TheCable

Ndidi Nwuneli, founder of LEAP Africa and co-founder of Sahel Consulting, has been appointed to the board of trustees of The Rockefeller Foundation.

According to a statement released by the foundation, Nwuneli was appointed on the board alongside Agnes Binagwaho, the vice-chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda.

Their tenures as members of the board began on November 21.

Commenting on the appointment, Richard D. Parsons, the board chair said: “It is a pleasure to welcome Agnes and Ndidi to our board of trustees. As the foundation works to lift up the most vulnerable people in communities around the world, their deep global development expertise and longstanding commitment to improving lives will be invaluable to the organization”.

“Agnes and Ndidi have demonstrated and been recognized for their dedication and leadership in global health and agriculture, respectively, which are core areas of the foundation’s work. I know I speak for the entire board in saying we are thrilled to welcome them to The Rockefeller Foundation.”

Rajiv J. Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation said: “I feel extremely fortunate to have Agnes and Ndidi join our Board of Trustees. Agnes has helped change the national health landscape as a member of the government of Rwanda and is an important leader in the field of global health.

“Ndidi has worked with the public and private sectors to champion solutions that have improved the lives of vulnerable people in Nigeria and around the world. Their deep personal commitment and extensive experience will make them invaluable to our efforts to advance The Rockefeller Foundation’s mission to inspire and foster large-scale human impact that promotes the well-being of humanity throughout the world.”

In her words, Nwuneli says it is an honour to join the board to help meet the needs of the most vulnerable communities across the world.

“The Rockefeller Foundation’s efforts to scale innovations that help meet the needs of the most vulnerable communities around the world are just as important now as they were when the foundation was founded.

“I am honoured to join the board of trustees to support the foundation as it continues to build on its legacy of leveraging data, technology and innovation to improve the well-being of humanity,” said Ndidi Okonkwo Nwuneli.

With more than 23 years of experience in international development, Nwuneli was recognized as a young global leader by the World Economic Forum, received a national honour (Member of the Federal Republic) from the Nigerian government and has been listed as one of the 20 Youngest Power African Women by Forbes.

The Rockefeller Foundation was established in 1913 and was ranked the 39th largest foundation by total giving in the United States in 2015.