Staff

Institute for the African Child

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Staff

	Dr. Steve Howard Director Institute for the African Child Dr. Howard founded the IAC in 1999 with this purpose, “The child means the family, the child means the future, the child means the community…We want to find the most productive way to address African problems in a manner that reflects African perspectives.” In this photo: Dr. Howard (on left) with Dr. Edna Adan.

International Advisory Board:
	Mr. Thomas Mapfumo, Honorary Chair Musician Zimbabwe Thomas Mapfumo and The Blacks Unlimited are a band from Zimbabwe. Influenced by traditional music (traditional instrument called the mbira, or thumb piano) from Zimbabwe and improvised with modern music, the band has come a long way. "Our music speaks for the people. We are influenced by the people who are struggling at home. Their voices have been silenced. Someone has got to talk."

	Ms. Firdoze Bulbulia, African Children's Broadcasting Foundation South Africa Firdoze Bulbulia is a television and theatre writer and producer actively involved in the children and media environment who has produced several award-winning children's productions. Her television productions however, also includes political documentaries focusing on political change from Apartheid South Africa to fighting HIV-AIDS in Africa some of her notable productions included working with Former Presidents Nelson Mandela (South Africa), Kenneth Kaunda (Zambia) and Jerry Rawlings (Ghana). She was the chairperson of the 5th World Summit on Media for Children (5WSMC) which South Africa hosted in 2007. She is presently the Secretary General of The International Centre of Film for Children and Young People (CIFEJ) and is currently involved in the creation of Africa's Best Channel (ABC) which is a Pan-African Children and Youth Channel.

	Dr. Kole Shettima MacArthur Foundation Nigeria Kole Shettima is the Director of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation Office in Abuja, Nigeria. Prior to joining the Foundation in 1999, he taught at Ohio University, University of Toronto and the University of Maiduguri in Nigeria. Kole is a political scientist by training and he obtained his educational qualifications from the University of Maiduguri, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and the University of Toronto.

	Justice Unity Dow The High Court Botswana Botswana High Court Justice Unity Dow was the first female appointed to Botswana's High Court. Named in 1998, Justice Dow has a long history of advocating for the rights of women in Africa. She was elected to the International Commission of Jurists in 2004 and to its executive committee in 2006. As founder (in 1990) and director (from 1994 to 1998) of the Metlhaetsile Women's Information Centre, Justice Dow worked to promote the human rights of women and children. She coordinated the Women & Law in Southern Africa Research Project, engaging in a six-country study of women's rights. She was also plaintiff in a ground-breaking case that overturned Botswana's nationality law, thereby propelling passage of legislation enabling women to pass their nationality on to their children. She studied law at the University of Botswana and Swaziland, with two years at Edinburgh University, Scotland. Justice Dow received the William Brennan Human Rights Award and an honorary degree from Kenyon College. Unity Dow is also a well-known fiction writer, having published four novels to wide critical acclaim.

	Dr. Prisca Nemapare Nutritionist Zimbabwe

	Dr. Asma Abdel Halim University of Toledo, OH Dr. Asma Abdel Halim is Assistant Professor at the department of Women and Gender Studies at the University of Toledo, Ohio. She holds a Ph.D. in Education, Social Studies, College of Education and a MAIA (Master in International Affairs) – African Studies from Ohio University. Dr. Adel Halim earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in International Commercial Law from the Faculty of law, University of Khartoum, Sudan.