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NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WACSOF PRESENTS ITS NEW BOARD OF DIRECTORS

ABUJA, JULY 02, 2022: The West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) is pleased to present its new Board of Directors, elected at the General Assembly of June 30, 2022, held in Cotonou in BENIN. This balanced team is made up of men and women, known for their experience, their commitment, their sense of duty and their moral values

• BUBA KHAN                                   PRESIDENT, THE GAMBIA
• MRS JOSEPHINE ALABI              1^ST VICE PRESIDENTE, NIGERIA
• ANDRE AFANOU KANGNI             2^ND VICE PRÉSIDENT, TOGO
• DR PENDA MBOW                         MEMBER, SENEGAL
• JOSÉ SILVA HUCO MONTEIRO   SECRETARY, GUINEA BISSAU
• JEDLEE STEPHEN KINNI             TREASURER, LIBERIA
• DR BERNICE N. BANYBAH           MEMBER, BENIN

2. Thursday, June 30th, 2022 in Cotonou was held the General Assembly (People's Forum) of the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) at the Cotonou Bourse du Travail, in Benin Republic.
6. Created with the support of ECOWAS, the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF) is the apex civil society network in West Africa, covering 18 thematic areas, with representation in 15 West African countries. WACSOF is a privileged partner and advisor to ECOWAS and other institutions. WACSOF is the institutionalized channel for dialogue between civil society organizations and ECOWAS.
9. The 7th edition of the Ordinary General Assembly of WACSOF saw the official participation of Mr. NANA Kyeretwie Osei Head of Programs of ECOSOCC – AFRICAN UNION and Mrs. AHAMIDÉ Arlette, representative of the ECOWAS National Office in Benin. Also participating in this general assembly were officials of civil society organizations (CSOs), coordinators of national platforms and accredited personalities from ECOWAS countries.
11. WACSOF must ensure at all times that it adopts an approach of intergenerational dialogue, solvency and guarantee of its future performance. The key issue is to work in an inclusive and consensual manner, all generations and families of CSOs combined, in order to reposition WACSOF as the reference umbrella for CSOs in West Africa.
14. WACSOF thanks all West African organizations and undertakes to work for an ECOWAS of the peoples in accordance with the ECOWAS vision 2050./.

We invite you to read the profile of the members of the new board of Directors of WACSOF, in the pages below:

Mr. BUBA KHAN

is a pacesetter and a seasoned professional. He has extensive experience in networking, partnership building, organizing, and mobilizing institutions and individuals across the length and breadth of Africa. With 10+ years of accomplished experience working in the Africa region, Buba has led various advocacy and campaign initiatives, mobilized prominent CSOs like OXFAM, Africans Rising, CIVICUS, ONE Campaign, ACORD International, AFRODAD, ROPPA, PAFFO, etc at regional and national levels, facilitating and coordinating, building capacities, organizing joint advocacy and campaign activities, engaging African leaders and duty bearers across African Union, RECs, Development partners, and UN Agencies amongst others. Additionally, he has been instrumental in working with coalitions and networks by harnessing human capital and financial resources resulting in positive energy and impact towards the desired advocacy and campaign objectives.

Mr. BUBA KHAN comes with Master’s in Development studies, a Law degree (LLB), a Degree in Agriculture and a Diploma in Computer sciences. He has several certificates in Human rights-based approaches, trainings, advocacy, campaign with Women and Gender development. He is an African citizen from the GAMBIA.

Mrs JOSEPHINE ALABI

is the Executive Director of Keen and Care Initiative (KCI), Nigeria.  With more than 10 years of experience she has worked on crucial issues in the following areas at national, regional and continental levels: Peace and Security, Research, humanitarian issues, Human Rights, Gender issues, Extractive issues (Oil, Gas &Mining), Migration, Cross border traders issues, Elections, Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), Synergy building, Team building, Global partnership, Volunteering, etc. passionate about Civil Society’s impact in citizens lives, Josephine Alabi also works closely with some other organizations such as the following as to mention a few: International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA); Gender Equality Network for Small Arms Control (GENSAC); Peace and Security Cluster, African Union (AU) ECOSOCC; Democracy Without Borders (DWB); Global Interagency Security Forum (GISF); International Code of Conduct (ICoCA); Alliance for Empowering Partnership (A4EP); Humanium Metal (HU), etc

Ms JOSEPHINE ALABI studied Pure and Applied Mathematics in her first degree and Economics in her higher degrees. She is an African citizen from NIGERIA

Mr ANDRÉ KANGNI AFANOU

is a Lawyer and journalist. He holds a Master's degree in business law and a Diploma of Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy. Involved in civil society for twenty (20) years, he is a lecturer on "Negotiations and Advocacy" in a Master's Program in Planning at the University of Kara and "Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms" in the private higher education in Togo. President of the Center for Training and Documentation on Human Rights (CDFDH-Togo), he leads the Africa Office of the Center for Civil and Political Rights (CCPR-Centre), an NGO based in Switzerland. He is also specialized in training young people on leadership and personal development. He is an African citizen from TOGO

DR PENDA MBOW

is an historian, Professor at Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, SENEGAL. Involved in civil society for more than 20 years, Ms PENDA MBOW created the Citizen Movement which she leads, and which is centred on the intellectual and political leadership of young people. She served as the Minister of Culture in 2001 and candidate for mayor of HLM in 2002.  Ms. Mbow is a member of several intellectual societies and obtained several decorations; in fact, she was a Commander of the National Order of Merit, Knight of the French Legion of Honour, then Officer of the Legion of Honour, Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Uppsala (Sweden) and Pioneer Woman, John Paul II Prize for Peace, Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Cluj in Romania, and President of the West African Panel of the Global Challenge Foundation.  In collaboration with several institutions, such as CODESRIA, where she headed the Gender Institute in 1998, in 2009, OSIWA, Gorée Institute, Trust Africa or West African Research Center, Ms. Mbow has extensive experience in democracy issues, citizenship and good governance in Africa. She has participated in several studies for UNIFEM, UNDP, UNUAP, CRDI. She is also a member of the board of African Monitor BEFORE, which deals with peace in the world.   She is an African citizen from SENEGAL

DR JOAO JOSÉ SILVA HUCO MONTEIRO

is a former Minister of Foreign Affairs of GUINEA BISSAU and former Commissioner for Human Resources of ECOWAS.

He did his higher education in France and graduated in Sociology. He has performed various governmental functions in Guinea-Bissau. He held ministerial portfolios, namely: Education and Foreign Affairs, he was Counselor to the President of the Republic in the areas of Education and Health. He was the chairman of the Board of Directors of Ecobank in Guinea-Bissau. Founder and chairman of the Board of Directors of the private University Colinas de Boé, he was Executive Secretary of the National Secretariat for the Fight against AIDS (SNLS). He is a Senior researcher at the National Institute for Studies and Research.  He is an African citizen from GUINEA BISSAU

JEDDLEE-STEPHENS-KINNII

is the NATIONAL COORDINATOR OF LIBERIAN AFRICAN YOUTH PEER REVIEW COMMITTEE. He has more than 10 years of experience in NGO sector mobilizing resources through communities’ engagement especially the rural community. His work focus is on development issues, defining, leading, and implementing programs in economic and social development initiatives, as well as business development efforts. He advocates for children living with autism and developmental disabilities. His key priority surrounds good governance, advocacy and social justice without discrimination. He had participated in projects across various key sectors, including Agriculture, advocacy, WASH, awareness, policy influencing with legislature and mining sector.

Member of the YALI Network, he comes with a Bachelor's degree, Business Administration and Management with a Certificate, Mining and Natural Resource Governance Operations, from Columbia Center for Sustainable Investment (CCSI), Columbia University, New York, USA. He is an African citizen from LIBERIA

MRS. BERNICE N. BANYBAH, PhD

Is PhD Legal Studies, has had a wealth of experience since 1990, first with the World Bank. She cut her teeth with the Agricultural Credit Union Rehabilitation Project (CRCAM) in Benin Republic, and then within the Directorate of Legal Affairs of the Togolese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She has spent twenty-four (24) years of her professional career in the Development Assistance System, first with the United States International Development Agency (USAID)

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR: Mr KOMLAN MESSIE, ENG, MBA, MSC., PMP, PRINCE2, EX OFFICIO

Mr. KOMLAN MESSIE is fully bilingual (English, French). He brings over 20 years of experience in strategy, management consulting, advisory, program management, engineering, entrepreneurship, high level network in private sector, public sector, Technology, Infrastructure, and civil society sectors. He has experience supporting CSO’S, private sector eco-systems; government engagement; across Africa and Canada. During his career, he has been able to build strong relationship with key stakeholders in Africa, Canada, including international donors’, ministers, top business and political leaders, members of parliament, business networks, company executives, etc.

He holds a Bachelor of Sciences in Engineering from Polytechnic of Thies (Senegal), MBA degree (HEC Montreal), M.Sc. (Master, Polytechnic of Montreal), PRINCE2 and PMP certified. Mr. KOMLAN MESSIE is a result oriented, with strong communication skills, with proven interpersonal skills, and the ability to organize and motivate others and to work in a multi-cultural environment.  He is the co-founder and first chairman of REPAF (African Business Network). He served as Vice-President at the PMI (Project Management Institute), MBA Association of Québec (AMBAQ). Passionate about entrepreneurship, innovation, and leadership, his involvements have been recognized many times with awards