ABOUT

Our Board

Dr. Edna Wakene

BOARD CHAIR

Dr. Edna Wakene

Board Chair

Dr. Edna Wakene is a multi-lingual Doctorate level Therapist and Clinical Manager, a Registered Professional Counsellor and a Master Practitioner in Clinical Counselling. She is the founding member of Zeeltbek Counselling & Wellness. She has ample experience in research and data analysis and specialized in child development and well-being research focusing on attachment and trauma. She was awarded the 2011 Gold Medal Award of King Harald V of Norway for outstanding research and contribution to the field study literature. She had the privilege to work with diverse population affected by trauma focusing on the well-being of children and youth and other marginalized community members, and is involved in regularly providing trainings in diverse mental health topics, clinical supervision and consultation to service teams. She has experience working for not-for-profit organizations in Canada and across many countries; namely The Family Centre of Northern Alberta, Doctors Without Borders-Belgium and Save the Children. She is an active member of the community and is pleased to serve as a Board member of the Africa Centre.

Bio

Joseph Luri Kichere

VICE CHAIR

Joseph Luri Kichere

Vice Chair

Joseph Luri Kichere, commonly known as Joseph Luri, is a respected natural community leader. He is one of the original members who founded the Africa Centre and made Edmonton his home in 1998. Joseph is a true community-minded individual with a passion for community development. He is a founding member of the Sudanese Christian Fellowship and the South Sudanese Community Association in Edmonton.

Joseph Luri enjoys soccer, watching hockey, and football. He has supported students while working in schools as a settlement practitioner between 2007 and 2014. With a background in business, Joseph holds a Bachelor of Commerce Degree and a Diploma in Social Work. He has been honoured with numerous awards, including the Provincial Crime Prevention Award twice and the Men of Honour Award.

Bio

Tony Agbonkhese

TREASURER

Tony Agbonkhese

Treasurer

Tony Agbonkhese is the Founding Partner and Chief Executive Officer of Nerdia Connect Incorporated; an international trade and business development firm that specializes in the seamless expansion of foreign firms into Africa and African companies into international markets. The company was birth from his passion for the development of our motherland - Africa. Through Nerdia Connect, he has been able to create international partnerships for African firms, opportunities for international firms on the African continent, attract investors to finance African initiatives, and vice versa into international markets. Today, Nerdia has amazed a network of high-profile private sector leaders and government relationships which is leveraged for the benefit of clients.

Prior to Nerdia Connect, Tony was employed by the City of Medicine Hat in several capacities which includes a Project Manager role, a Manager of the Electric Smart Metering & Customer Advocacy Group, and the Accounting Lead for the City’s Power Generation and Distribution Utilities. Some of his major accomplishment while at the city includes leading the deployment of
several strategic initiatives for the City’s Commissioner group – i.e., a citywide Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system, a Maintenance and Work Management system, and the electric utility Automated Metering Infrastructure (AMI).

Tony is a graduate from Acadia University’s Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) program. He is also a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CMA) with a certificate in Project Management and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with specialization in Strategic Management. He has over 17 years of work experience in corporate finance, strategic consulting,
international trade, business development, operations, and project management. Known as a change agent, Tony strives for continued excellence.

Bio

Andrew Owusu

SECRETARY

Andrew Owusu

Secretary

Andrew is a dedicated community-based occupational therapist with a profound commitment to improving the lives of the individuals and families he supports. His expertise spans the fields of pediatrics and mental health, where he empowers individuals to overcome barriers and access essential services, enabling them to actively participate and engage in everyday activities and their communities.

Having called Edmonton home for almost a decade, Andrew has embedded himself in the very fabric of this vibrant city. His passion for service and community-building has led him to the Africa Centre. Andrew brings a wealth of experience and a deep sense of pride to his role on the board of directors.

He is enthusiastic about the opportunity to serve the community by listening and amplifying voices. He is committed to fostering an environment of inclusivity and equity within the Africa Centre, ensuring that the organization continues to uplift and celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures and communities it represents. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys playing soccer, live music and spending time outdoors.

Bio

Saharla Aden

DIRECTOR

Saharla Aden

Board Director

Saharla Aden is a dynamic leader who bridges urban revitalization, entrepreneurship, and personal growth. As a community engagement strategist with the Alberta Avenue Business Association, she specializes in transforming spaces into vibrant hubs for cultural exchange, economic opportunity, and community connection.

Beyond business development, Saharla coaches purpose-driven individuals and entrepreneurs through Restorative Wellness Counseling and Coaching, where she merges strategic planning with mindset work to turn visions into sustainable, fulfilling realities.

Rooted in community-building, storytelling, and leadership development, Saharla brings fresh perspectives, collaborative solutions, and an unwavering commitment to equity to her role on the board.

Community Strategist | Creative Entrepreneur | Life & Business Coach

Bio

Noora Badr

DIRECTOR

Noora Badr

Board Director

Noora Badr proudly embraces her identity as an Egyptian, African, Arab, and Muslim woman. As a second-generation Canadian, she holds a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience from the University of Lethbridge, a testament to her belief in the power of our individual makeup and the ability to create sustainable change. Her work is driven by an unyielding belief in the power of connection.

Noora is a passionate advocate for eradicating homelessness and addressing the profound impacts of poverty and social isolation. Her approach to leadership is deeply rooted in increasing positive mental health, personal development, and community empowerment. Guided by a commitment to address inequity and inequality, reduce the devastating impacts of poverty, and build inclusive spaces, Noora is a forward-thinker with an unwavering dedication to meaningful change.

Through her dedication to service and her vision for a more equitable and thriving future, Noora works tirelessly to build a world where dignity, opportunity, and community are accessible to all, while continuing to uplift, strengthen, and celebrate the skills and knowledge of the African diaspora.

Bio

Dr. Uche Okereafor

DIRECTOR

Dr. Uche Okereafor

Board Director

An accomplished educator, community leader, and advocate for cultural diversity, Dr. Uche Okereafor brings a wealth of experience and passion for education, mentorship, and city development.

Dr. Uche’s professional journey spans over a decade, marked by his unwavering commitment to fostering inclusive and impactful learning environments. As a Math and Science teacher with the Fort McMurray Public School Division (FMPSD) in Alberta, Dr. Uche has consistently gone above and beyond to inspire his students. From creating engaging lesson plans tailored to diverse learning styles to mentoring immigrant and under-represented students, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to empower the next generation.

Previously, Dr. Uche held academic roles at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), where he excelled as a lecturer in Metallurgy. His tenure was marked by innovation and adaptability, particularly during the transition to online teaching. Furthermore, he served as Project Coordinator of the University of Alberta (UofA) - Queen Elizabeth Scholar (QES) Program, testifying to his ability to deal with change while furthering student development.

Dr. Uche’s academic credentials include a Doctorate in Metallurgy and a Master’s Degree in Metallurgy from the University of Johannesburg, alongside a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of South Africa and a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology from the Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria. His interdisciplinary expertise and global perspective are complemented by his hands-on approach to community engagement and development.

Dr. Uche brings not only his professional acumen but also his deep-rooted passion for fostering resilience and equity within African and multicultural communities. His vision aligns with the Centre’s mission to celebrate diversity, empower individuals, and create opportunities for meaningful growth.

Bio

Terence Sakwe

DIRECTOR

Terence Sakwe

Board Director

Terence identifies as an Edmontonian, having lived in the city for more than a decade. A committed community leader who advocates for the participation of people of African descent in all aspects of their development. Terence currently works for the City of Edmonton as a Senior Risk Management Consultant and serves as president of the Diversity Veteran Social Club, a community group aimed at promoting mental health and inclusion. He is also a Licenced Real Estate Professional, assisting his clients to purchase and sell properties within the Edmonton Area.

Terence is a holder of a masters (Maîtrise) in Law and Diploma in Insurance and Risk Management from MacEwan University. He is a certified Chartered Insurance Professional registered with the Insurance Institute of Canada.

Terence brings a wealth of experience in Humanitarian works from serving in the former United Nations Operations in Cote D’Ivoire (ONUCI) as a Board of Inquiry Officer, United Nations Mission in the Central Africa Republic and Chad (MINURCAT), and as Legal Researcher at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (UNICTR) in Arusha, Tanzania.

Throughout his career, Terence has earned several notable certifications, including a Certificate in Crisis Information Management from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) Accra, Ghana, Rule of Law Certificate from the French National School of Administration (ENA) Paris and United Nations certification in Gender, Sexual Exploitation and Abuse.

He enjoys watching soccer, Hockey, Basketball and Travelling.

Bio

ABOUT

Our Board

Dr. Edna Wakene

BOARD CHAIR

Joseph Luri Kichere

VICE CHAIR

Tony Agbonkhese

TREASURER

Andrew Owusu

SECRETARY

Saharla Aden

DIRECTOR

Noora Badr

DIRECTOR

Dr. Uche Okereafor

DIRECTOR

Terence Sakwe

DIRECTOR

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