Trustees

Our Trustee Board and Officers are comprised of an incredible array of philanthropic, passionate, seasoned individuals with deep and sincere investments in the foundation’s mission for local empowerment and upliftment. Providing oversight to ensure financial and strategic efficiencies on all the foundation’s efforts and operations, they are deeply committed to humanitarian and philanthropic empowerment and development work to enhance and create opportunities for significant impact and growth in the Nigeria and the world at large.
Founder / Chairman

Jim Ovia is a noted philanthropist. As Founder and Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jim Ovia Foundation, his organization provides educational scholarships for the less privileged and aims to improve the socio-economic welfare of Nigerian youths by inspiring and motivating them to embrace Information and communication technology. He is also the founder of Zenith Bank Plc, of one of the most profitable banks in Africa.

Dr Ndidi Nnoli-Edozien has 15 years of multi-faceted experience in Africa and Europe within the private sector, public sector and civil society. Previously, she served as the Director of Strategy & Monitoring and Head of the CEOs Office at the Nigerian Communications Commission, and as the Founding Head of Sec Trust Asset Management, now Afrinvest West Africa.

Professor Oye Ibidapo-Obe is the President of the Nigeria Academy of Science. He was conferred with the national honour as Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR) by the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2004 and awarded the prestigious Fellowship of the Academy of Science and Academy of Engineering, Nigerian Computer Society and a recipient of the ICOBA Merit Award.

Professor L.F.O Obika is a Graduate of Zoology from the University of Ibadan and holds a Ph.D Physiology from the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. He is currently a well respected Professor of Physiology at University of Benin in Delta State Nigeria. 

Mr. Macaulay Pepple is the former Chairman of one of the biggest banks in Africa, Zenith Bank Plc. He is an Economist by training. He has also worked in the capacity of Director of Employment Services for the Federal Ministry of Employment, Labour and Productivity in Lagos, Nigeria between 1980 and 1984.