The Leadership Team
The Leadership Team plays a critical role in decision-making, resource allocation, and managing key partnerships. Each member of the Leadership Team brings their expertise to help guide the organization towards achieving its goals.
Gbadebo Odularu, PhD
University of Sunderland, United Kingdom.
President & CEO
Gbadebo Odularu has dedicated nearly 25 years of his career to the global nonprofit sector. He served as the regional food policy advocacy and analyst for the Forum for Agricultural Research in Africa for almost a decade. In addition to its food and nutrition security (FNS) knowledge expertise, he has garnered in-the-field food value chain experience at the Fresh Food Logistics Departments of major American multinational supermarket and retail corporations that operate a chain of grocery stores, and hypermarkets such as Walmart Inc and Sheetz Inc.
Gbadebo is driven by the mission to eliminate hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition by leading several strategic initiatives aimed at distributing nutritious food across vulnerable communities while addressing the root causes of hunger. He currently leads the practice and establishment of food trade and digitalization academies which are aimed at enhancing food logistics and connectivity infrastructure towards expanding the percentage of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed (FFVC) by our priority populations, including infants, children, mothers, older adults, and the minorities. In 2019, Gbadebo volunteered for the Buffalow Family and Friends Community Days (BFFCD), in collaboration with the Food Bank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. BFFCD is a family-oriented organization offering food, clothing, support, and encouragement to individuals and communities in Chesapeake, Virginia. Gbadebo has always perceived food banking volunteering as a great opportunity to replicate this initiative in Africa, therefore putting food directly into the hands of the hungriest. As No Hunger Food Bank (NHFB)’s President & CEO, he is also responsible for advancing NHFB’s capacities’ frontiers for bracing it for the future of sustainable food and nutrition security in the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).
Bamidele Adekunle, PhD
The University of Guelph, Canada.
Digitalization and Innovation Lead
Bamidele Adekunle leads No Hunger Food Bank (NHFB)’s corporate digitalization, innovation, and technology footprint, thereby defining its five-year digital visibility roadmap, end-to-end conversions, mobile applications, and systems integration strategy. Bamidele is the founder of ethnocultural vegetables (ECV) Ontario, as well as the brain behind Hikma360, an information and mobile app that reduces asymmetric information in the halal food market. Based on his affiliation with the University of Guelph and Ted Rogers University, Canada, Bamidele has served as principal investigators on food security-related initiatives.
Shirley Isi Ejoh, PhD
University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Human Nutrition
Dr. Shirley Isi Ejoh is a highly respected academic and researcher in the field of human nutrition and dietetics at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Serving as a lecturer and leader in the Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics at the College of Medicine, she brings over a decade of progressive cross-functional experience in public health nutrition and nutrition education. Dr. Ejoh earned her doctoral degree in Human Nutrition from the University of Ibadan. Her extensive research interests focus particularly on traditional foods, especially leafy green vegetables, and their role in improving micronutrient intake and promoting overall health. She is actively involved in nutrition education and promotes family gardening activities as a means to enhance food security and encourage healthy eating. Her scholarly contributions are internationally recognized, with over 200 citations linking her work in agriculture and nutrition, nutrition education, and micronutrient studies.
Dr. Ejoh has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, primarily concentrating on micronutrient nutrition, dietary diversification, and nutrition intervention strategies. Her expertise has been invaluable to projects aimed at improving nutrition through the use of local foods and culturally relevant approaches. In addition, her public health outreach efforts include interviews and initiatives that teach budget-conscious meal planning, the use of seasonal foods, and strategies to reduce food waste by utilizing leftovers. As the head of her department, Dr. Ejoh plays a critical role in training nutrition and dietetics students and collaborating with other scholars to improve dietary policy education at both national and regional levels. Her work has significantly influenced academic environments and broader community health initiatives, including school gardening projects and nutrition improvement programs in Nigeria.
Dr. Ejoh is actively involved in scientific committees, national task forces, and international research collaborations, further solidifying her impact in the field of nutrition and food safety. Her Google Scholar profile reflects a strong citation record, and her professional contributions are recognized in various scientific indices and through extensive peer networks.
Ms. Ronke Adedugbe
MBA, Global Business, University of Coventry, London, United Kingdom.
Impact, Marketing & Communications Lead
At Nohunger Food Bank, Ronke oversees our Impact, Marketing & Communications portfolio and is responsible for marketing, developing, leading, and executing marketing, communications, and brand strategy to further our mission. Her primary contributions focus on further building our global brand proposition and driving contributed revenue through collaboration and support of our meal packaging food drive, donor fundraising, and awareness initiatives. Ronke has a passion to alleviate hunger, create food security spaces among underprivileged and vulnerable populations; and empower women to thrive in their communities. Ronke also spearheads initiatives pertaining to measuring the effectiveness, impact, and sustainability of No Hunger Food Bank.
Folasade Bosede Adegboye, PhD
Covenant University, Nigeria.
Food & Youth Entrepreneurship Lead
Dr. Folasade Bosede Adegboye is a distinguished senior lecturer in Banking and Finance at Covenant University, Nigeria. Her specialization includes international finance, foreign capital flows, and economic development, with a particular emphasis on applications in the agriculture and food sectors. Dr. Adegboye holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Ilorin, along with a Master of Science in Finance. She earned her PhD in Finance, focusing on foreign direct investment (FDI) and economic development within African contexts. Her research employs quantitative econometric analysis to tackle real-world economic challenges, emphasizing interdisciplinary studies on trade and institutional quality.
In her scholarly work, Dr. Adegboye co-authored a significant study titled “The Agricultural Sector and Economic Development: The Nigerian Experience.” This research examines agriculture’s critical role in Nigeria’s economy, addressing challenges such as policy gaps that hinder sectoral growth. Her broader publications consistently link FDI and institutional factors to economic development in sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the pivotal influence of agriculture in this region.
Dr. Adegboye also conducts in-depth analyses of food price dynamics in Nigeria, focusing on the reasons behind their resistance to government policies. She attributes rising food prices to structural issues that persist despite interventions aimed at controlling inflation for groceries and staple items. Her insights underscore the necessity for targeted execution in agricultural finance, aimed at stabilizing food costs and fostering economic stability.
Akinseye Olatokunboh Aluko, PhD
University of Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Food Business, Education & Logistics Lead
Dr. Akinseye Olatokunbo Aluko is a distinguished academic and professional in the fields of food business, education, and logistics, currently serving as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Bestfield Business and Management Consultants, based in the United Kingdom. He holds a PhD from the University of Sunderland, UK, and has dedicated his career to advancing business logistics and education on a global scale. Dr. Aluko’s teaching career began in 2011 at the University of Teesside, where he earned two master’s degrees: one in International Management and another in Business Administration (MBA). This foundational education has equipped him with a robust understanding of the complexities of global business operations.
Currently, Dr. Aluko is a full-time researcher and lecturer specializing in business logistics at the University of East London, where he is also the Deputy Programme Leader for Oil & Gas Management. His academic work focuses on enhancing the efficiency of logistics systems within the food business sector, aiming to improve operational effectiveness and sustainability. Driven by his passion for addressing global challenges, Dr. Aluko is particularly enthusiastic about leveraging smart business logistics and analytics to combat hunger worldwide. His research explores innovative logistics solutions that can improve food distribution and accessibility, making a tangible impact on communities in need. Dr. Aluko’s vision extends beyond academia; he actively promotes the integration of effective logistics strategies within business practices to create a more sustainable and equitable food system. His leadership role at Bestfield Business and Management Consultants further exemplifies his commitment to fostering growth and development in the business landscape.
Gbadebo Elebiyo
Farm Standards Promotion Lead
Gbadebo has a Master of Philosophy in soil science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in Ghana, and a Bachelor of technology in general agriculture at Federal University of Technology, Minna in Nigeria with First Class. Gbadebo Elebiyo is currently employed at Leadway Assurance Company Limited, since December 2018, holding the title of Field Agriculturist and Operations Officer. He is skilled in soil analysis, soil sampling, environmental science, project development, environmental awareness, water, and agric insurance. Gbadebo has carried out several risk survey assessments on different farms as a field agriculturist namely, wheat, tomato, rice, cashew, sugar cane, ginger, oil palm, sweet potato, fish farming, poultry, warehouse, farm property and produce. Some of the inspected farms are worth several millions of naira. He underwrites Agric insurance and do pre- and post-lost loss risk assessment. Gbadebo is skilled in farm project. He consulted for GLG research on a project titled “Agriculture and artificial intelligence in Sub-Saharan Africa” and Technology Trends Survey. He received two academic awards one from Commonwealth Scholarship in Low- and Middle-Income Countries from 2016 to 2018 and the other from Global Soil Partnership of Food and Agriculture Organization for Travel Grant Fellowship. Gbadebo lives in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria where he and wife are blessed with three kids. His into community service.
Prof. Femi Ayoola
Food Security Statistician
Prof. Femi Ayoola is a dedicated and self-motivated individual with a history of success as a trained statistician in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses at several institutions. He obtained his Higher National Diploma in Statistics from The Polytechnic, Ibadan (HND), and Bachelor (B.Sc.), Masters (M.Sc.), and Doctoral degree in Statistics (Ph.D.) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. As an Adjunct Faculty in the College of Business at Jackson State University, MS, he teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in Business Statistics. At Dallas College, Dallas Texas, he also teaches mostly undergraduate courses and serves as a mentor and adviser to a large number of students. He has also taught Elementary Statistics, Statistics and Application software, Business Statistics, Statistics for Business Decisions, Operation Research, Quantitative Techniques, Plane Trigonometric, and College Algebra at other Universities. Furthermore, his areas of interest include: Panel data analysis (longitudinal studies), Econometrics, Time Series, Data Science, Spatial modeling, Bayesian, Computational Statistics, Biostatistics, Research Methodology, Biotechnology, Engineering Statistics, Environmental Statistics, Data Visualization, Data mining /wrangling, Reporting Analysis among others. To date, he has authored and co-authored several scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is passionate about youth empowerment
Professor Ken Ife
Chairman
Prof. Ken Ife is an accomplished International Development Consultant and Development Economist with a distinguished career in advisory roles in the UK and internationally. He previously served as a London Enterprise Ambassador and contributed to various Boards and Advisory positions for the UK Government under leaders like Rt. Hon Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Mayor Ken Livingstone. Notable roles include directorships at HM Home Office CDF, the London Food Board, and the Government’s Business Link for London. On the international front, he was the UK Government DfID Trade Adviser to the Federal Government of Nigeria from 2011 to 2012 and has been a member of the Presidential Governing Council of the Ministry of Finance Incorporated since January 2023.
Currently, he promotes a National PPP Concession on the Cassava-Bioethanol Value Chain Development in Nigeria and leads initiatives on methanol/bio-methanol/e-methanol Value Chain Development. He has served as Lead Consultant to the ECOWAS Commission on Industry & Private Sector Development since 2008 and currently consults for the Central Bank of Nigeria on macro-economic policy advocacy. Academically, he is a visiting professor at various universities, including the Nigerian Defence Academy, serves as the President of the Institute of Professional Economists and Policy Managers, and is a member of the Governing Council of Legend Metropolitan University. In national development, he is involved with the Joint Technical Working Group on Disinflation and Growth Acceleration Strategy and serves as Chairman of the Enugu State Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization. He is also the National Coordinator for Digital Economy, Bio-Economy, and Innovation in the formulation of the National Development Plan and has contributed to the Bioeconomy Policy Framework for the Federal Ministry of Finance. Prof. Ife provides consultancy services for numerous international bodies and Nigerian government agencies, showcasing his expertise in development strategy and economic policy.
Ogechi Aku
Member
Mrs. Ogechi Aku is a dynamic marketing professional with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from the University of Port Harcourt. She got a Master’s degree in Management from the University of Liverpool in England, which gave her more advanced knowledge and skills in running a business and leading strategically. Ogechi has built a robust career spanning over twenty years in various sectors, including a significant role at the Israeli Embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, where she contributed her expertise in student education and public relations. In addition, she has extensive experience working in the telecommunications industry, where she honed her skills in customer engagement and service delivery.
Beyond her professional achievements, Ogechi is deeply passionate about community development. She is committed to empowering vulnerable populations and believes in the importance of equitable access to resources and opportunities. This aligns seamlessly with the mission of No Hunger Food Bank, where her drive for community upliftment fuels her dedication to combating hunger and food insecurity. Her commitment to creating healthier, more resilient communities resonates with our goal of ensuring that every individual has access to nutritious food and support.
