EXECUTIVE TEAM
FUNKE OLOKUDE
Executive Director
Funke is an energetic, innovative, and award-winning human working to continuously deliver cutting edge collaborative practice by leading from the margins to promote a holistic approach to issues impacting individuals, systems, and policies to bring about transformative and equitable change.
She is a seasoned c-suite executive, Intercultural Relationship Facilitator and Educator working to highlight the complex intersecting realities of vulnerable and marginalized individuals and families. Funke has over fifteen years of extensive work experience in the social service industry working with diverse populations and sectors in Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta where she has continuously promoted equity in policy and practice that have led to transformational relationships between individuals and within systems.
In 2020, Funke was named Top 40 under 40 for her continued work in influencing policy and practice across various sectors in Alberta. Funke's contribution in the teaching and education space has also earned her a Jaye Fredrickson Award for Teaching Excellence 2021 & 2022 Nomination. For her leadership, a 2022 Woman of Inspiration Nomination and awarded the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal.
Funke also serves on the boards of the Bredin Centre for Career Advancement, Black Business Ventures Association (BBVA) and is the convener of an Ethnocultural Community Leadership Circle.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Adaku Uju
Chair
Adaku Uju is a Barrister and Solicitor in the province of Alberta, Canada. She obtained her LLB from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; and her LLM from the prestigious Osgoode Hall Law School of York University, Toronto, Canada.
Adaku is the Principal of Cynel Law Office, Edmonton, Canada, where she practices various areas of Law. She is also the President/CEO at Cynel Global Resources Inc, providing expertise in Investor Relations, International Trade and Business Development, Technology, Corporate Social Responsibility programs, top Government engagement, among other skills sets and experiences.
Adaku is a dynamic professional with successful history serving the needs of the International, Federal, Provincial and Municipal Governments in the various sectors such as: Healthcare, Wellness, Agriculture, Education, Medical Industrial Hemp/CBD, Oil and Gas, Non-Profit, Energy and Finance. Adaku has a proven track record managing broad-based business and technology projects in support of revenue and business objectives, including professional training and management consulting.
Adaku has been a core part of various Canadian Government Trade Missions to Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire and South Africa. Adaku has led, spoken and networked extensively at various International Conferences, Forums and Summits, with multilateral and development organizations. Adaku is a public speaker and has a passion for corporate social responsibility programs, diversity and inclusion, global business matching, entrepreneurship, regulatory compliance, governance, risk management, change management, capacity building, and strategic planning.
Adaku has a passion for career and youth development, and continues to mentor various children, youths and individuals. She is currently a member of Black Canadian Women in Action and serves on the Board of several Non-Profit organizations including Skills-City Institute, STEMCEL (STEM and career exploration lab), Canadian Imperial Advantage, Building Minority Wealth Association, The Ovation Group, and When African Women Talk. Adaku is always open to the opportunity to positively impact others and be a part of their personal and career development, and advancement.
JACKIE FOORD
Secretary
Jackie has spent much of her life pursuing social justice and advocating for the equitable application of human rights. Currently the Branch Manager of Social Development at the City of Edmonton, Jackie has served her community through a career in the non profit sector that
included senior leadership roles with YWCA Edmonton, Covenant Health, the Kidney Foundation, the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the Legislative Assembly of Alberta. She received her Bachelor degree in Political Science from the University of Regina and her MBA from Athabasca University.
Jackie devotes considerable time to volunteerism. She is a member of the International Women’s Forum and was the inaugural Chair of the Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton (WAVE) which is the committee that advises city council on issues related to gender. Jackie is also the President of the Good Hearts Transplant Foundation. In 2013 Jackie was named one of Edmonton’s Top 100 Women in Business and in 2014 she received the Lifetime Achievement.
Kemi Jegede
Treasurer
Kemi Jegede is a Chartered Accountant with more than 20 years of experience working in the corporate setting. She specializes in providing financial consulting services to companies, including financial statements preparation, budgeting, and forecasting and audit review. She is also knowledgeable in financial risk management and cash flow management and has worked with numerous organizations to optimize their financial strategies.
Kemi is a powerful force in the workplace and uses her positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard, improve on themselves and succeed. In her free time, Kemi likes to crochet, explore diverse cuisine and cook. She currently lives in Fort McMurray, Alberta with her husband and they have three amazing adult children.
THOMAS BANKOLE
Director
Mr. Thomas Bankole is a retired Engineer who has worked extensively in the manufacturing industry in Canada and the US. He has been a member of RRF since 2017.
Mr. Bankole knows of the reality of systemic disparities in our society and how it is affecting our communities. He is focused on lowering the barriers of inequity in government services.
He spends time advocating and supporting members of our community who are victims of systemic inequity in our justice system.
Mr. Bankole is married with children and grandchildren.
CELESTE HAYWARD
Vice Chair
Celeste has an extensive history working with diverse non-profit organizations throughout Canada and involving a wide range of communities. She has advocated for and was involved with establishing a Master of Social Work with a specialization in Indigenous Trauma and Resiliency with the University of Toronto. She is highly skilled in development and delivery of training for variety of topics, including board governance, lateral violence, STBBIs, grief and loss, strategic planning, suicide intervention, trauma-informed approaches, program management.
Her experience in management roles of non-profit organizations has provided her with significant experience with human resources, negotiation, finance, program management, and has a solid foundation and experience with research, proposal writing, logic models, policy and procedure development, and program reporting, making Celeste an invaluable asset to the foundation.
Henry K Aidoo
Director
Dr. Henry Kweku Aidoo is Canadian but was born and brought up in Ghana. He currently works as a Public Health specialist with the Canadian Red Cross. He attended high school in Ghana and completed the University of Ghana Medical School. He has a postgraduate certificate in occupational medicine from the University of Kent, UK, and a certificate in HIV/AIDS management in the workplace from V.V Giri Institute in India. He has also completed a master’s degree in public health from the University of Alberta and a certification in Infection Prevention and Control from the Queens University, Kingston, Ontario.
Dr. Aidoo worked as an Occupational Physician for several years before moving to Canada. He gained practical research training and skills through conducting a few systematic reviews and cohort studies. He has a few publications to his credit.
He is married with three kids. He is an ardent soccer fan and enjoy sports in general. He is passionate about public health and occupational health and hope to merge his public health practice with clinical medical practice in future.
Emmanuel Alade
Director
Emmanuel, a current member of the Law Society of Alberta practices law as a partner with City Law Offices. A product of the University of Alberta, Edmonton, where he earned a Master of Law Degree, Emmanuel’s multi-national and extensive practice has spanned many branches of law. He has garnered significant exposure in Board’s membership and management.
He was the Senior Manager (Legal)/Assistant Company Secretary of Odu’a Investment Corporation and has also served as a board member on numerous non-profit organizations and some committees of the Law Society of Alberta in the past. The founder of the Centre for Equity, Education and Justice (‘CEJE’), Emmanuel, a passionate advocate of societal egalitarianism, is deeply committed to championing human rights causes including but not limited to: poverty alleviation, public policy, public awareness and education and equitable administration/ enforcement of justice for all, through the instrumentality of the law.
He has mentored and continues to mentor young lawyers in the Province. A member of the Knights of Columbus, he is currently a volunteer member at the Edmonton Community Legal Centre, the Law Society of Alberta Mentorship Program and the Africa Centre Pro-Bono Legal Services initiatives.
IMA ANUGOM
Director
Ima’s professional journey includes working with community organizations, not-for-profit organizations, international NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, Indigenous communities and organizations, and provincial and federal governments in Canada and globally. She is currently a resident doctor affiliated with the University of Alberta.
Her unique experiences working in health and public health has afforded her the opportunity to witness the consequences of social inequity on people’s health. Using her knowledge, voices from her past, evidence-based practice, and current health and public health networks, she is committed to advocating for and influencing policies to address the social determinants of health that negatively impact racialized, vulnerable, and marginalized populations; and promoting practices that ensure equitable access to health, and healthy lives for these populations.