Meet the Foundation Officers.

Professor Smaranda Olarinde 

– Vice President South-West

Professor Olarinde Elisabeta Smaranda is a distinguished academic and legal practitioner with over 40 years of experience. As a Professor of Law and a Fellow of both the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators and the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, she has significantly contributed to legal education and practice. From 2011 to 2021, she led the College of Law at Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), achieving numerous accolades, including a 100% pass rate in the 2018 Final Bar Examinations and multiple top student awards at the Nigerian Law School. Under her leadership, ABUAD’s College of Law became the university’s best college for four consecutive years and launched its Ph.D. program in law in 2019.

Professor Olarinde has also been instrumental in fostering academic collaborations, such as the MOU with the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Arbitrators. Currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor and a Governing Council member at ABUAD, she also contributes to the governance of Ahman Pategi University and has served on the Council of Legal Education. Her scholarly work includes numerous articles and co-authored books on torts and legal practice. She has led and participated in various international research initiatives focused on women’s rights, land tenure, and child protection. Additionally, she has held various administrative roles, including Acting Vice-Chancellor and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at ABUAD, and was appointed Chief External Examiner for Ekiti State by the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board of Nigeria. Professor Olarinde is also the West Africa Representative of the Association of African Universities and serves on the West Africa Regional Committee of the Association of Commonwealth Universities. She is the Vice-President, South-West, of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners in Nigeria.

Professor Emmanuel Samu Dandaura

– Vice President North Central

Professor Emmanuel Samu Dandaura (PhD, fnipr, fsonta, fana, fta, fitin, FNAL) is a renowned expert in development communication and cultural studies. He was a founding faculty member at the University of Abuja (1990) and Nasarawa State University (2009). His academic contributions include 105 publications in national and international journals, books, and monographs. Notably, he developed the Development Entertainment Theory in 2010, advancing theatre for development communication. 

Dandaura’s influence extends globally through public lectures and visiting professorships at 18 universities across five continents, including the Chinese University, Hong Kong, York University in Canada, and Makerere University in Uganda.

In policy and cultural development, Dandaura chaired the study that mapped Nigeria’s Cultural and Creative Industries in 2013, aiding their economic integration and contributing to Nigeria’s status as Africa’s largest economy. He has consulted for international organizations like UNICEF, the World Bank, and UNESCO, where he has chaired expert committees and contributed to key cultural initiatives. As a Communication and Cultural expert for the African Union, he helped develop over nine continental standard-setting instruments in the past 13 years, including the African Union Model Law for the Protection of Cultural Property and Heritage and the AU Revised Plan of Action on Cultural and Creative Industries.

Professor Dandaura is the founding Executive Director of the Institute of Strategic and Development Communication, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, and chairs the implementation committee of the world’s first University of Public Relations and Leadership. He holds fellowships with several prestigious organisations, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Nigerian Academy of Letters, and the Nigeria Association of Authors.

Professor Nasiru Maiturare

Vice-President North West

Professor Maiturare was born on June 16th, 1963 in Paiko, Niger State, Nigeria. He began his academic journey at L.E.A. Primary School Paiko (Now UK Bello Primary School) and later at Government College Bida. Graduating with a B.Sc. in Actuarial Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1985, he pursued further studies, earning a Master’s Degree and PhD in Business Administration, specializing in Finance. He augmented his qualifications with Computer Certificates from IMC New Delhi and IIT Bombay, India in 2001, and a Certificate in University-Enterprise Partnerships from IIEP, Paris, France in 2003. He recently obtained a Certificate on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Teaching, Research and Community Service with Distinction from the Virtual Institute for Capacity Building in Higher Education (VICBHE).

Since 1987, Professor Maiturare has been a dedicated Lecturer at the Department of Business Administration/Actuarial Science, A.B.U., Zaria, with a notable sabbatical engagement at the National Pension Commission (PenCom) Abuja in 2013. Holding various management positions within the university system, including Head of Department, Dean of Faculty, and Director of Institute, he has contributed significantly to academic administration.

From 2015 to 2019, he served as the fourth Vice Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, leaving an indelible mark on academia. His scholarly contributions include over 40 published articles and numerous paper presentations in Actuarial Science, Insurance, and Finance, showcased in academic conferences across Nigeria and overseas.

On a national scale, Professor Maiturare has held significant roles such as Vice Chairman of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) of Tetfund and membership of the Technical Committee on the CBN Centre of Excellence in Accounting, Banking & Finance, and Economics. He is a distinguished Fellow and Council member of the Institute of Actuaries Nigeria, a Fellow of the Risk Management Society of Nigeria, and a founding member of the Academy of Management Nigeria. Presently, he serves as the Vice President (North-West) of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP).

Professor Shehu Adamu Iya

Vice-President North East

Shehu A. Iya is a Professor of Agricultural Engineering with the Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. He had his Bachelor’s degree at the University of Maiduguri in 1987, he obtain his Masters and Ph.D degrees at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria and University of Ilorin respectively. He has specialized in farm power and machinery. He held many senior academic and administrative positions in the university and a one-time Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Admin). He has participated in almost all the courses run by Virtual Institute for Capacity Building for Higher Education (VICBHE) under the auspices of National Universities Commission (NUC) National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) and TETFund. He has obtained a Post Graduate Higher Certificate in Education from Grenoble Graduate School of Business at France. He is registered with the Council for Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria as a certified engineer and a fellow of the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (NIAE).  Also, a member of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP) and the Vice – President (North–East) of the association. Email: us5iya@mau.edu.ng. Telephone: +2348036121226

Dr. Elvis O. OTAMERE

Administrative Officer – NAAIP

I am Dr. Elvis O. OTAMERE, Deputy Director, Directorate of Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). I joined the services of the National Open University of Nigeria in October 2007 as a Principal Systems Analyst in the Directorate of Information Technology Support Services (DITSS). I rose through the ranks to become Deputy Director in January 2017 in the Directorate of Information and Communications Technology (DICT). In October 2000, I was redeployed to my current directorate.

I obtained my first-degree B.Sc. (Computer Science – 1990) and MBA in 2004 both at the University of Benin. I obtained another Master degree in Information Science M. Inf. Sc. 2010 at the University of Ibadan. I commenced my doctorial studies in 2014 with an initial focus on Open Educational Resources (OER). But due to institutional policy, the programme was grounded in 2016. That propelled me to proceed to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 2017, where I obtained my Ph. D in Information Science in 2023. I am a member of the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) and also a member of the Computer Professional Registration Council of Nigeria (CPN). I have to my credit 4 peered reviewed journal publications; 2 published conference proceedings; etc. Basically, my research interests are System Analysis, Information Policy, and System End-user Satisfaction.

Contact: eotamere@noun.edu.ng; otamereoe@yahoo.com; +2348037823998

Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede

President

Professor Eyitope Ogunbodede [BSc. Hons, BChD, MPH, PhD, DDPH RCS (England), FFD RCS (Ireland), FNCS, FNAMed] was appointed Professor in 2000. He is an internationally renowned expert in Dental Public Health/Community-based research. He was Vice-Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife (2017 to 2022). Professor Ogunbodede also at various times served as Head of Department, Dean, and Provost (College of Health Sciences) at OAU. He has published over 100 scientific journal articles and authored 5 books. He was Honorary Visiting Professor to the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, from 2000 to 2010. He was also Visiting Professor, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, USA from May 2012 to April 2013. He has been a Principal or co-investigator in 15 national and international researches supported by grants. 

Professor Ogunbodede was the Convener and Foundation President, International Association for Dental Research (IADR), Nigerian Division. He was also President of the African and Middle East Region of the Association (IADR), and served on the 12-member International Governing Board of the Association from 2014 to 2017. Professor Ogunbodede envisioned and set up the DEMA Foundation Dental Museum, the first Dental Museum in Africa, which houses his collections over the years. He was Foundation Editor-in-Chief of the African Journal of Oral Health (AJOH), and currently serves on the Editorial Boards of 9 professional journals. Professor Ogunbodede has won several distinctions and awards.
He is very versatile in the use and application of Computers and he is a Honorary Fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society (FNCS). 

Professor Aleruchi Chuku

Assistant General Secretary

Aleruchi Chuku, an accomplished academic and administrator with over two decades of experience in scientific research, teaching, and leadership is a Professor of Medical Mycology with the Department of Microbiology, Federal Unversity of Lafia.

Professor Chuku’s career began as a research scientist with the National Veterinary Research Institute, Vom in Plateau State, where she worked with the Dermatophylosis Unit of the Bacteriology Department and served as an adjunct Lecturer at the Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom. Thereafter, she joined the Federal University of Lafia and served as Head of Department of Microbiology, Director of Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES),  Head of University Curriculum Development Unit,  Director of Academic Planning, and currently serves as Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic Affairs.

Her research work has led to several research grants and the authoring of over sixty (60) journal articles in renowned peer-reviewed national and international journals, as well as over thirty (30) conference and workshop papers, with research interests in Indoor fungi, cost-effective methods of fungi preservation in developing countries, mycotoxins and human health, and community public health.

Professor Chuku is a member of several professional organizations, including the Institute of Medical Laboratory Science Council of Nigeria (AMLSCN), the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM), the Mycological Society of Nigeria (MYCOSON), Nigerian Society for Microbiology (NSM), and American Society for Microbiology (ASM).

Professor Aleruchi Chuku is involved in several advocacy, humanitarian and community development efforts, such as the Nigerian Red Cross Society, a Special Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Chairman Board of Trustees of GraceCity Empowerment Foundation Nigeria, and a strong advocate of Girl Child education. She is a seasoned and eloquent public speaker with great presentation skills, an astute organizer who loves and enjoys working with teenagers.

aleruchichuku14@gmail.com 08037100101

Dr. Kehinde Adesoye Abiola

General Secretary

He is Proprietor and Former Rector, Living Spring College of Technology, Osogbo.

Academic and Professional Qualifications:

 Holds PhD Business Administration (specialized in Not-for Profit Management), MBA, PGDE, B. Agriculture.

 Fellow, Nigerian Institute of Management (FNIM); Fellow, Association of Corporate Governance Professionals in Nigeria (FCGP); Fellow, Institute of Business Management and Policy Development (FBMP); Fellow, Chattered Board of Administrators (FCBA), among others. Dr. Abiola is a Chattered Management Practitioner (CMP) of the Nigerian Institute of Management, License no 170.

 Membership of Boards and Governing Councils

They include; Co-Head, Ziyanda Capital Joint Venture, Sandston City, South Africa (2014 to 2018); National President Old Students’ Association, St Davids Grammar School, Ode-Omu (2018 to date) and Chairman, Governing Board of the government school (August 2021 to date); Member, Board of Trustees, Glorious Vision University (May 2021 to date); Member Board of Trustees, Proposed Universal Open University (November 2023 to date).

Dr. Abiola has 25 years work experience as Management staff of four major Non-Governmental Organizations and as CEO of three, for 18 years, including, National Executive Director, Nigeria Opportunities Industrialization Centers (NOIC) (affiliate of OIC International USA); General Secretary/CEO, YMCA of Lagos and Director-General, Global Centre for Resource and Policy Development.

He was Head, Directorate of Membership and Branch Development, Institute of Directors (IoD)Nigeria

Dr Kehinde Abiola is a Specialist Grants Proposal Writer with proven track record in fundraising. His presentation on Grant Writing won award at the International Conference of Affiliates of OIC International, Philadelphia, USA, February,2009.

Dr. Abiola developed course curriculum and synopsis, coordinated courses and supervised projects in Nonprofit Studies

Dr Kehinde Abiola had Distinction Plus in VICBHE Module 8 Course on ABC of Artificial Intelligence and he’s a recipient of Peter Okebukola Prize on Best Projects of the course.

Email: kehindeabiola50@gmail.com. Telephone:  08033241868, 08037249940

Professor Khadijat Adenola Yahaya

Treasurer

Prof. Khadijat Adenola Yahaya, FCA is the Treasurer of the National Association of Artificial Intelligence Practitioners (NAAIP). She was born in Ikeja, Lagos state to the family of Mr. and Mrs. F.K. Adenola. She has B.Sc. Accounting (2nd Class Upper Hons.) at Bayero University Kano in 2001; M.Sc. Accounting, Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and Ph.D. Accounting and Finance in 2005, 2007 and 2011 respectively from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. She became a Professor of Accounting at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria with specialization in Financial Reporting and Taxation in 2022. Prof. Khadijat was certified as a Professional Teacher by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria in 2017. Her research interest are Financial Reporting and Taxation. She holds a Certificate of National Association of Certified Valuators Analyst, Consultants’ Training Institute, Las Vegas, USA.

She is a full Professor at Department of Accounting, Faculty of Management Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. She was the Pioneer former Sub-Dean, Faculty of Management Sciences, between 2013 and 2017 and former Head, Department of Accounting, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria between 2019 and 2021.

Prof. Khadijat is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). Currently, she is the Chairman ICAN Ilorin and District Society. Prof. Khadijat became a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) in 2019. In 2011, Prof. Khadijat won a Scholarship Award for Capacity Building in Higher Education due to active participation in a programme organized by Virginia State University, Petersburg, United States of America. Prof. Khadijat hails from Ogun State, Nigeria and she is happily married to a University Don; Prof. Yahaya, Lasiele Alabi, the current Dean of the Faculty of Education University of Ilorin, Nigeria and the union is blessed with lovely children.

Professor Jonathan Tsetimi

Vice President South-South

Position: Vice-President South-South, NAAIP. Professor of Industrial Mathematics. Director, Center for Research and International Programmes, Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Nigeria.  

Contact Information: Center for Research and International Programmes (CRIP), Delta State University, PMB 1, Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria. Tel: +234 8068661884. Email: jtsetimi@delsu.edu.ng, delsu.crip@delsu.edu.ng, tsetimi@yahoo.com

Qualifications: BSc (Hons), MSc and PhD (Industrial Mathematics)- UNIBEN, PGDBA –DELSU

Research Interests: Industrial Mathematics, Mathematical Computing, Operations Research, Data Analysis, Scheduling, Artificial Intelligence

Expertise:

• Operations Research (OR)
• Data Analysis and Statistical Modeling
• Scheduling and Resource Allocation
• Numerical Analysis and Computational Mathematics
• Stochastic Analysis and Applications
• Mathematical Modeling in Industry and Science
• Symmetry of Differential Equations and Dynamical Systems
• Programming Languages
• Artificial Intelligence

Teaching: Courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels include; Mathematical Programming, Programming Languages, Operations Research, Optimization, Mathematical Methods, Stochastic Processes, Numerical Analysis, Data Analysis, Non-parametric Methods, Computer Applications, ICT Applications, e-business.

Publications: Over 60 publications spanning his areas of research interest, expertise and multidisciplinary collaborations.

Professor Tsetimi is a distinguished academic in the field of Industrial Mathematics and AI. Before joining the university system, he worked at various times as; System Analyst, Programmer and ICT trainer. He was a consultant with the World Bank and the African Development Bank on ICT Management for institutional strengthening projects in Nigeria. As Director of CRIP, he plays a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant research culture and spearheading international collaborations. His commitment to innovation extends to his active participation in the DELSU’s ICT committee for several years running. Professor Tsetimi’s position as the Vice-President South-South of NAAIP signifies his dedication to advancing the field of AI across the South-South region of Nigeria. His expertise and leadership will be instrumental in promoting collaboration among AI practitioners, fostering research and development efforts, and ensuring the ethical and responsible application of AI for the benefit of all.

Professor Nkechinyere Nwokoye

Publicity Secretary

Prof Nkechinyere Anthonia Nwokoye is a professor of Igbo literature and currently with the Dept of Igbo, African & Communication Studies, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She was born on November 11, 1964 at Onitsha, Anambra State. She hails from Amawbia, Awka South L.G.A. She attended Okpoko Community Primary School (1978) and Isiekenesi High School (1984). She attended Federal Polytechnic, Oko, before moving to the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka for her first and second degrees in Linguistics/Igbo (1992 and 1997 respectively), and finally at the same University she obtained her PhD in (2007). From 2011 till 2016 she attended several trainings/programs in different Universities in China among which are Xiamen University, China in 2011, Beijing University of Technology, China (2013), Xiamen University, China (2014), Shanghai Normal University, China (2015) and finally Xiamen University, China in (2016). Award received among others are Pita Nwana in Igbo literature, Federal Govt Scholarship Award, Chinese Government Scholarship (HANBAN) 2010 and Ambassador of the Kingdom Award (AG Nigeria).

She started her University lecturing with University of Nigeria Nsukka before finally settling with Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. She is a member of the following professional bodies:

• Member, Nigeria Academy of Letter
• Member, Linguistics Association of Nigeria
• Member, Igbo Studies Association
• Member, University Women Association
• Member, Association of Promoting African Studies
• Member, Federation of Academic Women Education, Nigeria.
• Member, Governing Council Nnamdi Azikiwe University
• Member, Governing Council Evangel University Akaeze

She is among others the External Examiner of PhD and MA Theses. She has served as Chairman and Member of Accreditation Team in various Nigerian Universities. She has held positions like Vice President and Publicity Secretary of different organisation. She has attended and presented papers in many national and international conferences.

Professor Joy Eyisi

Vice President South-East

Joy Eyisi is a Professor of English, Chairperson, Committee of Deans and Directors and Director, Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN). She is the pioneer Director, NOUN Special Study Centre for the National Assembly (2015-2017) and the first female Deputy Vice-Chancellor of NOUN (2017-2019). She obtained her PhD from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, in 2000. In 2007, she emerged the youngest Professor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. 20th March, 2024, marked her 27 years’ experience as a university lecturer and 17 years as Professor. Eyisi is the first Nigerian to receive the prestigious award of the International Academy of Linguistics, Behavioural and Social Sciences as the Best Paper Presenter, in New Orleans, USA (2010). She had specialised trainings at the University of Wolverhampton, UK, University of Houston, Pace University, USA, Galilee International Management Institute, Israel, Open University, UK, and Police Training School, Ikeja, where she graduated as a Supernumerary Police Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP, 2018) with two awards: the Best Graduating Student* and *the Most Valuable Student. She has taught English language courses in different universities, such as: Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Paul University, Awka, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Federal University Ndifu-Alike, Ikwo, and Ahmadu Bellow University, Zaria. Professor Eyisi is a UN Ambassador for Peace, World Ambassador for Peace, a recipient of many academic leadership awards, including inter alia Excellent Leadership Award, First Bank of Nigeria (2008), Most Prestigious Academic Excellence Award, University of Nigeria Alumni Association (UNAA,2010), Most Outstanding Lecturer on Sabbatical, National Open University of Nigeria (2011), Academic Excellence Award, Nnamdi Azikiwe University (2013). She is currently rounding off her PhD in ODL, University of Ibadan. Her current research is on two modes of computer-assisted instructions/learning outcomes in English among students of NOUN. She belongs to many professional associations. Professor Eyisi is well-published. She says: The noblest search is the search for excellence. Aspire to the zenith! Never look for Very Good where Excellent is possible.