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Unik Impact Foundation / Our Leadership

Our Board of Trustees

Leadership rooted in service. Our Board brings together experience in community leadership, public policy, diplomacy, research, healthcare and business to guide our mission and strengthen our commitment to the people we serve.

Compassion Impact Sustainability
Chairman of the Board

Guiding our shared purpose.

The Chairman leads the Board’s stewardship of the Foundation, keeping community priorities at the heart of its direction.

HRH Alhaji Hamim Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi, Emir of Dutse

Chairman, Board of Trustees

HRH Alhaji Hamim Nuhu Muhammad Sanusi

Emir of Dutse • Jigawa State, Nigeria

His Royal Highness is the Emir of Dutse in Jigawa State. His traditional leadership brings a community perspective to the Board, connecting the Foundation’s mission with the priorities, aspirations and wellbeing of the people it serves.

Traditional leadership · Community engagement

Members of the Board

Different perspectives. A shared commitment.

Our trustees provide strategic guidance and oversight, bringing complementary experience to the Foundation’s work with vulnerable and underserved communities.

Mr Osita Chidoka, OFR, NPoM

Member, Board of Trustees

Mr Osita Chidoka, OFR, NPoM

Founder & Chancellor, Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership

Mr Chidoka is a Nigerian institution-builder and public policy practitioner. He is Founder and Chancellor of the Athena Centre for Policy and Leadership and founder of the Athena knowledge ecosystem, comprising the Athena Institute of Business and Technology, Mekaria Institute of Technology and Administration, and ClearPath Media.

He served as Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps from 2007 to 2014 and as Honourable Minister of Aviation from 2014 to 2015, leading major institutional reforms.

He holds a BSc from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Master’s degree from George Mason University and an LLB from Baze University. He chairs the Governing Board of the Nigerian Research and Education Network (NgREN).

More about Mr Chidoka

Public service and institutional reform

His public-service career began at the Federal Capital Development Authority. He subsequently served as an aide to federal ministers across the Works and Housing, Transport and Federal Capital Territory portfolios, and in the Presidency, before joining ExxonMobil in 2005.

Appointed Corps Marshal at the age of 35, he led a seven-year institutional and technological transformation of the FRSC. His tenure included the introduction of a biometric national driver’s licence and development of the Nigeria Road Safety Strategy 2012–2016.

During his tenure as Minister of Aviation, Nigeria retained its US FAA Category One certification, while the ministry achieved a 90 per cent closure rate on outstanding air-crash safety recommendations.

Education, media and governance

He chairs the Athena Institute of Business and Technology and founded the Mekaria Institute of Technology and Administration. ClearPath Media produces OsitaInsight, his programme on policy and political issues, while Athena Political and Regulatory Intelligence serves boards and executives.

He is also a Director of Inland Containers Nigeria Limited and the Legend Golden Care Foundation.

Education and honours

His Master’s degree is in Transport Policy and Logistics. He also studied at Mansfield College, University of Oxford, and the National University of Singapore. He received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic in 2011 and the National Productivity Order of Merit, and holds the traditional title of Ike Obosi.

Governance · Public policy · Institutional development

Dr Norha Vera San Juan

Member, Board of Trustees

Dr Norha Vera San Juan

Qualitative Methods Research Advisor • King’s College London

Dr Vera San Juan is a researcher with a PhD in Social Epidemiology from King’s College London. Her work focuses on participatory and qualitative methods, mental health and involving communities and service users in research.

Research · Mental health · Community participation

Ambassador Hadiza Mustapha

Member, Board of Trustees

Ambassador Hadiza Mustapha

Career Diplomat • Former Nigerian High Commissioner to Cameroon

Ambassador Mustapha is a career diplomat with four decades of experience in peace, security and governance. She served 35 years in the Nigerian Foreign Service, becoming the first female High Commissioner of Nigeria to Cameroon.

She has served as Special Advisor to the Special Envoy of the Lake Chad Basin Commission to Chad, and as Advisor to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Peace, Security and Governance from 2017 to 2021.

An alumna of Bayero University Kano, the University of Ibadan, the Nigerian National Defence College and Harvard Kennedy School, she is a recipient of Cameroon’s Grand Commander of Valour and the United Kingdom’s Royal Victorian Medal.

More about Ambassador Mustapha

Diplomatic service

Her diplomatic assignments included service in Nigerian missions in the United Kingdom, Zimbabwe, South Africa, the United States of America and Cameroon.

As Special Advisor to the Lake Chad Basin Commission’s Special Envoy to Chad, she supported the Envoy’s mandate to assist a peaceful transition. At the African Union, she provided strategic advice on peace, stability and sustainable development.

Peace, security and governance

Her work with governments and multilateral institutions has included inter-state conflict management, advancing good governance and social development, and addressing the root causes of conflict, terrorism and violent extremism.

Education and recognition

She holds an MSc in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan, is a Fellow of the War College, Nigeria, and completed senior executive education in National and International Security at Harvard’s School of Government.

She received the Royal Victorian Medal, Silver Category, in 1989 and Cameroon’s Grand Commander of Valour in 2016.

She speaks English, Hausa and Fulfulde fluently and has a working knowledge of French.

Diplomacy · Peace & security · Governance

Member, Board of Trustees

Dr Mahmud Abdulwahab

Director of Hospital Services • Jigawa State Ministry of Health

Dr Abdulwahab is a Public Health Physician and Health and Development Economist with over 25 years of experience in clinical practice, public health, health systems management and healthcare financing.

He is the Director of Hospital Services at the Jigawa State Ministry of Health and previously served as Director of Public Health and Disease Control and Director of Programs at the Jigawa State Contributory Health Insurance Agency.

He holds an MBBS and MPH from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, an MHE from Bayero University Kano, and an MDS and MBA from Federal University Dutse. He has consulted for NACA, Abt Associates, Options UK and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria.

More about Dr Abdulwahab

Technical expertise

His areas of expertise include health systems strengthening, strategic planning, healthcare financing, social health insurance, maternal, newborn and child health, immunisation and HIV/AIDS programming.

He also brings experience in quality improvement, monitoring and evaluation, development programming and community engagement.

Leadership and programme support

Across his senior public-sector roles, he has provided strategic and operational leadership in hospital management, public health programming and healthcare financing.

His consultancy and programme-support experience also includes Mannion Daniels Consulting UK, the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the Society for Family Health.

Academic qualifications

  • MBBS and Master of Public Health — Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
  • Master of Health Economics — Bayero University Kano.
  • Master of Development Studies and Master of Business Administration — Federal University Dutse.

Public health · Health economics · Healthcare financing

Mr Seun Onakoya

Member, Board of Trustees

Mr Seun Onakoya

Group Director • Entrepreneur • Strategic Business Leader

Mr Onakoya is a Group Director, entrepreneur and strategic business leader with over two decades of experience across management consulting, hospitality technology, maritime logistics and executive coaching.

Based in Abuja, he leads a portfolio of businesses serving public institutions and private enterprises across Sub-Saharan Africa. He is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC Global), Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants Nigeria, Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management UK, and a Gallup Global Strengths and John Maxwell Certified Coach.

He holds an Executive MBA from Quantic School of Business and Technology, USA, an MBA from Texila American University and a BA in Philosophy from the University of Ibadan.

More about Mr Onakoya

Business and organisational leadership

His work includes strategic consulting, organisational transformation, governance, business development and leadership development, serving public institutions, international organisations and private enterprises across Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond.

Coaching and professional practice

He is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (MCIPM) and a John Maxwell Certified Coach, Trainer and Speaker. He works with executives, business leaders and public officials on strengths, behavioural insight and organisational culture.

Leadership philosophy

His CITRATE framework brings together Confidentiality, Integrity, Transparency, Responsibility, Authenticity, Timeliness and Excellence. These principles guide how he leads, advises and builds organisations.

Business strategy · Leadership · Organisational development

Board Secretariat

Connecting governance with action.

The Chief Executive Officer serves as ex-officio Secretary to the Board, supporting its work and connecting strategic direction with day-to-day delivery.

Dr Nuruddeen Muhammad

CEO & Ex-officio Board Secretary

Dr Nuruddeen Muhammad

Founder & Chief Executive Officer • Unik Impact Foundation

Dr Muhammad is a Nigerian physician, diplomat and development leader with more than 20 years of experience in clinical practice, public policy, international development, global health and community-level development.

He served as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs from 2011 to 2015, supporting regional, continental and global initiatives through ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.

He is the Founder and CEO of Unik Impact Foundation and Founder and Chairman of Sawaba FM Radio. He holds an MBBS from Bayero University Kano, postgraduate qualifications in medicine and psychiatry, and an MSc in Global Health and Development from University College London.

More about Dr Muhammad

Diplomacy and development

During his ministerial service, he supervised and managed up to US$250 million in international development assistance and commitments, linking diplomacy with practical development delivery.

Community-focused institutions

Through Unik Impact Foundation and Sawaba FM Radio, his work focuses on expanding access to health, education, livelihoods and environmental sustainability, alongside local research, advocacy and civic empowerment.

Education and professional qualifications

  • MBBS — Bayero University Kano.
  • Membership of the West African College of Physicians.
  • Fellowship in Psychiatry — National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
  • MSc in Global Health and Development — University College London.

His global health studies focused on health systems strengthening, health policy, management, planning and programme design, and climate change and health.

Role in the Foundation

He leads the Foundation’s operations and supports Board business as its ex-officio, non-voting Secretary. His work connects local insight, medical expertise and international policy experience to advance equitable health access and sustainable community development.

Global health · Diplomacy · Ex-officio Secretary, non-voting

Responsible Stewardship

How our Board serves the mission

The Board provides strategic oversight and safeguards the Foundation’s mission and resources. Day-to-day management rests with the Chief Executive Officer.

Mission & strategy

Guiding organisational priorities, reviewing plans and keeping our work aligned with the Foundation’s purpose and community needs.

Accountability & stewardship

Overseeing resources, organisational performance, internal controls and responsible governance.

Partnerships & opportunity

Supporting relationships and opening opportunities that strengthen sustainable community development.

Leadership in Service of People

Creating opportunities.
Transforming lives.

Our commitment begins with people: their health, their potential and their opportunity to build a better future.

Explore Our Foundation