Team – Friends of Nigeria

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About Us

Friends of Nigeria is a dedicated community that bridges the gap between businesses in France and lucrative opportunities in Nigeria, fostering cultural exchange, promoting development, and nurturing enduring friendships.

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Edit Content

About Us

Friends of Nigeria is a dedicated community that bridges the gap between businesses in France and lucrative opportunities in Nigeria, fostering cultural exchange, promoting development, and nurturing enduring friendships.

Contact Us

Meet our

Honorary Board

"Our honorary board guides the management team in executing the Spotlight Nigeria annual event (A prominent initiative by FON) and achieving the organization's mission, vision, and objectives.".

Emmanuel Igah, Phd

Founder & Ceo, Phobos

Anino Emuwa

Founder, Avandis consulting

Marcel Hochet

President and CEO, GreenElec

Maître Ebenezer Okpokpo

Professional Lawyer

Élé Asu

PR & Communication Specialist

Serge Blanchard

CEO, SCB Sub Sahara

Management Team

John Okoro

President

Abiodun Odunuga

Vice President

Nkechi Nwosu

Director of Media & Communications

Oyindamola Olunsunmade

Director of Professional Membership

Unity Ivongbe

Director of Projects

Ifedolapo Onikoyi

Director of Events

Emmanuel Igah, Phd

Founder & Ceo, Phobos

Anino Emuwa

Founder, Avandis consulting

Sub-committee Leads

Ajibola Faniyi

Head of Business Committee

Aderonke Abudu

Head of Professional Committee

Ifeanyi E.Nwadishi

Head of Governance Committee

FON Germany Executive Team

Ewa Ade Adeyomo

FON Germany Executive Member

Esther Ilaboya

FON Germany Executive Member

Chioma Okonkwo

FON Germany Executive Member

Oluwasegun Kadiri

FON Germany Executive Member

Oluwasegun Kadiri

FON Germany Executive Member

Chigozie Nweke Eze

FON Germany Executive Member

Anino Emuwa

Founder, Avandis consulting

FON Belgium & Luxembourg Team

John Okoro

president

Angel Patricks Amegbe

FON Belgium & Luxembourg Team

Sheriff Tahiru

FON Belgium & Luxembourg Team

Anurika Ohalezim

FON Belgium & Luxembourg Team

Oyindamola Olunsunmade

director of professional membership

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John Okoro

president

John presently heads Project Development for CMR Group in Sub-Saharan Africa focusing on clean and renewable energy power plants and solutions.

Before joining CMR Group, John worked for 6 years at VERGNET Group and was directly involved in opening up selected new markets in Africa as well as originating and closing project deals.

John’s experience in Business and Project development spans across 15 Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and covers a large portfolio of clean energy infrastructure projects for private and public off-takers.

Before getting involved in clean energy and infrastructure, John worked as a Project Manager in the public and private sectors in Nigeria including working at Nigeria’s Presidency between 2012 and 2013 where John was part of a project team in charge of deploying a public-private partnership project geared towards job creation amongst Nigerian youths. John also co-founded several capacity building initiatives including the “mentor-me” initiative which won a state government award for excellence in Nigeria in 2013.

John is an international key-note speaker and panelist on topics related to clean energy, innovation, and Africa. John has delivered various presentations and key notes at more than 15 international conferences across 10 Countries.

John is a non-executive board member of a number of companies and non-profit organizations in Africa and Europe, spanning across Engineering, Technology, and human capital development.

John holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Covenant University, Nigeria and a Master Degree in Project Management and Business Development from Skema Business School, France. John is also an alumnus of the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management’s Climate and Renewable Energy FInance Program. John is a member of the Project Management Institute and holds the global Project Management Professional (PMP) certification since 2013.

John serves as the President and Director of Administration for Friends of Nigeria, Europe. John works closely in collaboration with leaders of other African Diaspora organizations to promote the attractiveness of the African continent to foreign investors and the Diaspora community in Europe.

John has a flair for sports and music. He plays football, badminton, ping pong, tennis and is also a member of the IBB Golf and Country Club Abuja. John also plays the Piano, Drums, and Bass Guitar. John enjoys discovering new places, making new friends, and spending ample time with his family.

Abiodun Odunuga

vice president

Abiodun Dominic Odunuga is an international development consultant.

Having acquired over 10 years of experience in the field of sustainability, entrepreneurship and International development, Abiodun has developed and worked on projects with organizations such as the World Bank, European Union, United Nations (UN), Africa Development Bank (AfDB), and The Commonwealth across Africa and Europe. He has presented various papers relating to entrepreneurship, social innovation and sustainability at different levels such as the International Conference on Sustainable Development (ICSD) in New York, United States as well as the in Rome Italy.

He has consulted for various government agencies in Nigeria and France on economic initiatives in Agriculture, Digital Technology and Industry. Abiodun has also worked with various Sates Governments in Nigeria and the Nigeria Governors Forum with respect to development projects and attracting foreign investments.

He holds a Masters in Development Practice (MDP) degree from Sciences Po, Paris.

Abiodun is also the project manager for the Nigeria-France Tech Initiative (NFTI) recently launched by the Embassy of Nigeria, Paris amidst stakeholders such as the French Development Agency (AFD) and the Nigeria Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to support the tech ecosystem between France and Nigeria.

He is a recipient of many international awards such as the Tocqueville Active Citizens Award for Co-creation and Community Impact in France as well as the United States of America Partnership award for Economic Empowerment by the United States Consulate, Lagos, Nigeria.

Based in Paris, he brings his wealth of experience in training, project management, fundraising and business development to consult for various International organizations focusing on Africa as it relates to investment opportunities, supporting start-ups, and empowering small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).

Abiodun is also a lecturer on Leadership, Soft Skills and Entrepreneurship with leading institutions having students across Africa and Europe. He is a frequent global conference speaker and sits on the board of many organizations.

As the Co-Founder and Vice-President of Friends of Nigeria, Abiodun serves in the Executive role of Director of Partnerships for the organization.

When he’s not working, you can catch him mentoring young people, discovering new cultures, volunteering for noble causes or watching movies.