship spirit is born out of the growing need in Nigeria/Africa to create a niche of relevance in the global sphere.
SECRETARY
Sarafadeen Bello is an Architect, Artistic researcher, and Creative based in Lagos, Nigeria. He holds a degree in Architecture and he is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. In 2016, he won the Ships and Ports Essay Competition and was shortlisted for the Ken Saro Wiwa Book Review Prize at the Lagos Book and Arts Festival in 2019. He participated in the Remote Research Residency “Memory and Memoricide of Land” – Reimagining Alternative Models of Museums by Co.iki (Japan) in 2021 as part of “Project The Great Museum”. He is a recipient of a Guest Artists Space (G.A.S.) Foundation Fellowship Award in 2022 and a Pro Helvetia Swiss Art Council Residency in 2024. He strongly believes in the power of volunteerism and the arts as a tool for social inclusion and societal change. His writings and contributions can be found in the African Union ECHO digital magazine 2017, Lagos Development Envision Lab 2017 Publication, How Can We Obey the Law Against War essay collection in 2020, The Great Museum website, etc.
TREASURER
Temitope Fashola is a dedicated Administrative officer with over seven years of experience in office administration, executive support, customer relations, and operations. I have consistently delivered exceptional results and contributed to the success of the organizations I have worked for. Throughout my career, I have honed my skills in various areas, such as administrative support, client relationship management, and operational efficiency.
Abraham Adonor is a social impact advocate, community leader, and technology professional passionate about youth empowerment, education, leadership development, and rural transformation. With experience spanning community development, advocacy, project coordination, and IT operations, Abraham brings a multidisciplinary perspective to his work. His commitment to creating opportunities for young people and using creativity as a tool for positive change continues to shape his contributions to community-focused initiatives.
ALUMNI
Ayonide Basit Fadairo is a young social impact enthusiast and a 2025 graduate of Lagos State University, where he studied English Literature. He's an entrepreneur and aspiring data analyst. Once a student and beneficiary of Public Art Africa, he is deeply committed to the concept of African futurism, upholding the belief that Africa's story can be reimagined and rewritten by Africans themselves. His passion for literature and social change led him to writing poetry one of which was awarded "Most Outstanding on Climate Change" by the United Nations, Lagos Centre. He remains dedicated to finding innovative ways to contribute to Africa's growth and global repositioning.
CHAIRPERSON (USA)
Orlando Taylor was born in St. Louis, MO. He spent 11 years volunteering for St. Paul Saturdays Manhood and Leadership Development Program, helping African American males navigate life and go on to college (www.stpaulsaturdays.com). Growing up, he was fascinated with writing, science, and reading, and this interest led to some early exposure to reading comic books, poetry, and literature. This lead to the forming of the media company Kuumba Concepts, LLC dedicated to creating relevant content from the African Diaspora. He developed a passion for ideas that could be transformed into scripts for TV and film. In his books of poetry, My Scars Are My Birthmark and Black Music, Politics, and Word Bombs, Orlando explores the issues one might face in life and those common to the African American community and diaspora.
Tricia Frazier works as an Arts Administrator in NYC. Her background in the arts is that of a Choreographer, Dancer, and Storyteller. She hails from San Francisco, California and has an undergraduate degree in Dance & Theater from University of California in San Diego, with graduate studies in Dance Education at Hunter College. While in New York she has worked as a Teaching Artist, Program Director, and now as a Managing Director for youth programming in a non-profit organization.
Hosea Johnson is a photographer, director, and educator. He graduated from Southern Illinois University in 1986. During the late 80’s Hosea Johnson worked as photographer’s assistant for his mentor, The great still life photographer Christopher Hawker. In 1989 Hosea moved to New York City to continue his photography career, during the early 1990’s Hosea journeyed to Milano Italy to expand his fashion portfolio. In 1992 back in New York Hosea began shooting portraits, for Fanzines such as Word Up! The Source Magazine and celebrity black hair magazines these magazines were the media birthplace of the hip hop genre in America and Hosea photographed many of the new black celebrity class in America. Hosea Johnson began his teaching career in 2003 at the Harlem School of the Arts. Having a natural passion for teaching photography gave way to many opportunities to teach photography throughout New York City and Lagos, Nigeria. His philosophy on teaching photography is to liberate and expand the self, through perspective and appreciation for the environment.
Obehi Iredia is the founder of ikPin™, a cybersecurity company focused on helping organizations manage cybersecurity and artificial intelligence risks. He has over a decade of experience working in cybersecurity, both at global technology companies and within an international law firm. His work focuses on helping people understand how technology, data, and AI can be used safely and responsibly, especially as these tools become part of everyday life.
Advisory Board
Praise Apampa is PEN America’s chief financial and administrative officer, having joined in 2018. He comes with more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit accounting and finance. Most recently, he was the director of finance and administration for Pro Bono Net, a nonprofit membership organization serving pro bono attorneys and the wider legal aid community. In that position, he was responsible for managing the annual operating budget and was tasked with the establishment of a sustainable financial model for future planning.
Rotimi Olawale is the co-founder of YouthHubAfrica, an online platform to engage young people in social change. He has more than 10 years experience in youth advocacy and development work. Rotimi was recently named a Gulmakai Girls Education Champion by the Malala Fund in support his work in advocacy for passage of the Child Rights Act in Nigeria.
Funmi Odushola is an accomplished C-level business leader and a distinguished researcher, specializing in strategy, data science, and sustainability. With over 15 years of experience in research and marketing, Funmi has built an impressive portfolio of clients. Beyond business, Funmi has a deep passion for community development. Through the LofeLofe Foundation, she is actively engaged in efforts to improve healthcare access in underserved communities.
Abosede George is a historian of Modern Africa. She earned her BA in History and Political Science at Rutgers University(1998), her MA in history at Stanford University(2002), and her PhD also in History at Stanford University(2006). Prior to joining Barnard College, Dr. George was Assistant Professor of History at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. She joined the faculty of Barnard College and Columbia University in 2007. She is Associate Professor in the departments of History and Africana Studies at Barnard College and Columbia, and Director of the Institute of African Studies at Columbia.
Emmanuel Oni is a first-generation Nigerian-American artist and space doula living in New York City, originally from Houston, TX. His work explores loss, liberation, and its deep connection with place. He has received awards and residencies from Art Omi, the Laundromat Project, Design Trust for Public Space, Culture Push, NY for Culture and Arts, Residency Unlimited, More Art, AIA Brunner Award, Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts NY, Institute for Public Architecture, Architectural League, NY State Council of the Arts, and is the FABnyc commissioned artist for the New York City Chrystie Street African Burial Ground Memorial.
Ann Obadan is a Research Project Manager at the Heldrich Center. She is also an education policy specialist and a project manager. She received her Ph.D. from the Harry S. Truman School of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she is also a research fellow under the emerging scholars program. Ann has a graduate certificate in nonprofit management from the University of Missouri, a Master’s in Public and International Affairs from the University of Lagos, Nigeria, and a Bachelor of Arts in French from the University of Benin, Nigeria. She has experience working as a director of professional development, project manager, teacher, and research consultant with various organizations, including the World Bank Group.
Shared vision. Active leadership. Africa forward.
The UR4Africa Project, Inc. Board brings together diasporans, Nigerians, and partners invested in Africa’s future. Focused on youth development, cultural exchange, and progressive programming, the Board supports collaboration, fundraising, and initiatives that help reimagine what is possible across the continent.