Advisory Boards
SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD
The INFORM Africa scientific advisory board (SAB) comprises of seasoned experts with diverse specialties from varied scientific disciplines assembled for the purpose of assessing and improving the quality and integrity of the scientific output of INFORM Africa projects. Through their contributions, they bolster decision making processes, informed by the hub’s scientific rigors in line with the overarching objectives of the INFORM Africa project. Meet our SAB members below!
MEMBERS
Prof. Morenike Ukpong
Prof Morenike Ukpong is the Deputy Director, Research & Partnership Advancement Unit, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University. Nigeria. Her major areas of expertise include Dentistry, Pediatrics and HIV. She has experience in designing, implementing and reporting both qualitative and quantitative studies for research; conducting monitoring and evaluation exercises. She has been involved in several HIV programs, Ethics progams and works closely with the community.
Prof. Babatunde Salako
Prof Babatunde Salako is the Director General, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR). His major area of expertise is clinical research in nephrology. He is also interested in emerging infections. Professor Salako is a consultant nephrologist and has made significant contributions to the field of hypertension and kidney disease. He is an experienced researcher and has been involved in several research activities as PI or co-investigator including NIH funded projects on Genetics of Hypertension in Blacks, genetic Influences on severity of sickle cell anemia in the Yoruba population, and the H3Africa kidney disease research network, and the tailored hospital-based risk reduction to impede vascular events after strokes.
Dr. Rhiannan Price
Dr. Rhiannan Price is the Principal Consultant & Managing Director for Inclusive and Sustainable Development at Dev Global, USA. Her major areas of expertise include; Public-private partnerships, ICT for development, remote sensing, artificial intelligence, mobile data collection. Previously Rhiannan led the Sustainable Development Practice at Maxar and worked with public and private sector partners across the development and humanitarian spectrum. She focuses on accelerating use of space-based technology in support of the Sustainable Development Goals. Rhiannan also serves on the Applied Sciences Advisory Committee for NASA. Prior to joining Maxar, Rhiannan worked for several years at a small tech firm specializing in international agriculture and served in the Peace Corps. Rhiannan has a Masters in International Human Rights from the Korbel School at University of Denver.
Prof. Janet Kelso
Prof. Janet Kelso is the Head of the Bioinformatics Research Group and Ancient DNA Core Unit Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig. Her areas of expertise include; Bioinformatics, Genomics, and Evolution. She has carried out research in comparative primate genomics and has contributed to the Neanderthal, bonobo and orangutan genome projects. Since 2004, she has been Group leader of the Minerva Research Group for Bioinformatics at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology. Since 2013, she has been co-Executive Editor of the scientific journal Bioinformatics.
Dr. Jennifer Gardy
Dr. Jennifer Gardy is the Deputy Director, Surveillance, Data, and Epidemiology Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, USA. Dr. Jennifer Gardy joined the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Malaria team as deputy director, Surveillance, Data, and Epidemiology in February 2019. Before that, she spent ten years at the BC Centre for Disease Control and the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health, where she held the Canada Research Chair in Public Health Genomics. Her research focused on the use of genomics as a tool to understand pathogen transmission, and incorporated techniques drawn from genomics, bioinformatics, modelling, information visualization, and the social sciences.
Dr Krish Vallabhjee
Dr Krish Vallabhjee is the Chief Director : Strategy at Western Cape Government : Health. City of Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Dr. Vallabhjee expertise includes, amongst others information management and ICT systems in Health, monitoring and evaluation, strategic planning, health impact assessment (public health intelligence), research, medico-legal services, private establishment licensing and quality of care in South Africa.
COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD(CAB)
The INFORM Africa Community Advisory Board (CAB) comprises of eleven (11) members from both Nigeria and South Africa drawn from the public sector, civil society organizations, organized voluntary groups and community gatekeepers. The goal of the INFORM Africa CAB is to establish and nurture partnerships between researchers and local communities impacted by the COVID-19 and HIV pandemics, which are the primary focus of the INFORM Africa project. Through advocacy and sensitization campaigns, town hall meetings, cross-CAB dialogues and strategic community engagement programs, CAB contributes towards achieving the hub’s strategic objectives. Meet our CAB members below!
Ayabulela Nyawose
Ayabulela Nyawose is a dynamic social engineer and a former Junior Liaison officer for Marie Stopes South Africa. She previously championed Adolescent Girls and Young People initiatives in the eThekwini District under the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC), seconded to the eThekwini Mayor’s Office within the District AIDS Council (DAC) Unit. She is the founder and chairperson of Hear My Voice, a youth-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering young and adolescent girls in township communities. The organization emphasizes addressing basic social needs, promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) education, and fostering leadership through edutainment and the arts.
Ayabulela’s impactful community work earned her the award for the Outstanding Peer educator at Durban University of Technology and Best Youth Community Development Leader in Umlazi, the largest township in KwaZulu-Natal. She has also contributed as a member of the Community Advisory Board at CAPRISA and the Adolescent Youth Advisory Board at MATCH Research Unit. Her accolades include being an alumna of the African Health Agenda International Conference 2025, international MenEngage Symposium, International WomenNow! conference and the South African Young Leaders Conference hosted by the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA). She also serves on the South African Youth Policy Committee through SAIIA and is an alumna of the Activate Change Drivers program.
Ayabulela holds a qualification in Public Relations and Communication Science from the Durban University of Technology, reflecting her commitment to driving positive social change through communication, advocacy, and community leadership.
Mr. Mzamowenkosi Zondi
Zondi is human rights and social justice activist. He is popular for advocating for justice, equality, dignity, freedom and access to dignified quality health in South Africa for working-class people and vulnerable communities.
He has vast knowledge in community engagement and well respected in that field. He is an outstanding community leader and administrator who has participated in multi-disciplinary, multi-country teams of researchers, fieldworkers, and volunteers to deliver impactful policy-relevant, participated in researches on various development issues such as HIV and AIDS, health, sexual and reproductive rights, gender and race. Heidi is a conscious, caring yet courageous leader who applies his decision-making and strategic thinking skills with determined ambition in the service of the organisation’s, rather than personal, success.
Mzamowenkosi Zondi is currently employed by the Treatment Action Campaign as KwaZulu Natal Provincial Manager. He has advance knowledge in feild research research methods and has worked for Human Sciences Research Council. He is also currently serves as a REDSSA Ethics committee member.
Ayanda Ngcobo
Ayanda Ngcobo is a passionate youth development champion, a luminary and a visionary for adolescent girls comprehensive sexual educational programm activist.
She is a community health facilitator as currently volunteering as a facilitator at South African Voice Towards a museum of HIV, Memory and Learning. She is also part of the CAPRISA CAB as well as Youth Advisory Board member for Harambee and also serve in eThekwini Civil Society Youth Sector.
Amanda has been part of many programs that formulate policies as well as civic education and contributed meaningful representing the youth of eThekwini.
IRENE HELEN APHAN
I am a trained counsellor and mentor for structurally silenced women living with HIV and board member of the International Community of Women Living with HIV (CWWA) and also a member of ICW interim steering committee (ICW/ISC).
These responsibilities have given me the opportunity to be involved in the decision making process of ICW both in the West African region and globally.
I also lead the program and activities of women living with HIV with support from donor partners most especially, the Robbert Carr exceptional Funds for Covid-19.
I am an advocate to key stakeholders on HIV thematic areas especially on PMTCT, HIV testing and access to Antiretroviral drugs and treatment, remain paramount for people living with HIV. With the support of the government therefore, it is our believe that attaining zero new HIV infection by the year 2030 is very possible. As a result of this, I have been a part of negotiation for the government to fund and own most of the HIV prevention intervention in Nigeria.
My hobbies are, writing, reading and continuous learning.
Dr. Grace P Dafiel
Dr. Grace P Dafiel, is the current Chairperson of the INFORM Africa CAB. She is also the founder and immediate past Nar. Coord AONN, the Co- founder of New Hope Agency Nigeria, a researcher, consultant, Advocacy, migration governance and human security expert.
Henrietta Agboje
Henrietta Agboje is a results-driven learning strategist with extensive experience in coaching, teaching, training, and child development. As a seasoned coach, mentor, and advocate for inclusive education, she holds degrees and certifications in education, educational leadership, information management, etiquette and diplomas in child protection, child psychology, entrepreneurship, and leadership. Currently serving as Experience Director at Hive Africa and Team Lead at Brainy Age Initiative, a non-profit organization, Henrietta empowers children and women across Nigeria, providing vital education and support on issues like drug abuse, social vices, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV), while also helping out-of-school children overcome obstacles to succeed.
Peter Oluwasanmi Adubi
Peter Oluwasanmi Adubi is a dedicated individual that currently serves as the National Coordinator for the Young Missionary Movement of Nigeria, where he passionately guides and inspires young people within this community. Complementing this vital role, Peter also functions as a skilled Communications Specialist for the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS). In this capacity, he leverages his expertise to effectively communicate the mission and activities of the PMS, fostering greater awareness and support for their global outreach. Peter’s passion lies strongly in advancing community dialogoues, especially bridging generational gaps that ensure a cohesive community awareness and engagement.
Mr. Nkosikhona Mpungose
Nkosikhona Mpungose, is the Executive Director of Youth Inter-Active and serves as a Chairperson for EThekwini Civil Society Forum, and a dedicated member of the INFORM Africa CAB. He considers himself as an activist for reform and best practice in the Public Health sector with over 10 years experience in Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights for Adolescents and young people. He has served in the capacity of the KZN Youth Sector for 10 years and has been involved with CAPRISA as a CAB member for 10 years as well. Currently, he is the Civil Society Youth Rep at Stats SA on SDG country report and the commissioner for National Planning Commission under youth programs. He also serves as a Deputy Chairperson for the Board of the South African Youth Climate Change Coalition.
Abdulkadir Ibrahim
ORGANISATIONAL AFFILIATION
Coordinator of Network of community health advocacy groups.
Mrs. Dooshima Uganden-Okonkwo
ORGANISATIONAL AFFILIATION
Prevention Program Manager |United States Army Medical Research Directorate Africa/Nigeria (USAMRD-/N)– PEPFAR Representative
Haj. Salamatu Yusuf
ORGANISATIONAL AFFILIATION
NGO supporting persons living with disabilities–Advocate for persons living with disability
Sindi Shangase
ORGANISATIONAL AFFILIATION
Community health advocacy Organization– Leader of Women group
Ndlunkulu Thobekile Maphumulo
ORGANISATIONAL AFFILIATION
Mahumulo tribal court–Community leader
