Vestry Class of 2026
I was born to a family of Anglicans. In my primary and high school years, I was a member of St. Luke’s Anglican Church Choir in Okeigbo, Ondo State of Nigeria; and of my high school chapel respectively. In adult life, I was a member of the YMCAs of Anglican Churches in Lagos Nigeria. Since relocating to New York area in 2004, I have been an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, West Orange (2005-2009); St. James Episcopal Church in Hackettstown (2011-2015); where Stella (my wife) and I were on the Choir. Upon returning from a temporary overseas assignment in 2016, Stella and I found new life at St Luke’s where we are members of the Peace and Justice Ministry; and the Climate Committee.
Upon retirement from UNICEF in 2008, I took short term assignments for UNICEF and the World Bank in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Pakistan. Whilst in Abuja, Nigeria, I attended All Saints Anglican Church, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria where I supported the Fountain of Hope Society to organize the 2013 and 2014 Annual Harvest Thanksgiving – an annual 4-month fund raising event. I was also a Keynote Speaker at the 2015 Abuja Anglican Diocesan Synod.
I obtained an MPH (Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health, Baltimore MD) and a Dr.PH. (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY). I was a Research Fellow/Lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Special Assistant to the Minister of Health, Nigeria; and Chief of Health and Nutrition for UNICEF in Vietnam, Ethiopia, Bangladesh; and finally at UNICEF HQ in New York, where I was Deputy Chief of Health responsible for the organization’s global Health Partnerships and Health in Emergency Programs. All my public health training and professional life are at the intersections of humanitarianism, human rights and an all-inclusive world where we strive to achieve equality for all in all countries. Perhaps the most illustrative of these was managing with colleagues, the UNICEF Global health response to the devastating effects of the 2004 December Tsunami across multiple countries stretching from Indonesia to Tanzania. Since 2017 I have been an Adjunct Associate Professor of Global Health at New York University instructing Master’s degree students from around the world.
I am married with adult children; and because of my experience as a child watching the game of politics; I have been shy, serving on elective positions because of the politics of these positions. However, when friends call on you in a Church of God and you know they are sincere; one must find the voice of God amongst these calls. I bring my national and global experience to the table. I am therefore delighted, if so elected, to serve as a Member of the Vestry.
Candidate for Deputy to Diocesan Convention
I was born to a family of Anglicans. In my primary and high school years, I was a member of St. Luke’s Anglican Church Choir in Okeigbo, Ondo State of Nigeria; and of my high school chapel respectively. In adult life, I was a member of the YMCAs of Anglican Churches in Lagos Nigeria. Since relocating to New York area in 2004, I have been an active member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, West Orange (2005-2009); St. James Episcopal Church in Hackettstown (2011-2015); where Stella (my wife) and I were on the Choir. Upon returning from a temporary overseas assignment in 2016, Stella and I found new life at St Luke’s where we are members of the Peace and Justice Ministry; and the Climate Committee.
Upon retirement from UNICEF in 2008, I took short term assignments for UNICEF and the World Bank in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Pakistan. Whilst in Abuja, Nigeria, I attended All Saints Anglican Church, Wuse, Abuja, Nigeria where I supported the Fountain of Hope Society to organize the 2013 and 2014 Annual Harvest Thanksgiving – an annual 4-month fund raising event. I was also a Keynote Speaker at the 2015 Abuja Anglican Diocesan Synod.
I have an MPH (Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene & Public Health, Baltimore, MD) and a Dr.PH. (Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY). I was a Research Fellow/Lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria; Special Assistant to the Minister of Health, Nigeria; and Chief of Health and Nutrition for UNICEF in Vietnam, Ethiopia, Bangladesh; and finally at UNICEF HQ in New York, where I was Deputy Chief of Health responsible for the organization’s global Health Partnerships and Health in Emergency Programs. All my public health training and professional life are at the intersections of humanitarianism, human rights and an all-inclusive world where we strive to achieve equality for all in all countries where I have been privileged to work. Perhaps the most illustrative of these was managing with colleagues, the UNICEF Global health response to the devastating effects of the 2004 December Tsunami across multiple countries stretching from Indonesia to Tanzania. Since 2017 I have been an Adjunct Associate Professor of Global Health at New York University instructing Master’s degree students from around the world.
I am married with adult children. Because of my experience as a child watching the game of politics; I have been shy, serving on elective positions because of the politics of these positions. However, when friends call on you in a Church of God and you know they are sincere; one must find the voice of God amongst these calls. I bring my national and global experience to the table. I am therefore delighted, if so elected, to serve as a 2021 Diocesan Convention Deputy.