The Team

• Mr. Mohammed M. Umar is the Executive Director Of Global MCEI, 
• A native of Nigeria based in the USA,Mohammed completed his undergraduate work at the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria, with a Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Technology. He earned a Master’s degree in Vocational Education from Colorado State University, USA, Masters in Quality Engineering from Lehigh University, USA and Executive Leadership Certificate from Cornell University, USA.  Mohammed is the founder of the Million Children Empowerment Initiative. Motivated by his desire to connect with and help those in need, Mohammed is utterly devoted to the commitment of making a difference in the lives of children, adolescents and under-served communities across the globe on a pro bono basis. Mohammed’s philosophy in life is a mirror of the inspiration from his late father Alhaji Umaru Maltumbi, whose philosophy in life was making great things happen for others.As for his career and professional experience, Mohammed has more than 27 years’ experience in the Life Sciences industry in the product development of medical devices and quality oversight. He worked in the capacity of a Quality Engineer and Quality Manager at Boston Scientific in Indiana, USA, a developer and manufacturer of Microvasive Urology and Non-Vascular Intervention Medical Products. Mohammed also worked for Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Indiana, USA in the capacity of Associate Consultant Engineer for Product Development and Commercialization. And is currently employed at Genentech in California, USA in the capacity of Principal Technical Manager, Medical Device and Device Combination Products. 

Akiyo is a Native of Japan who moved to the United States after graduating from Keio University in Tokyo, Japan. Akiyo instantly fell in love with the United States upon her arrival in the US. She earned her teaching credential in Special Education and began teaching students with special needs. She then went on to teach Japanese language and culture, sharing her home language and intercultural experiences with high school students in San Francisco. Her students, mostly black and brown teens, were excited to explore a culture different from their own. The joy and enthusiasm they expressed in her classes inspired her to bring Japanese to even younger children. She knew that getting an early start, they would have a greater opportunity to gain fluency and global competence through a long sequence of study. While teaching, Akiyo served as a presenter on the Stanford World Language Project team. She was also the California representative for the National Network for Early Language Learning. She always encourages parents to spend quality time with their children. Your time is the most precious gift one can give. Your time is much more valuable than material objects. An ethical education with moral standards is important to Akiyo. She believes in empowering all children, particularly girls, to grow into independent, self-sufficient, and self-confident adults.

Tony is a graduate of Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado with a Bachelor in Education (B.Ed.) in Education. He received his Master’s Degree Education from Springfield College, Massachusetts, and holds a Certificate in HealthCare Management from the University of Connecticut, Hartford, Connecticut.

Tony is the President and CEO of Staffiier Associates Inc, Westborough, Massachusetts. Staffiier Associates Inc is a HealthCare service company with a focus on Mental Health, where he oversees the day to day clinical and managerial undertakings of the company, including the management of practitioners including physicians, psychologists, social workers and other mental health professionals who diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders, addiction, and other mental illnesses. Prior to his current position, Tony was the CEO of Toga Staffing and Placement Services in South Windsor, Connecticut. Tony also held the position of Senior Rehabilitation Specialist with the State of Connecticut Social Security Program. 

• For Tony, basic healthcare and the wellbeing of every mankind is a right. The mission and goals of the Million Children Empowerment Initiative align with Tony’s passion and experiences in the area of Humanitarian Services. Tony is excited to offer his pro bono services to the Million Children Empowerment Initiative as a Director, Board of Trustees.

Dr. Oyibo earned her Bachelor of Art (BA) degree from Washington State University, Pullman, USA and her Masters of Arts (MA) from the University of Northern Colorado, USA. She received her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA. She served as an External Reviewer (Consultant) for the University of Northern Colorado, Marcus Garvey Cultural Center, and an External Reviewer, Ivy Tech Community College, Bloomington, Indiana, USA. She also held other roles at Talmadge Anderson Heritage House, Washington State University, Pullman, University of Northern Colorado, Marcus Garvey Culture Center and Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, and the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Culture Center.

Dr. Oyibo has over 20 years’ executive experience in providing strategic initiatives, programs and services pertaining to diversity and inclusion. Her skills include facilitating interdepartmental communication and collaboration, teaching, advising, advocacy, mentoring, training, and coaching. She has extensive experience with consulting, counseling, research, outreach, resource allocation and management, customer service, programming, and administration. She is the Founder & Coordinator of Global Dialogue Initiative (GDI), Bloomington, Indiana, USA. 

She served as the Student Access Coordinator, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, where she worked with faculty and staff to assist students who have physical, mental and other disabilities with their academic needs and accommodations to ensure student success. Also Special Professional Tasks Staff, Indiana University, Bloomington where she Collaborated with colleagues on strategic initiatives for student access, transition, retention and success and Counseled students who had problems with alcohol and other drugs. She was also the Inaugural Director, Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center, Indiana University, Bloomington, a 20 Million dollar state-of-the-art Culture Center, fostering strategic partnerships and proactively addressing issues related to diversity and inclusion with internal and external constituencies to support an inclusive campus environment. 

Dr. Oyibo is affiliated with the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE),

Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), American Association of Blacks in Higher Education (AABHE), American Association of University Women (AAUW) and Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF).

Brad serves as Senior Vice President and Business Development Team Leader at CAC Specialty. Working with public/private companies and private equity sponsors, he delivers bespoke private finance and unique insurance solutions that help his clients facilitate the execution of strategic priorities, increase capital efficiency, and significantly reduce costs.

Brad has expertise in underwriting and origination of corporate credit facilities, with specific emphasis on non-investment grade and lead tier relationships. He brokers construction and operational insurance for companies with complex operational and construction risks. His services include mergers and acquisitions due diligence, review/advice for contractual risk including insurance alternatives for contractual risk transfer, structured finance, and alternative risk transfer design, and consultation for greenfield and start-up concerns.

Before joining CAC, Brad held similar roles with McGriff Seibels & Williams, where he designed and placed complex coverage for his clients and as Vice President with Wells Fargo’s Energy Group, where he managed a portfolio of upstream and midstream producers, with a focus on Corporate & Investment Banking. Early in his career, he led new product development teams in the medical device industry.

Brad graduated from the University of Colorado with a Master of Business Administration Degree in Finance and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biomedical Engineering from Marquette University. He is also on the Advisory Board at Western Energy Alliance and has an OIL Technical Accreditation.

Halima graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelors in Anthropology, with a focus on Ethnography. She has an Associate degree in Social & Behavioral Health and a second Associate's degree in Interdisciplinary Letters & Science from Skyline College, California. She maintains a certificate in Fitness & Nutrition and a certificate in Women’s Guidance Facilitation. Halima hosts engaging workshops for Black Indigenous People of Color (BiPOC) communities on topics ranging from identity development to decolonization.

Halima worked at the Council on International Education Exchange (CIEE) in the US as a student adviser, where she helped students obtain scholarships to study abroad and to experience the world with different cultures. Halima’s passion is emboldening those affected by colonization, supporting identity development agencies and having strong physical and emotional health through connections to art, land, lineage and food. Within MCEI, Halima is responsible for the oversight of donor relations, media creation and social engagement. She is driven by her desire to help children and adolescents to be kind persons, generous and become the educated community leaders of tomorrow.