LIGHTUP FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Dr Aina qualified in Medicine with an MBBS in 2000. After training in psychiatry, he obtained Membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists in 2009. His postgraduate training was at the Maudsley Hospital and Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London. He obtained his Specialist Registration with GMC-UK in General Adult Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry in 2012 and has worked as Consultant Psychiatrist in the NHS since then. He has extensive experience in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and he currently runs Neurodevelopment Disorders Clinics in the NHS. His training in supporting children's mental health has built a great passion in him to help safeguard young people from living a reckless life that may threaten their mental wellbeing and end up not achieving the fullness of their potentials in life.
Job Titles:
- Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora, Highlights Olasubomi 's Exceptional Bravery and Dedication
"Olasubomi is highly respected in her field, courting support and praise from senior government and charitable leaders all around the world."
She has gained so much respect in the humanitarian field and this respect is not only due to her extensive work in this field but also her ability to inspire others to join her cause. Her impact is felt globally, as she has worked tirelessly to address issues such as displacement, discrimination, and social injustice. Olasubomi's ability to mobilize resources and create networks has been instrumental in her efforts to bring about meaningful change. Her work has not only transformed individual lives but has also contributed to broader societal shifts, making her a pivotal figure in the fight for equality and justice.
Esther Godwins is a New York attorney, consultant, and employment law advocate with over 15 years of experience advising and representing clients in business, employment, and intellectual property law matters. She possesses specialized legal knowledge in business, applying her expertise in various capacities. Esther is deeply compassionate and has a strong affinity for youth development and humanitarian causes. She derives great pleasure from supporting youth initiatives and humanitarian endeavours.
Ibiyinka Alao is a UN Arts Ambassador, renowned for his exceptional talent and passion for art, youth, and community development. In 2005, he was honoured as Nigeria's "Ambassador of Art" by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. Notably, Alao secured first place in the United Nations International Art Contest, surpassing participants from 61 countries. His artistic prowess extends beyond painting, as evident in his award-winning storybook, "Ibi's Fireflies," based on his painting "Eternity in Our Hearts." This outstanding work earned the Grand Prize in the 2016/2017 Scholastic "Kids are Authors" contest on May 18, 2016.
Kiran Zahida is a foreign-registered lawyer based in the UK, originally from Pakistan. She holds a law degree from Pakistan and is an experienced and dedicated legal practitioner. With a deep passion for justice, Kiran is keen on resolving social issues and determined to positively impact the lives of marginalized and vulnerable individuals. Driven by her commitment to addressing social injustices, she strives to contribute to a society where human dignity is upheld and protected. As a lawyer, Kiran brings a unique perspective to youth and community development. As a human rights advocate, she remains dedicated to supporting and protecting human rights across communities.
I am Ms. Ester Sara Cabanes the former General Director of Child and Adolescent Care of the Generalitat de Catalunya. I am a dedicated and experienced social worker with over thirty years of experience in violence against childhood. Throughout my career, I have developed a strong expertise in sexual abuse, trauma, unaccompanied children, migrations and vulnerability in general, which has allowed me to contribute significantly to catalán reception strategy for Young unaccompanied migrants, barnahus european strategy and improve the chid protection system in my country.
Olasubomi is the Executive Director of Lightup Foundation, a post she has held for over 24 years. Within this period, Lightup has broken a world record with the "Bag of Hope" project used to project the UN Rights of the Child targeting 30 countries. She has been wholeheartedly committed in this role since Lightup was established in Africa at the turn of the millennium, now marking almost a quarter of a century of dedicated and impactful hardwork. Her leadership in this role has been characterized by a hands-on approach, actively engaging with communities and fostering volunteerism and better life for the disadvantaged.
She holds a Masters in law (LLM) from Brighton University, (UK), studied Generative Leadership course at Oxford University and holds a Bachelors Degree in Architecture from the great Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria where she served as the Vice President and later became the President of the Students' Union.
Olasubomi is a woman of many hats within the humanitarian space, and her contributions within this space have brought her recognition nationally and internationally.
In 2019, she was nominated by the UK Prime Minister to be honoured by Her Majesty the late Queen of England with the appointment as a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her work with the youths and the disadvantaged in Africa and UK.
Precisely In 2021, she won a global election to become a Director of the Global NGO Executive Committee (GNEC), making her one of the 18 elected board members liaising for global NGO to the United Nations.
During President Obasanjo's regime, she became the most active Focal person for the National Women Peace Group (NAWOPEG) in Nigeria, inaugurated by President Olusegun Obasanjo, and she was actively involved in the preparation of the youth Policy Document for Nigeria.
In December 2019 during President Buhari's administration, she was appointed as the Diaspora Ambassador for Nigeria and the National Assembly Ambassador to the UK.
Olasubomi has organized various programmes and activities on youth issues at international, national and local levels. She has also delivered many keynote addresses, papers, presentations, and speeches, globally, on various youth-related and humanitarian issues.
In addition, she has also contributed to the drafting of numerous youth strategies at regional and international levels. She believes in empowering youth, and with that passion, she was made the Minister of Youth for the State of African Diaspora (SOAD) - the African Diaspora being the 6th region of Africa.
She has continued to support people through some of their most challenging times and crises - both in the UK and around the world. Her relentless dedication to humanitarian causes has made a significant impact on countless lives, showcasing her commitment to social justice and equality.
Her journey began at a young age, and her selfless service has spanned close to three decades. She has been involved in various initiatives aimed at shaping policies, uplifting marginalized communities, advocating for their rights, and mobilizing resources/essential support globally during crises. Her work is characterized by a deep compassion for others and a strong belief in the power of community engagement. Olasubomi's work is marked by a unique blend of grassroots activism and systemic change, particularly in her commitment to youth development.
Olasubomi's life has been dedicated to the service of others from a young age. This drive first came to prominence when she was at the University, where her leadership skills became apparent. She started studying Architecture at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in 1996. This was one of the best Universities in Africa but that period was a time of great trouble and political unrest in higher institutions. She contested during the students' union elections and became Vice President of the Students' Union, famously on an election campaign with a zero budget, unlike her competitors. She simply used her creativity as a substitute for lack of funds; and this is an early illustration of how she is always able to get right to the centre of an issue and deliver solutions.
Olasubomi's time at the Obafemi Awolowo University led her to start the Organisation for Youths and Women Affairs, OYWA, which later developed into the Lightup Foundation. Her desire to help young people was already clearly tangible from her formative student years. Following Olasubomi's remarkable impact at the Obafemi Awolowo University, in 2002, she became the youngest focal person for the National Women's Peace Group, a group inaugurated by the then President of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo. She was then assigned responsibility for training women and young people in Lagos State in conflict management and the techniques of peace. She was the youngest of all the focal people selected to represent the thirty-six states in Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Olasubomi is driven to help young people but will stop and help anyone on her journey who needs assistance. She will always engage and contribute wherever there are people in need. Even though she has her planned projects, she will never walk away from an appeal for help. Moved by the plight of the dying population, she assisted with a food rescue operation in Niger Republic in 2005. She sold most of her inheritance to help feed the dying population of Gari Isi, Gari Iddi and Gari Maigimi during the deadly drought and to transport volunteers and food to these starving people from Nigeria.
Olasubomi visits other countries, including Nigeria, on an annual basis to deliver projects, one of which is the ‘Let's Talk' project. ‘Let's Talk' is a youth development training and counselling project which operates in different states, e.g. Lagos, Ogun and Oyo States. She has used this project to reach and empower, well over, ten thousand young people. As part of this project, she meets with school authorities to discuss any important findings during counselling sessions. She also identifies any promising student who was experiencing financial difficulties that might result in the abandonment of their education. On an annual basis, she provides scholarship support to them so that they could continue their studies.
Olasubomi has shown both humility and selflessness in helping other people across a range of projects and initiatives through Lightup Foundation, all diverse, original and all bearing the hallmark of her inspirational leadership skills. She gives of herself freely and her time and money in the service of humanity. She is unique not just in her desire to help others but in the tremendous reach she has to young people, both in terms of the staggering breadth of her work and her ability to connect with individuals.