The woman, popularly known as "'Mummy", by anyone who interacts with her exudes motherly spirit. Her Excellency, Chief (Mrs.) Amina Titi Atiku Abubakar, the amiable wife of Nigeria's Vice President and The Second Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, was born in the city of Lagos. She has been married to Chief Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for over three decades and blessed with four children, two girls and two boys. She is also a grandmother.

Upon completing college, her zeal for patriotism and willingness to serve her country propelled her to accept a teaching position at her Alma Mata, the famous Kaduna Polytechnic. She lectured there for a decade.

An unrelenting crusader who believes in professionalism, Chief (Mrs.) Atiku Abubakar enrolled...

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Dr. Barbara Nowak is the Director of the Master of Social Work (MSW) program at Florida A&M University. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with years of experience in grant writing in the area of community development for disenfranchised persons. Dr. Nowak received her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She also received a Ph.D degree in Social Work, with an interdisciplinary degree in Urban Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Her research interests are in the area of treatment of chemical dependency, depression and anxiety; the needs of women in the criminal justice system; addressing the spiritual needs of clients in treatment. Dr. Nowak has published articles in the International Social Work and prepared books for publication entitled, "Developing and Running the Social Service Agency" and "Spirituality in Clinical Social Work Practice [In preparation]. Dr. Nowak has numerous other outstanding memberships, community services' recognitions, memberships and awards.

He has over 20 years of combined work experience and volunteerism in the field of social work, by providing individual/group counseling, therapy evaluations, treatment planning and consultation. He currently serves as a Support Coordinator for the Secretary of Florida's Department of Children and Families under the leadership of the Governor of the State of Florida. Mr. Nzeribe has also served as a Case Manager, Outreach Mental Health Counselor and Behavioral Specialist. His caseload has consisted of patients with psychiatric disorders, substance/drug abuse, personality disorders and HIV/AIDS.
He holds a Masters of Social Work (MSW) degree from Florida A& M University, a B.S. in Computer Science from Colchester Institute, London, England and a Certificate in Microsoft Systems Engineering from the Florida State University Center for Professional Studies.

Scholastically, Dr. Okeke has authored and co-authored numerous articles in revered journals in the Teaching Strategies Directory for Cultural Diversity in Health Education. Her research focuses on AIDS, minority youth and risk factors, violence, sex education and international concerns. Much of her research has been supported through successful grant sources. She has made over 35 presentations on the international, national and state levels on important health issues relating to African and African-American adolescents and youth (sex education, self-esteem, career aspirations, violence prevention, AIDS, teen pregnancy prevention and alcohol/drug educations).

A businessman and an industrialist, Mr. Okocha over the years built businesses and bought into the affairs of many companies. He is the founder and chairman of Chrismatel Holdings under which he has Chrismatel Shipping Company Ltd, Michelle Nigeria Limited {Bounded Warehouse Terminal}, Matel Food & Drinks, and Sadiq Petroleum Nigeria Limited, the core investor of African Petroleum Plc. He became the chairman of AP in 2000.

He is the chairman of Ulticare-Lyka Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Dizpharm Nigeria Limited, Sub-Saharan Press, publishers of The Week Magazine, Press-on Nigeria Limited, Global Commerce and General Assurance Limited, Sona International Corporation, USA and sits on the board of several other companies in Nigeria.

Mr. Okocha was the National President of the Association of Licensed Customs Agents for two terms between 1997 to 2000. He is a member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria {MAN} and the Institute of Directors {IOD}, and fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Chartered Administrators.

On October 1, 2003 he was conferred with the National Award, Officer of the Order of the Niger {OON} as a mark of honour and in recognition by the Federal Government of Nigeria for his philanthropism, integrity and contributions to the socio - economic growth of the country.

Sharon Renee Ames-Dennard, Ph. D. is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and consultant. She is a Psychotherapist, Forensic evaluator, Family therapist, APA certified AIDS educational trainer, and Educational consultant to schools and government agencies.

Currently, she is the executive director and co-founder of the Aakhet Center and the Sakkara Youth Institute Independent School, where she is a full-time instructor of mathematics. She is a co-founder/owner of Amen-Ra's Book Shop & Gallery, The Aakhet Press publishing company, and one of the creators of the Sma Em-Abu Male/Female Relationship Retreats.

She is a consultant to the State of Florida Office of Disability Determination, and a past chair of the State of Florida Board of Psychology while serving on the board for years.

She was an adjunct instructor of psychology at Florida A&M University from 1988 to 1989 and 1990 to 1996. She served as the Director of the University Counseling Center from 2000 to 2002. She served on the Governor's commission on African American Affairs for the State of Florida.

She has been consulted by news media for commentary on issues relevant to the Black community and has been quoted in Ebony magazine, Jet magazine, Ebony Man, Journey magazine, Working Mother magazine, Family Forum magazine,USA Today and many newspaper articles. She has operated two live talk-radio shows with her husband and appeared on national television programs such as CNN news, and local programs such as the "Vaslinda Report" on FLNEWS and "Your Voice" at WFSU/TV.

She was chosen as Working Mother magazine's "Working Mother of the Year" for 2002.

Hajia Jamilah (Jacqueline W.) Farris is the Director General of the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre. The Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre, dedicated to furthering the ideals for which General Yar'Adua lived and died. The beautifully constructed Centre encompasses an Exhibition Hall, the Olusegun Obasanjo Research Library, conference facilities including the Atiku Abubakar Auditorium capable of seating 450 people, meeting rooms, and a garden pavilion, all fronted by the symbolic Unfinished Bridge. Ms. Farris is also the author of Shehu Musa Yar'Adua: A Life of Service (Lynne Rienner Pub., 2004).

At the age of 23 she left for New York to further her studies. She was special assistant to ambassadors Edwin Ogbu and Leslie Harriman, permanent mission of Nigeria to the United Nations, commercial consultant (Africa and middle-east) African American institute, United Nations plaza 1976-77. Between 1978-82 she was the adjunct professor finance department New York City University. Exchange services manager systems consultant the New York stock exchange 1976-83. She is on the board of many leading companies in Nigeria.

Recently, Ambassador Jeter has focused on promoting peace and reconciliation in Liberia and Sierra Leone. He has also been intimately involved in developing U.S. policy toward Nigeria, with special emphasis on supporting an enduring transition to democracy and prosperity. Prior to becoming the Special Presidential Envoy for Liberia in July 1996, he served with distinction as the U.S. Ambassador to Botswana from 1993 to 1996.

Ambassador Jeter, a career diplomat, was Deputy Chief of Mission in Namibia from September 1990 to July 1993. During that period, he also served as Charge d'Affaires, following the departure of the incumbent Ambassador in September 1992. Before going to Namibia, he was Deputy Chief of Mission and later Charge d'Affaires in Lesotho. He also held various political, economic, commercial, and consular positions in U.S. Embassies in Mozambique, Tanzania, and in the Temporary Liaison Office in Windhoek, Namibia.

In the Department of State, Ambassador Jeter served in the Bureau of Oceans, International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, where he specialized on issues dealing with the Law of the Sea. He is the recipient of the Presidential Meritorious Service Award, State Department Superior Honor Awards and Senior Foreign Service Performance Awards. Outside, he has received the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition Charles Diggs Award for the Promotion of U.S.-Africa Policy and the prestigious Bennie Trailblazer Award from Morehouse College. Ambassador Jeter's languages include Portuguese, Swahili and French.

Ambassador Jeter holds a BA Degree in Political Science from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, a MA in International Relations and Comparative Politics from Columbia University, and a MA in African Area Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. Ambassador Jeter is a former Ford Foundation Doctoral Fellow, International Fellow at Columbia University, Merrill Overseas Study-Travel Scholar, Legislative Intern in the Georgia House of Representatives and a participant in Operation Crossroads Africa. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the American Foreign Service Association and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Dr. Christine Warnke is a lobbyist and humanitarian in Washington, D.C. She specializes in representing clients on legislative and regulatory matters in Congress, the White House and the various departments and independent agencies of the Executive Branch. Dr. Warnke, Government Affairs Advisor in the Washington, D.C. office of Hogan & Hartson, L.L.P., is the 2005 recipient of University of Maryland's Outstanding Alumnus Award in the College of Health and Human Performance. A member of her firm's Legislative Group, she represents national and multinational corporations, trade associations, and coalitions on legislative and regulatory matters before Congress, the White House, and various Executive Branch agencies. Dr. Warnke has served on the staff of U.S. Senator Howard W. Cannon of Nevada and Senate Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia. She is a former Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs for the American Textile Manufacturers Institute, and brought recognition to the Institute as an environmental leader.

Dr. Lewis is immediate past president of the Minority Health Professions Foundation. He is past president of the Foundation's sister agency, the Association of Minority Health Professions Schools. Under his leadership, these two organizations have secured over $100 million in support of programs, research and activities that improve the quality and availability of health care to minority and under-served communities. He has served as president of the National Pharmaceutical Association representing more than 10,000 minority pharmacists in the United States. He is the former Chairman of the Board of the Florida Education Fund, the nation's largest producer of African American PhD's. An accomplished biomedical researcher with a focus on sickle cell anemia, Dr. Lewis has been the principal investigator or project director on research grants totaling over $65 million.

Prior to joining the ADB, Ms. Scott spent seven years working with Africare as Program Manager for the Central Africa Region; Director, Food for Development; and Country Representative to Senegal, with responsibility for Cape Verde, The Gambia, and Mauritania.

Ms. Scott has made numerous presentations and has published papers on such issues as food security in Africa, microcredit, and NGO collaboration, to name a few. She holds a B.A. degree from Vassar College in Political Science and Africana Studies and a Master's degree in International Relations from Yale University. She has also undertaken studies at the Institute of Development Studies in Brighton, England; the Sorbonne; the Institute of Political Science in Paris; the University of Paris I; and the University of Dakar, Senegal. She is fluent in French and has a basic knowledge of Portuguese.

Africare is a leader in aid to Africa as well as the oldest and largest African-American organization specializing in African aid. Over its 33-year history, Africare has delivered more than $400 million in assistance - representing over 2,000 projects and millions of beneficiaries - to 35 countries Africa-wide. Today, Africare's 150-plus programs reach families and communities in 26 nations in every region of the African continent.

Dr. Barbara A. Greadington is the President and CEO of a multi-disciplinary consulting firm providing services to public and private employers. Dr. Greadington holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from University of Miami, Florida. She has served with distinction in the executive ranks of government, including her tenure as Florida Parole Commissioner, Vice-Chairperson of the Commission on Juvenile Justice and the Prison Privatization Commission and as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission for the federal bench. Dr. Greadington is experienced in account management and negotiating employee benefits with both labor and management. Named as one of Florida's top Ten Women of 1993, Dr. Greadington has received numerous awards and honors during her career.