Stepping Stones Nigeria's Patrons

Sir Tim Lankester has been President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford since 2001. Before that he was Director of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. From 1973 to 1995, he was in the civil service. He served at the Treasury, at 10 Downing Street as Private Secretary to Prime Ministers Callaghan and Thatcher, as Britain's representative on the boards of the IMF, World Bank and the European Investment Bank, and as permanent secretary in the international aid and education ministries. He has served as Deputy Chairman of the British Council. An economist by training, he writes and lectures on international aid and economic development, with particular reference to Africa and Asia. He has been a consultant to the UN, the World Bank, and the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Dr. Owens Wiwa is a medical doctor and human rights activist. He is the brother of Ken Saro-Wiwa, and the son of Ogoni chief Jim Wiwa. Dr. Wiwa is an internationally renowned expert on the effects of globalization, especially as it relates to the highly controversial business practices of Shell in the Niger Delta. Vice chairman of the Toronto chapter of the Sierra club and an active member of Amnesty International, Dr. Wiwa is frequently called upon to advocate for development programs in Canada and abroad and to campaign for increased corporate responsibility.

Stepping Stones Nigeria's Trustees

Chair of Trustees: Eleanor Jane Sandercock (BSocSci Hons)  (MA)  Eleanor has been visiting the Niger Delta since 2001 in various capacities, including as a VSO youth volunteer, postgraduate researcher and, latterly, as a community development worker. She is currently the Acting Akwa Ibom State Programme Coordinator for Pro-Natura International (PNI).

Treasurer: Viktor Poluektovas (BA Hons) (Msc) was the first volunteer to work with Stepping Stones Nigeria in Nigeria. Vik is originally from Lithuania and has a background in international accounting and public health.

Secretary: Naomi Chapple (BA Hons) is one of the founders of Stepping Stones Nigeria and is a primary school teacher in the UK. She specialises in early learning and synthetic phonics.

Aniefiok Ite (BSc) (Msc) was Stepping Stones Nigeria's former Nigerian coordinator. Now studying for a PHD in the UK his skills and experience of working in this field are a great asset to the charity.

Grace Ekong has been a committed supporter of Stepping Stones Nigeria's work for some time now. Although based in Manchester she regularly visits her home country and helps to monitor the work that Stepping Stones Nigeria is carrying out. Grace has a background in nursing and mid-wifery.