Our Mission: Food, Education, Medicine

Team

Team Members

Dr Abena Nyarkoa

Founder

Dr Abena Nyarkoa, popularly known as (Abbie) is the Founder of the NKUNIM project. She is an Educationist, Life Coach, and a Human Right Advocate. Abbie pursued her PhD at the University of Warwick, England. She also did her MA in Education Leadership and Inclusive Education at the University of Greenwich – England. Her research was in ‘Education Equity, Access, and Fairness.

Abbie is an ambassador for Cancer Research UK and Breast Cancer UK. She is part of the campaign team that educates and raises public awareness of cancer; and also, lobbies the Government to implement policies to fund and support awareness initiatives. Abbie is a Fellow Member at The Institute of Labor & Industrial Relations; a Former Board Member of Rural Heights Foundation; an Advisor at VAMG Research Consult, and a Global Goodwill Ambassador in the UK and Ghana. Promoting Quality and Equality in education is a task Abbie is fully committed to, and has been an advocate for so many years.

Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng

Director

Professor Louise Owusu-Kwarteng is the director of the NKUNIM Project and continues to provide the supervision for the foundation. She is a Professor in Applied Sociology. She is also an Associate Dean of Student Success. Louise holds a PhD in the Sociology of Education (University of Greenwich), Her research interests focus on race and educational experience, but with specific emphasis on West African groups; Sociological Autobiography and Ethnicity and identity. She has been involved in advising on inequalities around access to TTP treatment centres, and contributed to a UK Government White paper on rare illness.

Louise is an external examiner for Sociology at Goldsmiths College and Teesside University. Prior to working at the University of Greenwich, Louise taught English as a second language and managed ESL teachers in Madrid. Before that she was seconded to the Community Cohesion Unit where she contributed to political leadership policy. Louise also worked at Oxford City Council as a community development officer.

Prof. Evans Akwasi Gyasi

Co-Director

Evans is the co-director of Nkunim Project. He co leads, develops and implements the foundations objectives and strategies to deliver on its capabilities. Evans is an Associate Professor in International Trade at the School of Economics, Finance and Law at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge. He is the Deputy Head of School in charge of UG International Business programs and the school’s NSS. Prior to joining the University, he spent close to a decade at Coventry University, overseeing the MBA Senior Leader apprenticeship course and teaching on the International Business and Business Analytics courses at Coventry Business School. 

 

He received his PhD from the University of Warwick (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA accredited). He is a Fellow of Chartered Management Institute (CMI) and Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA). Evans’ research focuses on developing and emerging economies such as Africa, Asia and South America. He has undertaken collaborative research projects from the University of Warwick, Coventry University, University of Bradford, De Montfort University, University of Kent, University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and Ciputra Universitas, and has been invited to deliver presentations in the UK, Ghana, Canada, Turkey and Indonesia. 

Ms. Vivian Mawuli Gli

Director of Research

Miss Vivian Mawuli Gli is the director of research at the NKUNIM project. Ms Gli is currently pursuing a PhD in African Studies at the University of Ghana. She has over seven years’ experience as a researcher in various disciplines in both local and international organizations. Ms Gli holds an MPhil from the Centre for Ibsen Studies – University of Oslo, Norway, and a Bachelor degree from the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana.  Her academic background and specialization are in Communication with a focus on community education, advocacy, and awareness creation in various research themes. Ms Gli has assisted over 50 Masters/Mphil and PhD students in various academic research projects with thesis topic formulation; thesis proposals; key issues in choosing appropriate research methodology, and designing questionnaires, and analysis of 

qualitative research data. 

 

She has contributed to various projects as a research consultant/assistant, monitoring and evaluation associate, interpreter, translator, transcriber, community educator, community development facilitator, assistant coordinator, note taker, and data collection and encoding personnel. Projects she has contributed to are: Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) ‘Perceptions, Expectations, and Needs’ (PEN) Survey with Lilitan Research Consult. Ghana – 2020 Ex-post evaluation of the Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene for the Urban Poor – WASH-UP with Management Systems International. USA – 2018 Girl Child Empowerment for Development project with Child Resource and Research Centre. Accra for UNICEF: 2016 – 2017. ‘Agricultural, Investment, Gender and Land in Ghana Conference’ research project through Centre for Gender Studies and Advocacy, at the University of Ghana for FAO. (UN) – 2015. Maternity protection and workers with family responsibilities in the formal and informal economy of Ghana. Practices, gaps and measures for improvement with Prof Furges Lyon and Dr Bianca Stumbitz of Middlesex University, CEEDR. UK– 2014. African Industrial Survey (face-to-face interviews with foreign Investors in Ghana). For 

UNIDO – 2011. 

Divine-Kofi Kotey-Ampofo

Youth Coordinator

Mr Divine is a versatile and professional youth mentor with a wide ranging experience in a variety of areas including youth offending and gang prevention programs. Well vested in facilitating workshops and providing motivational presentations to youth offenders. Having a proven ability to empathise with individuals whilst retaining an objective and realistic approach to their empowerment. Comfortable working and communicating with youth from all backgrounds and having experience of offending.

 

In 2011, Divine wrote and published a book (‘The Elements of Real Success’), based on my real life journey and experiences, which gained notable media coverage in The Guardian, ITV, BBC, and LBC, amongst others. He has an established network of high-profile partners, including the Mayor of London’s office, School Speakers, Violent Reduction Unit, Bristol Police, Hertfordshire Police, Tower Hamlets Council, Waltham Forest Council, Spark2 Life, Ghana High Commission, Miss Ghana, UK, MOPAC, SSE School Of Management, People Plus, Pro Contract,, Lloyds Bank, and many more.

 

​I am now on a mission to help other youngsters escape the traps of hopelessness and low expectations that trapped me for so long by imparting his knowledge. I would like to address mistakes that may have been made by our older generation in which ultimately plays a major role in our children’s futures. I would also like the opportunity to educate and raise awareness to staff on how to spot the signs of a pupil being groomed into gangs.

 

I currently provide programmes and services to School, Colleges, University, Local Authorities and also Organisations within the Youth Offending Sector all across England.

Ms Vanessa Dodoo

Student Mentor

Vanessa is a law graduate from the University of Coventry. She is currently a Legal Intern and a Sales Executive. She provides guidance, advice, feedback, and support to secondary school mentees, serving variously as role model, advisor, and advocate.

 

Her specific roles include liaising with her mentees, and working on mentee’s explicit goals and objectives. Takes the initiative in the relationship, but allows the mentee to take responsibility for their growth, development, and career planning. Commits to fostering the relationship for the specified period of time. Commits to meeting with mentee on a regular basis on mutually agreed time; Actively listens to mentee, provides frank, honest, and constructive feedback, provides encouragement and assists the mentee in identifying professional development activities, maintains confidentiality, Reviews goals and objectives of the relationship with the mentee midway and at the end of a formal, long-term relationship (those lasting 6-12 months), and follows through on commitments made to mentees.

Vanessa also recognizes and works through conflicts in caring ways, invites discussion on differences with the mentee, and arranges for a third party to assist, if necessary. Makes only positive or neutral comments about the mentee to others; if disagreement over behavior or values arise, shares differences with the mentee; if necessary, takes steps to end the relationship and tries to find mentee another mentor; Maintains a professional relationship that doesn’t intrude on the mentee’s personal life, and ends the relationship at the agreed upon time.

Mr Richard Dodoo

Student Engagement Officer

Richard is an economics, politics and philosophy student. He works closely with underprivileged and marginalized students and educators to develop initiatives to ensure the “student voice” is present in all aspects of their academic lives. He has extensive knowledge in presentation, written and oral communication skills including the ability to communicate across all levels of management.

Richard is excellent in influencing and advocacy skills, including the ability to manage senior relationships to achieve targeted goals. Effective team working and relationship building. He possesses the capacity to deal confidentially with sensitive and challenging situations, with the ability to deal with pressure, retain objectivity and demonstrate clear judgement.

Overall, Richard has successfully engaged with, and facilitated students in their learning process to increases their attention and focus and help move them to a more critical thinking. Richard’s effort has resulted to helping students to successfully meet their targeted learning objectives.

Advisory Board

Archbishop Frimpong Manson (BEM)

Advisory Board Member

Archbishop Kwaku Frimpong Manson affectionately known as ‘Semanhyia’, is a Social Activist and a Community Leader who has received a British Empire Medal award from the late Queen Elizabeth of Britain in recognition for his services to humanity.  He is a people’s person and possesses the qualities of leadership that communities and individuals need for a successful outcome. His energetic persona and quiet confidence enables him to offer help and support to people in times of personal difficulties. He is a man of vision, empathy, wisdom, and sensitivity. Archbishop Kwaku Frimpong-Manson is trying to change the status quo by embracing diversity and equal opportunity. He has an open door policy for everyone – Jews, Muslims, atheists – everyone has access to him.

 

In 1977, Archbishop was ordained as a minister of a Pentecostal church in Accra. In 1980, he set up a ministry, called ‘Born Again Evangelistic Ministry International’- (now ‘Reconciliation International’). In 1990, Archbishop Frimpong completed a four-year study in the New Testament, at Goldsmith College, University of London. Archbishop was consecrated as a Free Standing Bishop for North London and UK under the auspices of the Apostolic Congress of Great Britain in 2002, and followed on to become a member of the ‘Churches Together’ in Britain and Ireland (CTBI).

 

He was elected as Chair of Broadwater Farms Residents Association between 1994 – 2002.  He represented approximately 5000 people from 40 countries. This saw him at the forefront of economic and social degeneration, and greater involvement of residents in the management of their own estate.

 

Archbishop Frimpong has been a strong voice on behalf of his Ghanaian community, and very instrumental in turning Broadwater Farms estate around to become a thriving area to live in. He is also a Haringey Police Chaplain, and a free Church Chaplain of St Ann’s Hospital, founding member of the Haringey Peace Alliance, member of the Community Cohesion Project and the SANKOFA Project, and the BWFRA campaign and lobbying group, able to fight for and gain many benefits for the community.

 

Prof Franklyn Lisk

Advisory Board Member

Prof Franklyn Lisk is a visiting Professorial Research Fellow at CSGR, where he is engaged in research and policy analysis on global health governance and on the political economy of African development and in particular employment and labour market challenges and China-Africa relations. He is also involved in the activities of the Sub-Saharan Africa Research Network at the Institute of Advanced Study, and contributes to the teaching and graduate supervision in the Faculty of Social Sciences and Warwick Business School.

 

 

He is also an Honorary Visiting Professor at the School of Social and International Studies, University of Bradford and a Senior Research Associate of the Center for Research on Political Economy (CREPOL) in Dakar, Senegal. He has recently provided consultancy and technical advisory services to the African Development Bank, Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA), Africa Progress Panel, Geneva, North-South Institute, Ottawa, World Bank, UNDP, UNAIDS, UNIDO, bilateral donor agencies and African governments.

 

he worked with the Geneva-based International Labour Office (ILO) from 1974 until 2005, and held various senior positions including Senior Economist, Regional Adviser on Employment Policy for the Caribbean, Deputy Regional Director (Technical Programmes) for Africa, Director and ILO Representative to the United Nations, New York, and founding Director of the ILO Programme on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work. Before joining the ILO, he was a lecturer in Economics at Aston University and a Research Fellow at Birmingham University where he obtained a PhD.