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NPG Advisory Board

Announcing NPG Advisory Board 2023

On behalf of the Executive leadership team of the Nigerian Professional Group, we are honored to announce NPG Advisory Board Members 2023. These individuals are industry leaders who have been nominated and selected after careful and thoughtful consideration, also because we believe that they have demonstrated excellence in the following areas:

  • Professional Experience & Excellence- At least 15 years consistently delivering excellence.
  • Expanded Network
  • NPG Share Value: Community Impact
  • Brand Integrity
  • Outstanding Leadership

The role of the Advisory Board is to provide an oversight function on the activities of the executive board and help to provide guidance, and expertise on the strategic vison of the association. The members of the Board of advisor will meet on a quarterly basis concerning any affairs, activities, needs, and opportunities of the association.

NPG Advisory board will provide guidance, mentorship and strategic input on (3) focus areas as stated below that aligns with the roadmap for our vision 2026.

  •  Fundraising  :  Provide guidance, Ideas and assistance with the organization’s fundraising campaigns, event planning to benefit the 2026 vision.
  • Brand visibility:  – Provide guidance on the organization’s strategy on the growth of membership, expand network globally and promotes the organization in the community.
  • Vision Strategy & Advisory: Provide guidance, education and as the executive board implement the vision.

Please help us congratulate the newly appointed members of our esteemed Advisory Board 2023, we are so thrilled that their diverse perspectives, unique backgrounds, experience, and expertise will help position NPG as a global organization while positively impacting African in diaspora.

The Advisory Board Members​

Ibraheem Badejo, Ph.D

NPG Fundraising and Vision & Strategy

Ibraheem is a prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and early-stage healthcare investor whose career spans many years in different roles in the Medtech ecosystem.

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Frances Igiebor

NPG Fundraising and Global Brand Visibility

Frances started Angel Care in 2014, a story of tenacity, selfless service, and sheer faith. Although a graduate of UNIBEN, Edo State, Nigeria

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Olukayode Olatilu

NPG Fundraising Initiatives

Olukayode is the CEO and co-founder of EpicGro Corporation. An organization that helps businesses transform their industries through technology.

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Helen Adeosun ED.M

NPG Fundraising and Global Brand Visibility

Helen is the CEO and Founder of CareAcademy and named Fortune Magazine 40 under 40. With a strong track record of driving outcomes for adult learners she has been instrumental in integrating innovative education strategies with the unique needs of the caregiver community.

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Ahmed Suleiman Mohammed

NPG Vision & Strategy

Ahmed has over 18 years of experience in human resources and management. His professional background includes inaugurating, heading, and transforming recruiting efforts and talent acquisition initiatives

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Chiderah Okoye

NPG Global Brand Visibility

Chiderah is the Executive Director of the Venly Institute, a Cambridge-based applied learning and certification organization that helps local businesses grow through social media, cloud-based applications, and cybersecurity best practices.

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Ibraheem Badejo, Ph.D

Ibraheem Badejo, Ph.D. Senior Director – External Front End innovation, Ethicon R & D; is a prolific inventor, entrepreneur, and early-stage healthcare investor whose career spans many years in different roles in the Medtech ecosystem. Ib in his current role at Ethicon (a Johnson & Johnson company) supports Ethicon R&D – in providing external innovation support and counsel to all platforms across the Ethicon Franchise, including identification and advancing early-stage external opportunities aligned Ethicon growth strategy. Prior to his current role, from Nov 2013 to June 2021, Ib was a Medtech new venture leader at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, identifying and investing in early-stage assets of strategic alignment to Johnson & Johnson Medtech sector.

From 2010 to 2013. lb was a Research Fellow at the Global Surgery Group of Johnson & Johnson, responsible for innovations and intellectual property for Ethicon Biosurgery. From 2006 to 2010, he was the Director of Applied Research & New Technology Assessment of novel biomaterials Prior to that, he was the Chief Scientist of Closure Medical Corp (acquired by Johnson & Johnson in 2005). lb was the lead inventor of DERMABOIND Advanced – currently commercialized by Ethicon and market leader in the Topical Skin Adhesive platform.

During his career, Ib has led teams in the development of commercialized biomaterials-based products and new technolo-gy/products licensed or acquired. Ib received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Toledo, where he was the Robert Whiteford Memorial Scholar for Outstanding Graduate Research and a Petroleum Research Fund Fellow. Ib received the Science Alumni Award, Avila University in 2014. Ib received the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award (College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics) from the University of Toledo in 2021. Ib is the recipient of 24 US patents, he’s also well published in many peer-review journals.

 Ib spends some of his spare time meeting the needs of others and giving back to the world. He has participated and led mission trips in rural North Carolina, Mexico, Kenya, Haiti, Trinidad, and Tobago. He currently serves on the board of trustees of Avila University, board member of MedShare – a not-for-profit medical mission organization.

Visiola Foundation, member of the executive committee, and on the board of Southeast Life Sciences (SELS). Massachusetts Medical Device Development Center (M2D2). He also supports Coulter Foundation Programs at Georgia Tech / Emory Univ, Drexel Univ. Unn of Michigan, Univ of Pittsburgh, and the Science Center – QED Program, John Hopkins Thalheimer Fund Investment on advisory board role. Ib has held various positions at Bayer, North Carolina State University. and the College of Charleston. He currently serves as an Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Drexel University.

As a member of this esteemed advisory board, Ib will leverage his expertise to support and guide NPG Fundraising and Vision & Strategy. Specifically, he will provide guidance and assistance with the organization’s fundraising campaigns to benefit the 2026 vision; also provide guidance, education and advice as the organization’s leaders execute the 2026 vision.

Frances Igiebor

Frances Igiebor started Angel Care in 2014, a story of tenacity, selfless service, and sheer faith. Although a graduate of UNIBEN, Edo State, Nigeria; when she moved to the United States in 2010, she started afresh at the Middlesex community college, then to UMass both in Lowell, where she got a double major in Management and Marketing.

While still contemplating what career path to take, she again embarked on her MS in Nursing at Northeastern University, Boston; and acquired a real estate license as well, chasing her numerous passions and covering all the bases that formed the foundation for Angel Care.

Afterward, she decided to find a way to combine her management, marketing, and nursing qualifications together, which gave birth to Angel Care VNA, a home health agency focused on caring for people post-hospitalization. Angel Care provides services ranging from Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nursing, social worker, for individuals and help care for them and nurse them back to health. They also care for individuals with chronic conditions that require continuous care ensuring they help prevent re-hospitalization.

The process of getting licensed, to getting all the credentials for the business took about 2 years. However, even after the credentials were approved, the business could not do much due to some legal, and regulatory issues around moratorium hence could not get a State license to practice with the state. While many businesses folded up due to this dry spell, she pivoted and found some opportunity in non-emergency medical transportation

As the business name implies. Angel Care have recorded some angelic turning points in their journey. While they barely stayed afloat, they began to get clients who were ready to pay for their 24/7 care service out of pocket. Also, this client insisted on their service or no other even though they were in an assisted living residence. The management of the facility were forced to accept Angel Care. Which was a rare thing for a young business without referral or proven track record.

Frances never lets any good opportunity pass by and she gave this trusting client exceptional service. Afterwards, the residential facility management added Angel Care to their approved list of agencies and started employing their services, leading to more word-of-mouth referrals, and began to grow the client base of Angel Care organically.

Another interesting turning point in the business was how her pro-bo-no work. She had served this client for free and this fateful encounter with a visiting nurse from the client’s insurance company led to getting a contract with an insurance company that opened the door to take on more clients which was a big break for Angel Care.

Frances treats her employees as her primary clients and this model has led to Angel Care’s growth. The business continues to thrive with 5 divisions, Angel Care Visiting Nurse Agency, Angel Care Transportation, Angel Care AFC & GAFC, Angel Care Staffing, Angel Care Clinic.

They have since grown from a staff strength of 1 to over 150 and the stop gap transportation business has over 40 vehicles in its fleet.

Olukayode Olatilu

Olukayode Olatilu is the CEO and co-founder of EpicGro Corporation. An organization that helps businesses transform their industries through technology. Mr. Olatilu leads the delivery and operations of technology capabilities and services globally, as well as technology risk and information security, for which he has been an active proponent of IT security best practices.

Olu establishes IT strategies, policies, and procedures by evaluating organizational outcomes; identifying problems; evaluating trends; and anticipating requirements. He works as an advisor, to senior executives, of technologies that can improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Specialties: IT Strategy and Technology Transformation, Virtualization, Infrastructure Optimization, Data Lifecycle Management, Information Security, Disaster Recovery, Cloud initiatives.

He is an author with articles published in the ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association) Journal. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography and Regional planning, University of Lagos; Masters in IT, Bentley University; and an MBA from Emory University. 

As a member of this esteemed advisory board, Olu will leverage his expertise to support and guide NPG Fundraising initiatives. Specifically, he will provide guidance and assistance with the organization’s fundraising campaigns to benefit the 2026 vision.

Helen Adeosun ED.M

CEO and Founder: CareAcademy Inc., Series B Company, Lead investor Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Board Director: CareAcademy and Caregiver Action Network National Board (CEO Search Committee and Fundraising Responsibilities)

Key areas of specialization: direct care, health care workforce, education and workforce policy, adult education, saas subscription models, and product-led growth models

Areas of Interest: Healthcare technology, Healthcare IT, Healthcare workforce management, Healthcare consumer technologies, Assistive technologies, Aging in Place, Healthcare real estate and living models

Helen Adeosun, a passionate advocate for education and caregiving, is the CEO and Founder of CareAcademy. With a strong track record of driving outcomes for adult learners, she has been instrumental in integrating innovative education strategies with the unique needs of the caregiver community.

CareAcademy, the proprietary learning platform launched by Adeosun, is designed specifically for direct care workers, who represent the fastest-growing segment in the healthcare workforce. The platform, recognized for its outstanding 93% completion rate, has had a significant impact, with nearly 500,000 learners having completed over 2 million classes to date. This success has led to CareAcademy being named one of the 100 most innovative EdTech Companies in North America by HolonIQ, and a previous global winner of the MIT Future of Work Challenge. Moreover, it was recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies, as evidenced by its ranking as an Inc. 5000 company in 2021.

Under Adeosun’s leadership, CareAcademy has also forged key partnerships. It currently serves 85% of all Sodexo Comfort Keepers franchises in North America and several leading home care organizations, including Firstlight Home Care, VNS Health, and Solara Assisted Living.

Adeosun’s dedication and innovation extend beyond CareAcademy. She is an active member of the board for the non-profit Caregiver Action Network, where she leverages her platform to champion home care and advocate for direct care workers. Her voice is also frequently heard as an industry speaker, and her insights have shaped the conversation around adult learning and caregiving.

Before CareAcademy, Adeosun’s career spanned notable roles with Pearson Education, Teach for America, and the Boston Public Schools. Her influence and leadership have earned her several recognitions, including being named to Fortune’s 40 Under 40 list in 2020, one of Ten Outstanding Young Leaders by the Boston Chamber of Commerce in 2021, a winner of EY’s Entrepreneur of The Year New England Award, and one of the Boston Globe’s inaugural Tech Power Players 50 in 2022.

Adeosun holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame in Politics and Arabic Studies and an EdM in Education Policy and Management from Harvard University. This strong educational background has laid the foundation for her work in transforming adult learning and caregiving, and she continues to strive to bring meaningful change to these sectors.

As a member of this esteemed advisory board, Adeosun will leverage her expertise to support and guide NPG Fundraising and Global Brand Visibility. Specifically, she will provide guidance and assistance with the organization’s fundraising campaigns to benefit the 2026 vision; also provide guidance on the organization’s strategy to grow membership and expand network in diaspora.

Ahmed Suleiman Mohammed

Ahmed has over 18 years of experience in human resources and management. His professional background includes inaugurating, heading, and transforming recruiting efforts and talent acquisition initiatives at two Ivy League institutions as well as a Fortune 50 company. He is a multilingual global citizen who works collaboratively with diverse constituent groups to create and sustain institution-wide solutions to organizational talent and business growth challenges. He has successfully managed many aspects of client expectations, project management, strategy development, employment branding, workforce sourcing, onboarding, career mobility, and organizational assessments at Lowes Corporation, Harvard University, and Dartmouth College among others. Ahmed is recognized for applying analytical and entrepreneurial approaches to the development of business cases and performance metrics that support decision-making, resource allocation, and talent management and acquisition deliverables.

Ahmed has a bachelor’s degree in management, an associate degree in computer applications management, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Management. He was a Resident Fellow through Harvard University’s Administrative Fellowship Program with a focus on Leadership and Development. Other active membership engagements and board participations include the Harvard University Recruitment Advisory Council (RAC), Harvard Administrative Innovative Group (HAIG), Harvard Medical School’s Diversity Taskforce, Advisor and Committee, Harvard Medical School Valuing Advocacy, Equity and Social Justice Committee, Founding and Executive Member of the Harvard Longwood Black Staff Caucus (https://blackstaffcaucus.hms.harvard.edu/), New England Talent Managers Consortium (NETMC), Board Member, Leadership Initiatives (http://bethechangenow.org/), and Advisory Board Member, African Bridge Network (http://africanbn.org/).

In addition to his career and educational background, Ahmed is always enthusiastic about making an impact through the advancement of the following five “Big Ideas”: Great leaders have the right mindset, consider how you show up, manage your career, make a difference where you are right now, and Leadership is a practice. These Big Ideas are his guiding principles for personal and professional growth. Ahmed is a Hausa/Fulani native from Bauchi State, Nigeria, and has traveled to over fifty-one countries across six continents, providing him with a broad global viewpoint. He enjoys learning the history of the Middle Ages or medieval period, reading fantasy and historical fiction novels, and spending time with his family.

As a member of this esteemed advisory board, Ahmed will leverage his expertise to support and guide NPG Vision & Strategy. Specifically, he will provide guidance, education and advice as the organization’s leaders execute on the 2026 vision.

Chiderah Okoye

Chiderah Okoye is the Executive Director of the Venly Institute, a Cambridge-based applied learning and certification organization that helps local businesses grow through social media, cloud-based applications, and cybersecurity best practices. She is also Managing Director of Transform Power Systems, an electrical engineering design and clean energy placement firm. In both capacities, Chiderah leads teams that deliver next generation technical solutions to promote the sustainable and inclusive growth of businesses and communities.

Chiderah earned her B.S in Biomedical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University. She began her career in industrial controls with Rockwell Automation. She held roles ranging from account management to sales leadership while in that industry. Her passions lie at the intersection of business, education, and technology. In keeping with those threads, she is President Emeritus for the Boston Professionals chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers and Chair Emeritus for Boston’s Affinity Leadership Consortium – a forum of Greater Boston minority affinity leaders to advance diverse programming initiatives for the region. Chiderah was selected by the World Economic Forum to join the Boston Hub of the Global Shapers and is currently a Shapers alum. In February 2017, Chiderah was appointed by Governor Charlie Baker to serve on the then newly commissioned Black Advisory Commission for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In 2020 she joined the board of directors for the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA) and Resilient Coders.

As a member of this esteemed advisory board, Chiderah will leverage her expertise to support and guide NPG Global Brand Visibility. Specifically, she will Provide guidance on the organization’s strategy to grow membership and expand network in diaspora.