It began in schools that never had a library.

The people

Board of Directors

• 

  Lamide Johnson

  Board Chair

  Read bio of Lamide Johnson

  

  Lamide Johnson

  Board Chair

  Close biography ×

  With over 10 years of experience, designing, developing and implementing digital skills, entrepreneurship, investment readiness, policy and capacity building programs for startups and entrepreneurs creating solutions for Africa’s urgent problems, that promote job creation and provides access for communities, Lamide has undoubtedly been committed to accelerating innovation in Africa.

  Lamide led the design and implementation of high impact initiatives and programmes including the COVID-19 Impact Survey; Nigeria’s first Intelligence Platform for Technology & Innovation in Nigeria; the iNOVO Acceleration Programme; the Future Females Business School Programme; the Developer Placement Programme; the Innovative Teachers Fellowship Programme; the African Angel Academy, amongst other programmes. You can see the UK-Nigeria Tech Hub 2020 Impact Report here.

  Lamide is also an ex-Ventures Platform staff member, where he served as the Chief of Staff to Kola Aina, and also as the Director of Partnerships and Engagement from May 2017 to March 2020.

  He is a Mandela Washington Fellow, also a Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Goalkeeper. He is trained in Business and Entrepreneurship from Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Illinois, USA; and he also has a Master of Business Administration degree.

• 

  Dr. Victoria Okojie

  Board Member

  Read bio of Dr. Victoria Okojie

  

  Dr. Victoria Okojie

  Board Member

  Close biography ×

  Dr. Victoria Okojie has been working in the Library and Information Science sector for over 35 years and has held many leadership positions. Her experience spans across practice, teaching, regulation and consulting. She currently lectures at the National Open University of Nigeria, Abuja. She is currently a member of the Stichting IFLA Global Libraries (SIGL) Board; member, International Advisory Board of Book Aid International, UK and member, Library Aid Africa Board of Directors. She has worked at the University of Ibadan; The British Council, Nigeria; and as the pioneer Registrar/CEO, Librarians’ Registration Council of Nigeria, where she initiated innovative projects that focused on using donor funding from partnership with the ICT sector to train librarians in the use of ICTs in service delivery. Adapting the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Global Libraries Program International Network of Emerging Library Innovators (INELI) model, she successfully advocated for funding from the US Consulate, Lagos and Goethe-Institute, Nigeria to train young librarians in Nigeria from 2019 to 2021. As an independent consultant, she consulted for the World Bank, DfID, The British Council, among others.

  Dr. Okojie was President, Nigerian Library Association from 2005 to 2010, during which period she grew the assets of the association from about USD $35,000 to about USD $400,000. She was also Chair, IFLA Africa Section and IFLA Division V (Africa, Asia and Oceania, Latin America and the Caribbean). She was a member of IFLA Governing Board where she was actively involved in crafting and implementing the International Advocacy Programme as well as the Global Vision project that sought to develop a strong, united and connected global library field. She was a member of the prestigious International Advisory Committee of UNESCO Memory of the World Programme; member, Governing Board of the National Library of Nigeria and Adviser, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Libraries Program. She is a Fellow of the US State Department, International Visitor Leadership Program; Fellow, Nigerian Library Association, Fellow, UNESCO Institute For Lifelong Learning and Associate, IFLA International Leaders Programme. Dr. Okojie is an editorial board member of many journals, she has over 40 peer-reviewed publications and has received over 15 awards.

  She has a strong passion in advocating for library and information services issues, mentoring young librarians and promoting universal access to information. In addition to her professional roles, Dr. Okojie is deeply committed to empowering underserved communities through access to knowledge. She continues to inspire a new generation of librarians, especially women, by championing inclusive leadership and innovation in the field of information science.

• 

  Dr. Oluwaseun Adepoju

  Board Member

  Read bio of Dr. Oluwaseun Adepoju

  

  Dr. Oluwaseun Adepoju

  Board Member

  Close biography ×

  Oluwaseun is a tech-savvy problem solver with a curious side. He is a tech optimist who believes people can use technology to create a better, more inclusive future. He take a people-first approach to consulting because genuine connections are important. He’s all about pushing boundaries, generating new ideas, and assisting people in making wild tech dreams a reality.

  On the side, Oluwaseun enjoy sharing his thoughts, whether through speaking or writing. His research on digital societies, technology policy, and digital philosophies has been published in international journals, and He has received a few ecosystem nods for his work. If there's a stage or a conference with a microphone, He has probably been there, sharing the latest on how technology is shaping the future.

• 

  Lucy Abaji

  Board Member

  Read bio of Lucy Abaji

  

  Lucy Abaji

  Board Member

  Close biography ×

  As the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC), Lucy provide visionary leadership, guiding the organization toward its mission of driving impactful, sustainable development. In her previous role as the Director of Partnerships and Innovation, she spent eight months fostering strategic collaborations with both public and private sector donors. This experience allowed her to deepen her understanding of the organization's goals and needs, ultimately positioning her for her current leadership role.

  During Lucy tenure, She led business development, innovation hub and technology teams, aligning our efforts with PPDC's vision of advancing governance, transparency, and accountability across Africa. Her background in program development and strategic partnerships, combined with a strong passion for leveraging innovative solutions, has been instrumental in expanding initiatives and enhancing global impact.

  Before joining PPDC, Lucy served as the Director of Programs at Connected Development (CODE), where she managed the Follow the Money campaigns, successfully raising $5 million for social impact programs across nine African countries. This work, in partnership with foundations like the Open Society Initiative for West Africa and the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, Luminate, John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Ford Foundation and USAID positively impacted approximately 4 million lives in rural communities.

  With a Master's in Business Administration and extensive experience in overseeing large-scale initiatives, building strong stakeholder relationships, and implementing accountability measures, she is committed to continuing PPDC's legacy of fostering positive change and improving lives through strategic program management.

• 

  Daniel Ogunjimi

  Co-Founder & Board Member

  Read bio of Daniel Ogunjimi

  

  Daniel Ogunjimi

  Co-Founder & Board Member

  Close biography ×

  Daniel is a certified Agile Scrum Master, Product Owner, and Project Delivery Manager with an in-depth understanding of the Agile Scrum framework with practical experience in leading digital product teams to growth and full potential. He has practical experience in coaching, training and mentoring teams new to Agile Scrum as well as supporting experienced Scrum cross functional teams. He is a Influential communicator with ability to enhance end-user experience, working collaboratively with various departments, and coordinating operations in accelerating business growth and profitability, effectively removing blockers and shielding teams from external interference.

  When Daniel is not Scrumming, He is helping young people gain the clarity they need to build the best kind of relationships in their professional and personal lives for holistic well-being and a safer, saner society.

• 

  Emeka Ogenyi (LP)

  Board Secretary

  Read bio of Emeka Ogenyi (LP)

  

  Emeka Ogenyi (LP)

  Board Secretary

  Close biography ×

  Mr. Ogenyi is a Founding Partner of TLF, bringing with him over 10 years of active legal practice experience. He has extensive expertise and competence in company secretarial services, corporate and commercial law, corporate governance, legal and regulatory compliance, business integrity, employment law, oil and gas, and dispute resolution. Additionally, he is a Chartered Secretary, Corporate Governance Auditor and Evaluator, as well as a Certified Project Manager.

  Before founding TLF, Mr. Ogenyi was a Partner at A&E Law Partnership, a prominent full-service law firm in Nigeria, where he gained extensive exposure and built a solid foundation in legal practice. During his tenure, he headed the firm’s Corporate Commercial Transaction Services practice for over six years, significantly growing the practice and helping to position the firm as a leader in its field. In this role, he provided a wide range of services—including company secretarial support, legal and regulatory compliance, business integrity, and corporate governance—to more than 11 blue-chip and high-end commercial enterprises across Nigeria.

  Mr. Ogenyi holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B Hons) from the University of Nigeria and a Barrister at Law (BL) Certificate from the Nigerian Law School, Lagos Campus. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of Suffolk in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Ogenyi has made significant contributions to the country’s development in various capacities. Most recently, he served as Secretary of the Steering Committee for the Presidential Food Systems Coordinating Unit (PFSCU) in the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he played a pivotal role in advancing national food systems initiatives and interventions to address food scarcity and inflation. His work included providing comprehensive legal support that led to the finalization and execution of the Green Imperative Project (GIP) Agreement between Nigeria and Brazil.

  Mr. Ogenyi is deeply committed to philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives aimed at empowering individuals and promoting independence, particularly for vulnerable groups in society. Through his foundation, The Emeka Ogenyi Foundation (TEOF), he consistently works to make a positive impact on the lives of those in need, providing support and resources to help them overcome challenges and achieve self-sufficiency.

• 

  Damilare Oyedele

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive

  Read bio of Damilare Oyedele

  

  Damilare Oyedele

  Co-Founder and Chief Executive

  Close biography ×

  Damilare is a Librarypreneur with a decade of experience in the library ecosystem in Africa and the global library field. He has a strong expertise in library development programs in Sub-Saharan African Countries around SDGs, Technology innovation for libraries, Library Connectivity, Capacity development, Innovative design for libraries, library advocacy, policy, and research.

  He leads a vibrant team at Library Aid Africa; a not-for-profit organization that harnesses digital technology and community engagement approaches to transform libraries into vibrant spaces. Through a programmatic approach to Technology Innovation for Libraries, Innovation Co-Creation and Community Engagement, and Library Advocacy, Policy, and Research, we support the strategic improvement of libraries across African countries, working collaboratively with in-country library partners, library institutions, library associations, library NGO and non-profit organizations.

  He also serves on the Sub-Saharan African Regional Division Committee of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) where he leads work on IFLA's Global Advocacy Priorities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

  Over the years, Damilare has been actively engaged in implementing various programs to improve library usage, strengthen advocacy for libraries, improve the capacity of young library professionals, and build multi-stakeholder partnerships and collaborations. This has identified a strategic need for a more dynamic approach to promoting libraries and the contribution they could make to society.