Francesca Adeola Abiola
Francesca Adeola Abiola, Has a background in Mass Communication specializing in Public Relations with over 5 years working experience in youth programming, sexual violence prevention and response and Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health. She has participated in courses/ trainings both locally and internationally in Project Management, Peer Education and Monitoring and Evaluation for development programs. She was trained in Child Protection and Child Protection in Emergency by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). Her current work includes provision of technical assistance to AHI project partners, implementing programmes on comprehensive sexuality education at the pre service level, whilst providing technical support to a Youth Friendly Clinic to ensure quality Sexual and Reproductive Health service provision to adolescents. She is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and a Lead Education of the Adobe Youth Voices.

Apako Wilz Williams
Apako Williams is Ugandan, Transgender and a Human Rights Activist. Williams bears a certificate in Project Planning and Management as well as in Leadership Skills, Peer Education and Counseling. He is a former Project Assistant at the Civil Society Coalition on Human Rights and Constitutional Law. Previously, he worked with Fem Alliance Uganda, an LBT/WSW Organization, as their Communications Officer, before he joined None On Record as an Intern to document stories of queer Africans.

"My experience of 2014 ARSRC’s Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship most inspired me to read more and understand the regional and international human rights instruments, the policies and programming particularly because advocacy without research-based evidence will never impact lasting change."

Maria Hyttel
Maria is a currently working as a programme analyst for UNPFA in Niger. She is from Denmark and has a public health background with expertise in sexual and reproductive health, youth leadership, participation and empowerment as well as adolescent girls programming. She has conducted research and published in the areas of Family Planning and Menstrual Management and strives in her work to link research to impact-oriented health programmes. Her work experiences with NGO partnerships, research and development assistance in Niger, Uganda, Benin and Denmark has provided her with strong competencies in project implementation, monitoring & evaluation, trainings, advocacy, programme analysis, youth policy, HIV/AIDS and health insurance for rural populations.

Matilda Kerry Osazuwa
Dr. Matilda Kerry is a resourceful Physician who studied and gained her Bachelor degree in Medicine and Surgery at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria also completing the Public Health and Health Promotion Course at the same institution in 2006. She has training in Cervical Health and treatment from the Whittington Hospital NHS trust in London, United Kingdom in April 2010 and a certificate in Minor Surgery from the Royal College of General Practitioners in 2012. She also holds a certificate in Occupational Health and safety and internal auditing based on OHSAS specification from Tatweer International in 2013 and a Masters of public health from The University of Lagos.

Dr. Matilda Kerry is the Founder of the George Kerry Life foundation an NGO established in 2007 that caters to the welfare of Nigerians and focuses on disability, disease, illiteracy and poverty. Their cervical cancer control campaign (CCCC) under the disease and poverty alleviation initiative has screened over seven thousand women free of charge or highly subsidized, treating those whose test positive and preventing them contracting cervical and breast cancer! This massive cervical cancer control campaign has educated over 100,000 families through TV, Radio, face to face education and social media messages. There is also a training program for nurses, mid wives and other health care professionals on conducting successful cervical cancer screening programmes in their communities.

Dr. Matilda Kerry held the renowned and glamorous title of the Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria in 2000 and represented Nigeria in both the Miss Universe and Miss World pageant..

Bewa Joannie
As a Medical Doctor and young activist from Benin Republic, Joannie BEWA has served her community over the past 8 years in the area of sexual and reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, Women’s Empowerment and Youth Leadership. Joannie is the Co-Founder and the Executive Director of the Young Beninese Leaders Association (YBLA) that has sensitized and trained more than 10 000 youth on HIV/AIDS and safe Sexual health through the “Red Ribbon Campaign” since its inception in 2010, and has offered a platform to empower more than 3000 girls and women to know their rights and acquire leadership and entrepreneurship skills. Fellow of the US Government International Visitor Leadership Program/ Young African Leaders (IVLP/YAL), she serves in many youth organizations as the US Ambassador’s Youth council, Benin chapter of the United Nations Youth leaders network for MDG’s (ROJALNU), the United Nations Fund for Population Benin (UNFPA) Youth panel on Sexual and reproductive health and the HIV Young Leaders Fund Panel of Reviewers. Multi award winner, speaker, trainer and consultant, Joannie completed the Women’s Leadership, Public Service and Global Health program through Smith College under the Women in Public Service Project and the Sexuality Leadership development fellowship with the African Regional Sexuality Resource Center (ARSRC). Joannie speaks French and English and believe in a better and brighter future for Africa.

Mutisya Leonard
Mutisya Leonard is a Pan-African social activist and sexuality professional. He is Support Assistant to the Executive Director at UHAI—the East African Sexual Health and Rights Initiative, an African LGBTI and sex worker activist fund. He has a background in sexual health programmes management and research and human rights advocacy for gay and bisexual men and sex workers. Mutisya is passionate about research, advocacy and movement building work that advances an equitable, compassionate world where difference is understood, valued, respected and celebrated. Mutisya is also an avid cook, karaoke legend and student in Psychology. Of the 2014 Sexuality Leadership Development Fellowship, Mutisya most appreciated how the team of fellows was rigorously engaged with key theory, research and global human rights instruments to find the unity of cause in our multiple struggles against patriarchy and oppression.

Jonah Voss
Jonah Chinga has over five years’ experience working with the LGBTI community focusing on sexual reproductive health, advocacy, capacity building and empowerment. As the lead support and communication officer for GALCK Reloaded task-force (GRT), he frequently engages with local and international partners to discuss about development, progression of the LGBTI community in Kenya and mobilize resources to advance the discourse to reduce stigma and discrimination of sexual minorities in Kenya through the multi tier approach project. His diverse background in human rights and focus on community collaboration has led him to a number of community leadership roles.

"From the 2014 SLDF fellowship I have learnt that we all have struggles and they are all interconnected in one way or the other. Also most importantly that basic right, such as that of access to highest attainable standard of health for everybody, is all we seek."

Meike Keldenich
Meike’s interest in human rights started at a very early age. When she was eleven, she attended the 1995 Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China. Her academic background is in international relations and international development. Professionally she has developed a speciality in sexual and reproductive health and rights. In her current job at UNFPA in Benin she works with young people to improve their sexual and reproductive health. Before joining UNFPA in 2012, she worked at the Health and Aids Division of the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Owonikoko Olusola Samuel
In the past five years, Olusola Owonikoko has worked with vulnerable populations such as children, women and persons with disabilities in Nigeria. In his work as a Fellow of the United States Consulate Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative, he promotes civil liberties, especially the rights and social inclusion of persons with disabilities in Nigeria. As the Programs Manager of HACEY Health Initiative, his works involve programing and implementation of social development programs targeted at building a healthy and sustainable society with an approach that ensures individual and community capacity development, advocacy, research and comprehensive education. One of HACEY’s programs is the Hands Up for HER Initiative with the goal of promoting the health, empowerment and rights of the girl child in Africa. Olusola is also passionate about leadership and good governance in Africa. He has contributed consistently to leadership development at the grass roots in Nigeria over the past 8years. He has done this through several platforms including the Lagos Empowerment And Resource Network, LEAP Africa’s YDPT, CAAVAC Circle of Friends. He is a new Fellow of the SLDF and he looks forward to contributing to researches in sexuality education as well as the role of gender development in national development.

Bukoye Oluwafunso
Bukoye Oluwafunso is a youth communicator, blogger, writer and a social media strategist. She has served as a youth communicator for local and international organisations such as Restless Development and Youth Alliance for Leadership and Development in Africa (YALDA). A mass communication graduate, Oluwafunso has also worked at Lagos State Television and Leadership Newspaper Nigeria as an Intern where she gained experience as a journalist. She recently published a book Half a Loaf & a bakery, manage a blog and work as a volunteer for Before Graduation (A youth based organisation) and Click Weavers Communication. She currently works at Action Health Incorporated (AHI) as a Programme Associate.