Steven Nabieu Rogers, PhD, Executive Director

Dr. Steven Nabieu Rogers joined AFJN in May 2022 as the Executive Director. He has a background in public policy and urban planning with a special interest in globalization and governance in Africa. Dr. Rogers has served in the public and private sectors as an academic, researcher, and thought leader. He also has several years of experience in higher education in Sierra Leone, the United States, and South Africa. Prior to joining AFJN, he was an Old Mutual Emerging Markets Fellow and Lecturer at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Cape Town, where he taught courses on Emerging Markets, International Trade, and Globalization. He was a Research Associate at the School of Urban Affairs at the University of Texas and a Corporate Compliance Officer at Children’s Aid and Family Services, Inc. in New Jersey.

Dr. Rogers has published articles on globalization, urbanization, and housing in Africa and is also a reviewer of various academic journals including the Review of Radical Political Economy and Review of African Political Economy. He is very optimistic about Africa’s future and believes that Africa’s needs are best served by an Africa-led intellectualism that should emanate from the lived experiences of Africans. He has a Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Public Policy from the University of Texas at Arlington, USA, and a Masters in Social and Public Policy from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA. As a youth, he served in various leadership positions in the Catholic Church in Sierra Leone.

Email: director@afjn.org

Arthur Santana Queiroz, 2026 Summer Intern

Arthur Queiroz holds a B.A. in Political Science with a focus on International Relations and Diplomacy from Saint Mary’s College of California (SMC), where he graduated magna cum laude. His interest in international affairs stems from his bicultural upbringing, being raised in America by Brazilian immigrant parents who prioritized quality education and acquisition of world cultural knowledge through travel and lived experience.

During his undergraduate studies, Arthur served as the Speaker of the Senate for SMC Associated Students, Saint Mary’s College’s student government organization. He presented his undergraduate capstone research project, analyzing the abuse of diplomatic immunity by foreign service officers and their families in order to evade prosecution for human rights violations and other serious criminal offenses, at the 2025 SMC Student Leadership Conference. He also published an award-winning analysis on the creative and destructive powers of violence, focusing on Hannah Arendt’s and Franz Fanon’s differing definitions of the term through the lens of Chinua Achebe’s seminal work Things Fall Apart, in the 2026 edition of The Undergraduate Spectrum, SMC’s yearly academic journal devoted to showcasing exemplary work from the Collegiate Seminar Program.

Arthur began his role as an Africa Faith and Justice Network intern in the summer of 2026. Through his work, he is interested in learning more about advocacy-driven policymaking, broadening his understanding of global geopolitical dynamics, and sharpening his professional skill sets, while learning how best to create value for the institution.

Peaches L. Dargbeh, 2026 Summer Intern

Peaches L. Dargbeh is a junior at Lafayette College from Liberia, West Africa. Peaches is currently participating in The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) Summer Program in Washington, D.C. She is majoring in International Affairs with a minor in Sociology. Previously, she participated in the Washington Semester Program at American University, where she further explored public policy, leadership, and global affairs.

Peaches’s interest in international development, human rights, and women’s empowerment is rooted in her experiences growing up in Liberia and her commitment to expanding educational and economic opportunities for young women. As the founder and executive director of Aid-Her Liberia and the BooksBox Campaign projects in Liberia, she has led initiatives focused on girls’ entrepreneurship, literacy, leadership development, and access to educational resources. Her work centers on addressing barriers facing women and girls while promoting sustainable community development through education, advocacy, and economic empowerment.

As a SheCan Scholar and Dyer Fellow, Peaches is interested in learning more about policy advocacy, international development, U.S.-Africa relations, and the role of law in advancing human rights and social change. Through her academic studies, leadership experiences, and internships, she hopes to gain practical insight into policymaking and international cooperation. Her long-term goal is to pursue a career in law and international affairs, working to strengthen educational access, gender equity, and human rights while advancing meaningful partnerships between the United States and African nations.

Makelah Arzu-Porter, 2026 Summer Intern

Makelah is a Junior at the University of Kentucky majoring in Human Communications and minoring in International Studies and Law & Justice. She is participating in the Fund for American Studies Summer 2026 internship program based in Washington, D.C.

Makelah considers herself to be a very bold and ambitious young woman. From her freshman year through her junior year, she has persevered and developed strong academic and social skills. She has volunteered with kids and performed well in social media roles. By studying abroad in London, England, and attending a Model United Nations conference in Atlanta, Georgia, she has gained extensive experience in foreign affairs and international relations, considering herself a jack-of-all trades.

For the Fall 2026 semester, she has been selected for a paid fellowship to tutor and mentor students from all backgrounds. This experience will continue to strengthen her skills in socialization, problem-solving, and language development: essential traits for careers in foreign politics, international relations, and public policy. She hopes to one day become a foreign service officer and serve citizens across all nations.

Aiden O’Connell, 2026 Summer Intern

Aiden O’Connell is an international affairs major with a concentration in African conflict at Lafayette College. As someone with experience on the African continent, he combines hands-on field research with skills learned as a college student, including media creation, analytics, and writing. Aiden is currently participating in the American University Washington Semester Program, where he is furthering his understanding of the American political and legal systems. As a summer intern, he hopes to broaden his research skills and learn important advocacy skills.

Michael Bryant, 2025, 2026 Research Fellow

Michael is a second-year PhD student in African Studies at Howard University, his research explores the intersections of religion, culture, and community development across the African continent. He is particularly interested in the role of interfaith dialogue as a catalyst for social cohesion, peacebuilding, and inclusive development in pluralistic societies with a special interest in Sudan and South Sudan.

Michael’s academic work examines how interreligious collaboration—especially between Christian, Muslim, and traditional belief communities—can serve as a strategic tool to address social challenges such as conflict resolution, poverty, and youth marginalization. Through qualitative research, fieldwork, and engagement with community organizations, Michael aims to uncover context-specific models of dialogue that foster mutual understanding and sustainable development.

Michael began his role as a Research Fellow with AFJN in 2025.

Ntama Bahati, Policy Analyst

Jacques Bahati is a seasoned Policy Analyst with Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), where he has served since 2007. He obtained an undergraduate degree in Philosophy from La Ruzizi in Bukavu/DRC in 2000, a Masters of Divinity in 2006, and a Masters of Arts in Ethics in 2007, both from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago.

Bahati has a deep understanding of the complex social, economic, and political dynamics that underlie many of the challenges facing Africa today. He has written and spoken extensively on these issues, offering insightful analysis and pragmatic solutions. He is a passionate advocate for justice and fairness, and he fiercely opposes corruption in all its forms, dedicating his career to rooting out this pervasive problem in Africa.

Throughout his career, Bahati has been a vocal champion for the development of intra-African trade and cooperation, firmly believing that the key to Africa’s success lies in its ability to harness its own resources and work together to achieve common goals. He firmly rejects ethnocentrism in all its forms, recognizing the immense diversity and richness of Africa’s many cultures, and advocating for the need to celebrate and preserve this diversity as a source of strength and unity.

Bahati is fluent in both French and English and proficient in four major languages spoken in Africa’s Great Lakes region. He is a practicing Roman Catholic and advocates for women’s rights, starting with the right to education. Additionally, he is an admirer of the visions of late Tanzanian president John Pombe Magufuli, Burkina Faso’s Thomas Sankara, D.R. Congo Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba, and South Africa President Nelson Mandela. He believes that incompetent, corrupt, tyrannic, selfish African leaders have created a sizable copy in their image within the African citizenry who continue to inflict lasting damage on Africans.

He believes that to foster the Africa we aspire to build, it is crucial that Africa prioritizes the education of our citizens in active, peaceful, and responsible political participation. Moreover, it is imperative for Africa to move away from relying on foreign aid and instead strive to independently finance its needs going forward.

Eucharia Madueke, SNDdeN, Coordinator, African Women Project

Eucharia Madueke is a Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN), Nigerian Province, and the Coordinator of the Women Empowerment Project at the Africa Faith & Justice Network (AFJN). Prior to joining AFJN, she was an associate and grassroots mobilizer at NETWORK, a Washington DC-based National Catholic Social Justice Advocacy organization focusing on social action on behalf of the less privileged. Her other work experience includes teaching at Howard University, Washington DC, teaching at Lumen Christi Boys Secondary School Uromi Edo State, Notre Dame Girls Secondary School Oro, Kwara State, Notre Dame Novitiate, Ilorin, and Notre Dame Postulate Agenebode, Edo State in Nigeria. She also served as Provincial of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Nigerian Province.

Sister Eucharia Madueke received her First Degree in Education and Religion from the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Masters Degree in Social Work from The Catholic University of America, and a Ph.D. in Development and Public Policy from Howard University, Washington DC. Her skills are in the area of formation and administration, community organizing and development, policy analysis and advocacy, grassroots mobilization, and leadership development. Her other interests include: faith and public policy; education and governance, and women in governance. She has written articles for the Global Sisters Report, focusing on cultural dynamics in African society as well as about Catholic Sisters services in Africa.

Email: eucharia@afjn.org

Lydia Andrews, Communication and Operations Manager

Lydia Andrews has been working for Catholic Non-Profits in the DC area for several years. She has been brought on to assist in streamlining operational processes, moving AFJN capabilities into the cloud, and improving communications. She has a Masters in Politics from The Catholic University of America (CUA) and a Bachelors in International Affairs and Spanish from Marquette University. Before working with AFJN, Lydia was an Operations and Program Consultant for Foundations and Donors Interested in Catholic Activities. She was Deputy Director of Jubilee USA Network, and Assistant to the Director at the Institute for Policy Research and Catholic Studies at CUA.

Email: lydia@afjn.org

Patrick Ewgu, AFJN Senior Fellow

Patrick Egwu is an award-winning freelance investigative journalist based in Johannesburg, South Africa where he is currently an Open Society Foundation fellow on Investigative Reporting at the University of the Witwatersrand. He has covered the work of AFJN on the continent of Africa, with a special focus on AFJN’s Women’s Empowerment Project. He has more than five years of journalism experience covering conflict, migration, global health, climate change, corruption and other development issues in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa which have been published by publications such as Foreign Policy, NPR, African Arguments, Daily Maverick, World Politics Review Ozy, and elsewhere.

Read his full biography here.

Riley DeSarbo, 2026 Summer Intern

Riley DeSarbo is a rising senior at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he majors in international relations with minors in Africana studies and geography. Riley is passionate about U.S.- Africa relations and security topics in Sub-Saharan Africa. Riley’s research interests gravitate towards West Africa and the Sahel. In 2025, Riley had the opportunity to research extremist violence and security developments in the region as a research intern at the International Center for Terrorism Studies. This July, Riley will build on this research through the Cambridge Security Initiative as a Sir Richard Dearlove Scholarship recipient. Riley has enjoyed representing Ethiopia and Kenya at model United Nations conferences, learning the importance of multi-lateral cooperation and international organizations. Riley is excited to be a part of AFJN this summer, hoping to deepen his understanding of African affairs and the research and advocacy that drives them. He is grateful to approach these topics through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching.

Br. David Patrick Mahoney, CFX, Editorial Consultant

Br. David Patrick Mahoney, CFX, entered the Xaverian Brothers in 1966, just out of high school, and earned a B.A. in Social Relations from Harvard College in 1971 and an M.A.T. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 1972. As a bass in the Harvard Glee Club for three years, he enjoyed singing all over the country.

David taught French, English, Social Studies, and video production for 12 years at his alma mater, St. John’s Preparatory School in Danvers, Massachusetts, and in 1984 he completed an M.A. in French at the Middlebury College Summer Language School. He studied French at the University of Dijon with a group from Georgetown University.

From 1985 to 1990 he taught high school English and religion in Likasi, D. R. Congo (ex-Zaïre), and from 1991 to 1998 he taught English at the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Lubumbashi, a teacher training college. From late 1991 until 1995, after the evacuation of the Consul and consular employees from Lubumbashi, he worked for the U.S. State Department as Approving Officer, overseeing local employees retained at the Consulate and USAID.

After a sabbatical in the U.S. that included time to learn computer skills while working as an assistant school librarian, David returned to Africa in 2000 to serve as a religious formator for ten years in the Western Province of Kenya. From 2010 until 2015 he was a religious formator in Nairobi; an instructor in English at Christ the Teacher Institute for Education (part of Tangaza University College); and Executive Secretary of the Religious Superiors’ Conference of Kenya (RSCK), the association of superiors of the 76 men’s institutes that minister in Kenya.

Since returning permanently to the U.S. in late 2015, he has continued to edit Yes, Kenya Matters, a two-page reflection paper produced by the Justice, Peace, and Integrity of Creation Commission of the Religious Superiors’ Conference of Kenya (RSCK-JPIC). YKM relates the Sunday Mass readings to the social teachings of the Church and to the social, economic, political, environmental, and moral problems of Kenya. Priests and religious men and women submit their contributions, usually for a month or so at a time, to fit a template agreed upon by JPIC. After editing, YKM is emailed weekly to nearly 1000 subscribers. It is intended to help homilists be more relevant; to propose material for personal reflection; and to stimulate discussion in Small Christian Communities.

Br. David has also worked as an editor with Pauline Publications Africa, and has helped the Ursulines of Tildonk (Belgium) prepare for their 2018 Bicentennial by translating an 1892 biography of their founder from French to English. He is currently on the staff at the Xaverian Brothers’ retirement community in Danvers, Massachusetts.

Kelly Maltagliati, Office Manager and IVC Volunteer

Kelly Maltagliati volunteers for AFJN through the Ignatian Volunteer Corps. She is a practicing Roman Catholic. Many Africans are members of her parish which guided her to the choice of working at AFJN.

Kelly retired from a career as a criminal investigator with the federal government. Upholding the law and seeking justice are core values. Working at AFJN she hopes to provide support to the staff as they advocate for justice and equality in Africa.

“Without service, we would not have a strong quality of life. It’s important to the person who serves as well as the recipient. It’s the way in which we ourselves grow and develop.” – Dorothy Height

Nancy McDonald, IVC Volunteer

Nancy has worked in international development for the past 15 years, leading large teams and designing community-led programming. She has designed strategies to secure funding from foundations, corporate, and USG donors (including Department of State, DoD, and MCC) with over $100 million in wins as lead writer.

Nancy is a practitioner in Positive Youth Development and has led youth assessment trips in in Africa (Ghana and Kenya), Asia (Pakistan and Sri Lanka), Eastern Europe (Kosovo and Ukraine), Latin America and the Caribbean (Colombia, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua), and the Middle East and North Africa (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, West Bank and Gaza).

Programmatically, she has promoted the integration and implementation of Safeguarding, Do No Harm, and Trauma-informed approaches in new and existing programming – and supervised cross-functional teams (10 in DC and 100 globally) with a commitment to supporting professional opportunities for staff development, exchanges, and advancement. She has personally designed and managed complex positive youth development and violence prevention programs worth over $135 million and co-chaired Alliance for Peacebuilding’s preventing violent extremism working group. Nancy holds a BA in Political Science from Trinity College and a MA in International Affairs from Boston University.

Fr. Aniedi Okure, OP, Women Empowerment Project Consultant

Rev. Aniedi Okure, OP was appointed the General Promoter of Justice and Peace and Permanent Delegate to the United Nations for the Dominican Religious Order. Prior to his appointment Aniedi served as the Executive Director of the Washington DC based Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN) and as a Fellow at the Institute for Policy Research (IPR) at The Catholic University of America. His key engagement at AFJN focused advocacy for just US-Africa policies and on formation and training of Civil Society Groups based on Catholic Social Teaching, the techniques of contextual social analysis, and mobilizing the groups for practical advocacy on issues that impact their communities.

Previously, he served as the Coordinator of Ethnic Ministry at the United Stated Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), and as Vicar Provincial for North America and the Caribbean of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph the Worker, Nigeria & Ghana.

Aniedi has diverse pastoral ministry experience in Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the United States, including serving as youth chaplain, chaplain to the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students, associate at St. Ambrose Parish Boston Massachusetts, Chaplain at the University of Ife, Nigeria, Chaplain to the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius, and chaplain at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville Pennsylvania.

Aniedi has taught at several universities in the United States and in Nigeria. For many years, he conducted workshops and seminars on cultural orientation for international pastoral ministers and intercultural competency program for immigrant professionals.

Sr. Mary Tiernan, CSC, South Bend, IN

Sr. Mary Tiernan, CSC (South Bend, IN) is the new board member representing the Sisters of the Holy Cross (in place of our former Board Chair and Member, Sr. Florence Deacon, OSF). Sr. Tiernan “brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to the values and mission of the Africa Faith and Justice Network” according to Sr. Sharlet Ann Wagner, CSC (Congregational President). Continuing that Sr.Tiernan “will continue the excellent work that Sister Florence has contributed over the years. Read about her Golden Jubilee.

Fr. Uju Okeahialam, CSSp, Baltimore, MD

Fr. Uju Okeahialam, CSSp (Baltimore, MD) is the new board member representing the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) in place of our former Board Secretary, Co-Chair, and Member Fr. William Christy, CSSp). Fr. Okeahialam, the newly elected US Province Provincial Council “will be an excellent link between the Spiritans and AFJN and will also carry on the presence of the Spiritans in AFJN that has been there since AFJN was founded” according to Fr. Christy. He also noted that “Fr. Uju “will soon be appointed as Pastor of St Francis Xavier Parish, [in Baltimore] the oldest African American parish in the United States” and hopefully will be attending the next in-person Board meeting.

Fr. Pierre C. Fleury Lunimbu, SVD (Browns Mills, NJ)

Fr. Pierre C. Fleury Lunimbu, SVD (Browns Mills, NJ) is the new board member representing the Society of the Divine Word. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), he is currently the Pastor of St. Ann’s Church. Fr. Fleury made his final vows on August 2, 2014, Eldoret Diocese was ordained a Deacon on October 11, 2014, Nairobi Archdiocese at the Divine Word Parish and was ordained a Priest on May 10, 2015, Kinshasa Archdiocese at the Mary Auxiliary Parish, DRC.

Ms. Faustine Wabwire, Washington, DC (Former Board Secretary)

Ms. Faustine Wabwire is Bread for the World Institute’s Senior Foreign Assistance Policy Advisor, based in Washington, DC. Bread for the World Institute provides policy analysis on hunger and strategies to end it. The Institute educates U.S. policymakers, opinion leaders, and the public about hunger and poverty in the United States and abroad.

Ms. Wabwire has testified before the Congressional House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Human Rights, and International Organizations. At the Institute, Ms. Wabwire provides policy leadership on issues including climate change, bridging the humanitarian-development divide, the need for strong institutions and local capacity to address hunger and poverty, and the role of effective U.S., partner countries, and multilateral assistance in providing solutions.

Ms. Wabwire served on the Reading Committee for President Obama’s Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders, a program that mentors dynamic young African leaders on leadership. In 2017, she was selected to the Advisory Committee of the Queen’s Young Leaders Program. Ms. Wabwire contributes to USAID’s Advisory Committee on Voluntary Foreign Aid, is a member of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Civil Society Board, among other taskforces. Ms. Wabwire represents the organization at high-level forums including the annual World Food Prize Laureate Lecture series and as Faculty at the Global Youth Institute in Des Moines, Iowa. She is a regular commentator on Voice of America, where she has shared her expertise on issues affecting sub-Saharan Africa. A native of Kenya, she brings first-hand experience to her global policy portfolio.

Prior to joining Bread for the World Institute, Ms. Wabwire held several positions in academia, research, and international development—at the national, regional, and global levels. She holds Master’s degrees in Development Management (from Ruhr University, Germany), Development Studies (from the University of the Western Cape, South Africa), and Intercultural Service, Leadership and Management (from SIT Graduate Institute, Vermont, USA). She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Moi University, Kenya. Ms. Wabwire has work experience in Africa, Europe, and the United States. She speaks Kiswahili, English, and some French.

Barthelemy Bazemo, M.Afr – Washington, DC

Fr. Barthelemy Bazemo is a member of the Society of the Missionaries of Africa. Born in Ivory Coast and raised in Burkina Faso, West Africa, he has training in peace support operations, conflict studies, international politics, human rights, and diplomacy. Fr. Bazemo serves as a policy analyst and assists the Executive Director in AFJN-SECAM (Symposium of the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar) relations. He spent many years in Eastern Africa, mostly in Kenya and Tanzania studying and engaging in active urban apostolate, centered on nurturing Christian values, youth animation, developmental activities, and dialogue with other faiths. He was an active member of Christian Professionals of Tanzania (CPT), a forum for advocacy, human rights, and social ethics in the public square; and Wabunge Think-Tank for specific issues related to constitutional debate, the rule of law, good governance, and peacebuilding. Fr. Bazemo studied at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), Tangaza College, Hekima College Nairobi Kenya, and Centre Supérieur de Philosophie, Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In 2010 he studied at the National Peace Academy (NPA) at Wilmington College. He holds a Ph.D. in African Studies with a specialization in Africa in World Affairs, Governance, and Foreign Policy. His Masters degree is in Peace Studies and International Relations. He also holds an STB in Sacred Theology, a graduate diploma in Communications, and Certificate in PPI (Peacebuilding Peacelearning Intensive); He speaks and writes French, English, and Swahili. Email: bazemo@afjn.org

Cherotich Chuma, CSJP – Bellevue, WA

Sr. Cherotich Chuma, CSJP became a member of AFJN’s Board of Directors in 2024. Sr. Chuma, a member of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Peace, is a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years in healthcare. She has a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Washington, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts, Theology & Religious Studies from Seattle University. She is also: a member of the Black Catholic Advisory Circle for the Seattle Archdiocese; the Pacific Northwest Member Area Coordinator and on the African American Committee for the National Religious Vocation Conference; the Director of Vocations in the USA, on the Impact Investment Committee, and a Charitable Trustee for the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace; a Member of the National Black Sisters’ Conference; and the Vice Coordinator of the Catholic Diocese of Eldoret Diaspora Community. Read Sr. Chuma’s full biography here.

Charles Brown, SCJ – Franklin, WI

Maura Browne, SNDdeN, Board Vice-Chair – Washington, DC

Margaret Doyle, SHCJ – Rosemont, PA

Nkechi Iwuoha, PHJC, Board Chair – Whiting, IN

Jean-Marie Mvumbi, CICM, Arlington, VA

Very Rev. Ruffino Ezama, MCCJ, Cincinnati, OH

Ms. Jemima Andan, Bear, DE, Board Treasurer

Ms. Jemima Andan was elected the Treasurer of AFJN’s Board of Directors in October 2022. Ms. Andan is a Capital Markets professional with over 15 years of progressive experience within the banking sector, with expertise in process improvement and risk mitigation in financial, operational, and strategic processes. She is currently a Vice President within Global Loans – Quality Control for Citigroup. She received her Masters in Business Administration from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business in 2018 and her Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Berkeley College in 2005. In her spare time, Ms. Andan volunteers with Franciscan Charities of Newark, mentors with Global Give Back Circle, and runs races to eradicate cancer and raise awareness of mental illness.

Fr. Ebuka Mbanude, Washington, DC

I was born and raised in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria. My parents, Edwin and Regina, made the house a home for all seven of their children and for the many aunts, uncles and cousins that lived with us at different times. I attended private school for my primary education and later, I attended Christ the King College, a Catholic secondary school founded by Irish missionaries in Nigeria. The seed for spiritual life was planted by my parents, at home, with daily family morning prayer and evening prayer. I learned to pray and read the scriptures from my parents.

In 2007, I immigrated to the United States and settled in DC with my relative. I held different jobs in the city at Target store, DC Department of Parks and Recreation and other internship positions. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from The University of the District of Columbia in Spring 2013.

In Fall 2013, I was admitted to the priestly formation program of the Archdiocese of Washington. I completed two years of pre-theology program at St. John Paul II seminary and was sent to Mount St. Mary’s Seminary Emmitsburg for four years of formation and theological studies. I was ordained a priest of Jesus Christ on June 15, 2019, by Archbishop Wilton Gregory, and served as a parochial vicar at Holy Redeemer parish in Kensington, MD (2019-2022), and currently serving as a parochial vicar at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Landover Hills, MD.

Africa has always been on my mind ever since I left home, for to me ‘home is home’. I love the United States, but I also love my country Nigeria and Africa as a whole. I long to see Africa rise from the ashes of colonialism to self-actualization; to see an Africa that is food secure, economically robust, internally peaceful and safe, and globally relevant, not relying on foreign aid but aiding foreign nations to stand on their feet. With all its natural wonders and beauty, I long to see an Africa that is not just a tourist destination, but a place where people migrate to leave and settle down.