AfriPRO Houston History

 

OKECHUKWU OFILI, President, is currently a design engineer in the Manifolds Group of FMC Technologies. Ofili graduated from the University of Houston in 2004 with a Bachelors Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Outside of work Ofili spends his time giving back to the community through his website www.ofilispeaks.com which he created to assist students to get through college. Ofili is a an avid writer and speaker, he enjoys reading and playing soccer.

UGONWANNE ONWUDIEGWU, Vice President, is the Account Manager of Efficient Home Care in Houston, Texas.  He recently obtained his Juris Doctor from Texas Southern University.  He is currently licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Tax Court.  He holds a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Houston.  He also holds a Bachelors of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin.  He has successfully passed the Certified Public Accountant exam and is only seeking to complete subsequent requirements.  He has worked as a Case Analyst with David G. Peake, who is a Standing Chapter 13 Trustee in Houston, Texas.  He will also be working with Evans & Chastain, L.L.P., where his duties will include auditing and tax work.  He has served as Treasurer of the Houston Alumni Extension of the National Society of Black Engineers.  He is currently the Treasurer of an investment group located in Houston, Texas.  He is a member in various professional organizations, such as the National Association of Black Accountants, National Black MBA Association, and the Houston Bar Association (Tax and Bankruptcy Sections).  On the side, he likes to consult and assist businesses and individuals increase their assets and decrease their liabilities on their balance sheet.  He enjoys weightlifting, eating, taking in a good movie, and interacting with people of like mind, experience, and interests.

JOYCE UGOCHI OLEWE, Secretary, is the Assistant Property Manager for the Commercial Division of Rockwell Management Corporation in Houston, Texas.  Prior to that she taught as an Adjunct Professor, Fine Arts at Houston Community College Systems (2 years) and Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA (1 year).  She is an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria and Texas Southern University.  She holds a Masters degree in African Studies from University of California, Los Angeles and is recipient of the Title VI Foreign Languages and Area Studies Fellowship 2000-2001.  Her community involvement record speaks of service as the African Community Organization’s Public Relations Officer in 2002-2003, Miss African-Houston, and fundraising consultant to numerous other organizations in Houston and California.  A strong advocate of HIV/AIDS awareness, she’s served on the board of directors of Motherland Incorporated, an organization that uses creative and artistic methods to construct motivational aid for urban teenagers/adults who are affected by HIV/AIDS. Her personal interests are participative sports and the creative arts.  She recently founded an African Ensemble Mass Choir: DUI- Driven Under the Influence.  Her passion though, is “service”, serving her community.  Her life philosophy is borrowed from the words of Dr. Mamphele Ramphele of South Africa:  “Doing for others is the rent I pay for living on this Earth”.

TEMILOLU AYOOLA, Treasurer, is currently an accountant with American Electric Technologies. Temilolu graduated from the University of Houston in 2007 with a Bachelor's Degree in Accounting. Temilolu enjoys debating, music, reading, and playing soccer. Temilolu volunteers his time outside of work helping others in need.

VINCENT TAHARQ VEREEN, Professional Development Officer, is currently the Finance Director at T4K (Thought for Knowledge) Education Inc., a company that provides education services to Texas Independent School Districts. Prior to that, Taharq spend 5 years with General Motors Corporation. Taharq graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2004 with a Masters in Business Administration - Operations Finance. Taharq has also studied Electrical Engineering at Howard University and Industrial Engineering at Morgan State University. Other organizations that Taharq is involved in are Big Brothers Big Sisters, National Black MBA Association and the Westberry/Enrgram Scholarship Fund. Taharq is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., the only U. S. based fraternal organization that has produced 4 African Heads of State and a U. S. President. In his spare time, he pursues his passion for writing and photography.

MICHELLE MBEO, Interim Networking Officer

UCHE CHIBUEZE, Community Service Officer, is a psychologist for the forensic department at the Harris County Juvenile Justice Center. She is also employed as an adjunct professor for the University of Houston, University of Phoenix, and South University. Uche earned her Bachelor's degree in Psychology and a Master's degree in Community Counseling from Baylor University. In addition, she completed her Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology at Texas School of Professional Psychology. Uche has conducted research that explored the impact of the acculturation process on African immigrant families and also created one of the first clinical measures geared specifically for the African immigrant population. She has provided presentations on mental health issues affecting the Black population for the American Psychological Association and Texas Psychological Association annual conferences. Uche has a strong interest in working with high risk adolescents and is currently working on establishing a private practice that is geared towards providing psychological services for the African immigrant community. She is also a proud member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

HUMPHREY NNADIOTU, Fundraising Officer, currently runs his own travel business, TDG Travel INC. He graduated from the University Houston with a BBA. in Accounting and also holds the United States Soccer Federation national "D", "C" and "B" coaching licenses. Humphrey Nnadiotu joined AfriPRO Houston in 2009 and received our member of the year honors the same year. His passions are sports, especially soccer, giving a helping hand and championing positive change in Africa.

NENE OTUM, Publicity Officer, is a New York attorney currently residing in Houston, TX. She graduated from the University of Houston's Bauer College of Business with two Bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Finance, and from the Howard University School of Law with a Juris Doctor. As Publicity Officer, Nene hopes to achieve public awareness for AfriPRO Houston and build rapport with the public by efficiently managing the communication between the organization and the public.

LAOLU DAVIES-YEMITAN, Community Relations Officer, has worked as a real estate professional approaching ten years, and has owned and operating Five Woods LLC for over five years. Mr. Yemitan is an alumnus of the University of Houston-Downtown where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biotechnology. His ability to interface and advocate for a brighter future for Houston citizens has allowed him to experience different areas of interest including working on a number of political campaigns at the district level, and in city and county-wide races. Additionally, Laolu worked as a consultant and legislative director with then Council Member Pam Holm during the Bill White mayoral administration. Laolu remains a close advisor to a number of local elected officials, and state legislators. He is a humanitarian that continues to make service to others a priority through his continued involvement in community organizations which currently includes the Greater Houston Partnership, CSTEM, Real Men Read, Harris County Children's Assessment Center, Houston Association of Realtors, and the Galleria Chamber of Commerce. Laolu demonstrates daily through his life's work the importance of collaborative leadership through his affiliations. He is a graduate of the flagship programs of Leadership Houston and Center for Houston's Future, and serves on the boards of the Houston Citizens Chamber of Commerce, Houstonians for Responsible Growth, and chairs the advisory board for the Barbara Jordan/Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs at Texas Southern University.

IJEOMA UDENKWO, Membership Officer, is currently an analyst for 8x8, Inc. Ijeoma graduated in 2005 from Louisiana State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Information Systems & Decision Sciences and a minor in Internal Audit. In her spare time, she enjoys volunteering, reading, developing websites, training for half marathons, laughing and having fun!

MIREILLE LAURE MEKONTSO, Technical Officer, graduated from Saint Thomas University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Computer Science. She worked as a web developer for Miami-Dade College before relocating to Houston, TX. She currently consults, trains, and serves as a resource person to the faculty of Texas Southern University as an assistant instructional designer. Her love for Mathematics allows her to constantly provide tutoring services to high school and college students. Outside of work, Laure keeps abreast of new web technologies, enjoys spending time with friends, and adores comedy.

 

FOLAKE AYOOLA, Founder, is an associate in the Securities and Capital Markets Group of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP's New York office. She attended the Columbia University School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctorate and Masters of Laws degrees in 2004 and 2002, respectively. At the Columbia School of Law, she was, among other distinctions, a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and a Parker School Certificate for Achievement in International & Comparative Law awardee. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University College London, University of London  (2000), graduating with upper class honors (magna cum laude). She started her legal career at the Houston office of Baker Botts LLP and is admitted to the New York State Bar and the Texas State Bar. She is also a member of the American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, Houston Bar Association and the Houston Young Lawyers Association. Ms Ayoola is the Vice President of the Nigerian Lawyers Association, the Founder and past President of African Professionals Network in Houston and the President of the chapter in  New York , New Jersey and Connecticut . She was a former Director of The Endeavor for Hope Foundation, a U.S. based charitable organization and a mentor for the Dress for Success Woman to Woman Mentoring Program. She's an avid reader and a philantropist, enjoys politics, current affairs, music, movies and visiting with friends.

FOLASAYO "BABS" AYOOLA is a Business Systems Analyst for Ajilon Consulting's Houston office.  He attended University of Houston where he obtained his Bachelors in Management Information Systems and Marketing with a minor in European Area International Studies in 2004.  His interests inlclude entrepreneurship, Information Technology, painting, drawing and web and graphic design.

ABAYOMI "QUDUS" MAJIYAGBE is a Customer Service Analyst at ACS, Inc. in San Antonio, Texas. He attended Keller Graduate School of Management, DeVry University where he obtained a masters degree in business adminitration (MBA) and Project Management (MPM) in October 2007 and May 2009, respectively. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in applied microbiology with minors in biology and chemistry from the University of Houston, Texas (2004). Mr. Majiyagbe also got a national diploma (associates degree) in animal health from The Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology Vom, Nigeria (1997). Prior to his employment with ACS, Inc., he worked at Baylor College of Medicine and Seqwright, Inc., Houston as a research technician. He enjoys volunteering, reading, the martial arts, watching documentaries on world events and sports (especially soccer).

OLUWASEUN OYENIRAN is a Project Engineer in the Rigging Group of Versabar Inc's Houston office.  He attended Georgia Institute Of Technology where he obtained his Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering in 2007.  He was and is currently Head of Department of the SALT Singles Ministry at RCCG Dominion Chapel Church.  His interests include reading, entrepreneurship, greentech techonologies, music, movies, and financial empowerment vehicles.

KINGSLEY EWETUYA, is an Offshore Pipelines Engineer with Pegasus International in Houston Texas. He obtained his Bachelors in Ocean/Subsea Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2007 where he was Secretary of the African Students Association. He is currently the Networking officer of Afripro Houston. In addition he is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers (SNAME). He enjoys reading novels of various genres, swimming, horseback riding, watching movies and likes to exchange ideas or debate international socio-political affairs.