Local Organising Committee (LOC)

Profile of Local Organising Committee Members for the World Shea Expo 2025

Prof. Alhassan Abukari (PhD)

Director, WACSIR-UDS

Prof. Alhassan Abukari (PhD)

Director, WACSIR-UDS

Prof. Abukari Alhassan is an accomplished statistician with research areas in Probability and Stochastic Processes. Multivariate Data Analysis, Longitudinal Data Analysis, Regression Analysis and Statistical Methods/Inferential Procedures. His scholarly and professional career is focused on creating a powerful synergy between statistical science and varied areas including Biometrics, Agriculture, Epidemiology and Climate Science. He holds a PhD in Statistics from the University for Development Studies (UDS), and he is currently an Associate Professor of Statistics and the Director for the West African Centre for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR) in UDS. He has over 25 years of teaching and research in higher education and has served UDS in a number of capacities. He is an expert in data management and training, including the design and development of data modules for Social Performance components of development projects. He has won numerous grants and has managed and consulted a number of research projects for both local and international organizations including SADA, GRIDCo, GIZ, Centre for Dry land Agriculture, etc. He is a member and the Coordinator for the Africa Region of the Sub-Saharan African Network (SUSAN) of the International Biometry Society (IBS).

Ms. Eunice Akpeere

Northern Regional Lead at the Northern Development Authority

Ms. Eunice Akpeere

Northern Regional Lead at the Northern Development Authority

Ms. Eunice Akpeere is a dedicated development practitioner with over 15 years of experience in community and social development within the underserved areas of the Savannah Ecological Zone. She holds an MA in NGO Management and Rural Development, as well as a BA in Integrated Development Studies, both from the University for Development Studies. Additionally, she has a Diploma in Public Relations and Advertising/Marketing from the Ghana Institute of Journalism. Currently serving as Northern Regional Lead at the Northern Development Authority, Ms. Eunice is expertise in project design and management, gender advocacy, community mobilization, and monitoring and evaluation. Her professional journey spans leadership roles in NGOs and farmer cooperatives, demonstrating her commitment to empowering livelihoods, fostering effective stakeholder engagement, and driving rural transformation. Fluent in multiple local languages, Ms. Eunice effectively connects with diverse communities to drive inclusive and sustainable development outcomes.

Mr. Jeremiah Seidu

Founder & Executive Director, Jaksally Development Organisation

Mr. Jeremiah Seidu

Founder & Executive Director, Jaksally Development Organisation

Jeremiah Seidu is a seasoned development practitioner with over two decades of experience in rural enterprise development, financial inclusion, community mobilization, and youth and women empowerment. He has a strong background in International Business, Banking and Finance, and Project Management, complemented by practical expertise in mentoring, micro-enterprise development, Village Savings and Loans Associations (VSLAs), and stakeholder engagement across multiple regions in Ghana. As the founder of Jaksally Development Organisation, based in Bole, Savannah Region, Jeremiah has led initiatives that span over 300 communities and seven regions in Ghana, supporting over 1,500 SMEs and empowering thousands of rural entrepreneurs, especially women and youth. He is renowned for his innovative approaches to poverty reduction, wealth creation, and sustainable community development. He remains a passionate voice in Ghana’s development sector, particularly in areas of agribusiness, SME capacity-building, financial literacy, and advocacy against illegal mining and deforestation. Jeremiah believes in the power of collaborative impact and continues to be a valuable partner for community-driven change.

Mr. Hafiz M.I. Muntaka

Coordinator - Shea Network Ghana

Mr. Hafiz M.I. Muntaka

Coordinator - Shea Network Ghana

Profile Hafiz Muntaka is a visionary coordinator of the Shea Network Ghana, driving Ghana's shea industry transformation through strategic stakeholder alignment and equitable value chain development. With over 20 years of network coordination expertise and a deep understanding of agricultural value chains, I lead the unified voice of 30,000+ shea actors across Ghana, championing inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity for all stakeholders. Bridging the gap between grassroots Shea communities and global markets while ensuring no one is left behind in Ghana's shea transformation journey is my value proposition. As the unified voice of Ghana's Shea sector, I bring together traditional producers, modern processors, government agencies, and international partners under one strategic vision. My leadership ensures that rural women who form the backbone of Shea production benefit equitably from industry growth while maintaining environmental sustainability and cultural heritage.

Chief Saaka Seidu Bakari

GEPA, Zonal Director

Chief Saaka Seidu Bakari

GEPA, Zonal Director

Chief Saaka Seidu Bakari is a prominent figure in the Gonja Kingdom, serving as the spokesperson for the Yagbonwura, the Overlord of Gonjaland. He has played a significant role in various capacities, including Spokesperson for the Yagbonwura, Public Relations Officer, and Northern Regional Director of GEPA. Chief Bakari is a professionally trained teacher at the Tamale Training College of Education in 1995. He furthered his education in B/A Sociology with Political Science and MPhil. Development Studies at the University of Ghana and the University for Development Studies, respectively. Chief Bakari has accumulated teaching experience and worked as a sustainable socioeconomic development practitioner for decades in Ghana. Currently, Chief Bakari is the Zonal Director of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority in the Northern Ghana. Chief Bakari conducts export supply surveys in the area to identify existing products and production units with export potential, especially in Shea industry in Northern Ghana. He promotes and develops Non-Traditional Exports (NTEs) commodities. Chief Bakari is an extremely hard-working and results-oriented person with a sharp ability to adapt to corrections, changes, or innovations. His roles demonstrate his influence in both traditional and economic development contexts, making him a notable figure in Ghana's socio-economic development landscape.

Mr. Felix Basing

Member

Mr. Felix Basing

Member

Felix Basing is a development worker with a Non-Governmental Organization Management and Rural Development background. Felix holds a BSc Degree in Agriculture Technology (Renewable Natural Resource Management Option) and a Master of Arts in NGO Management and Rural Development. Felix has extensive experience in coordinating with local authorities, business firms, smallholder farmers, and women cooperatives of different geographical areas in Ghana in the implementation of programs and training that enhance the livelihood of the vulnerable groups, as well as in the management of renewable natural resources. Felix has over eighteen years of experience in the shea industry and has worked with shea processing cooperatives on the sustainable production of shea nuts, shea butter, and other natural products. He promotes value addition at the source and works to improve the livelihood of rural women and their families. Felix has also been involved in coordinating and facilitating processes between companies and certification bodies such as Ecocert, Control Union, GSA, FDA, GEPA, and others, regarding the company’s products, processes, and export certifications. Felix is a dedicated, honest, team player, and hardworking man of high integrity with strong interpersonal, cross-cultural, and networking skills.

Abdul Gafaru Nyagsi Fuseini

Member

Abdul Gafaru Nyagsi Fuseini

Member

Abdul Gafaru Nyagsi Fuseini played a key role in the successful delivery of the 2024 edition of the 2025 World Shea Expo, supporting event planning, logistics, and stakeholder coordination. With a strong interest in sustainability and community development, Gafaru brings valuable experience in organising impactful events that promote the growth of Ghana’s shea industry. His work focuses on advancing economic opportunities for women and youth while contributing to the visibility and development of the shea value chain.

Ms. Rabiatu Abukari

Member

Ms. Rabiatu Abukari

Member

Rabiatu Abukari is a seasoned agri-business entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in processing and marketing shea butter, shea-based products, rice, soya, and non-timber forest products like baobab and Dawadawa. A passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, she has facilitated the sale of over 20,000 metric tons of shea butter, currently supporting 5,000+ women with market access and training more than 2,000 in quality processing techniques. As President of the Shea Employers Association, Rabiatu is leading efforts to modernize the shea industry through innovation, collaboration, and policy advocacy. She is an active member of the Global Shea Alliance and Shea Network Ghana, and has partnered with organizations like GIZ, SNV, and Ripples-UK to build sustainable livelihoods for rural women. Her contributions have earned her three awards for leadership and impact in agri-business and community development.

Alhassan Sumaila Dubie

Member

Alhassan Sumaila Dubie

Member

Sumaila is an experienced agribusiness and community development specialist with over 18 years of expertise in crop agronomy, agricultural engineering, TVET, livelihoods, food security, and MSME development. He has extensive skills in project planning, management, and implementation, with strong field experience in building supply chains, VSLAs, Farmer-Based Organizations, Producer-Based Organizations, and MSMEs across value chains such as shea, oil palm, cashew, cocoa, cotton, maize, rice, soybean, tomato, poultry, and groundnuts. He has served in several key roles, including Shea Value Chain Specialist with the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA), Senior Value Chain Manager for Mastercard’s HAPPY Programme, Project Coordinator for the SWAPP initiative with Solidaridad, Capacity Development Coordinator on USAID’s ADVANCE Project, Regional Coordinator for the Savannah Afforestation Project, Zonal Manager at Wienco, and Community Development Coordinator with Plan International Ghana. Sumaila holds an MA in Environmental Security and Livelihood Change, and a BSc in Agriculture (Irrigation and Mechanization) from UDS, Tamale.

Ms. Henrietta Zaato Norgah

Member

Ms. Henrietta Zaato Norgah

Member

Henrietta Zaato Norgah is a seasoned Senior Business Advisor and Deputy Regional Manager at the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), with over 15 years of expertise in MSME development, training, and project coordination. She holds an MBA in Marketing from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and has led transformative initiatives across Ghana, particularly in the northern regions. Henrietta has managed several high-impact projects including the Mastercard Foundation Young Africa Works and Business in a Box projects, UNDP/Absa Innovation Challenge, Ghana Jobs & Skills Project, World Bank’s Ghana Economic Transformation Project, USAID Ring Project and the JICA Kaizen initiative. As a certified Kaizen trainer and business coach, she is skilled in entrepreneurship training, business diagnostics, and stakeholder engagement. Her work has directly empowered over 1,600 youth and 500+ sustainable women-led businesses. Rooted in community development, Henrietta brings a strong blend of leadership, technical knowledge, and a passion for inclusive economic growth.

Ms. Rahinatu Zakaria

Member

Ms. Rahinatu Zakaria

Member

Ms. Rahinatu Zakaria is a seasoned Senior Administrative Assistant at the West African Centre for Shea Innovation and Research (WACSIR), University for Development Studies, Tamale. With a strong foundation in Human Resource Management from the University of Education, Winneba, she brings over 12 years of experience in administration and organisational management to her role. She played an active role in organising the World Shea Expo 2024. Ms. Rahinatu is good at managing and coordinating events. She is committed to enhancing opportunities for the younger generation to build meaningful partnerships for a brighter future.

Mr. Eugene Yirbuor

Member

Mr. Eugene Yirbuor

Member

Eugene Yirbuor is the Immediate Past Acting Office Director of Democracy, Right and Governance Office of USAID, a Senior Conflict Advisor, and was the Tamale Sub-Office Coordinator of USAID. Eugene is a strategic and impact-driven Project Management, Conflict Resolution, and Private Sector engagement Specialist with over 19 years of executive experience leading transformative initiatives across Africa. His work spans a range of technical domains including Education, Positive Youth Development, Governance, Anti-corruption, Gender Mainstreaming, Inclusive Governance, and Private Sector Engagement. Mr. Yirbuor has vast experience and exposure to global development strategies and processes in various development sectors, including agriculture, youth development, women's empowerment, cultural sensitivity, and private sector programming. Eugene seeks to build foundational peace and good governance by empowering local communities to drive their own progress. I specialize in analyzing complex issues at their root to co-create sustainable solutions. Eugene played a pivotal role by providing strategic and excellent leadership, resulting in the setting up of the Shea- Network Ghana, becoming the first Shea Network Coordinator, an Interim Board Member, and has since been a promoter of Shea Network Ghana.

Abraham Zakaria

Assistant Lecturer & Research Fellow, WACSIR-UDS

Abraham Zakaria

Assistant Lecturer & Research Fellow, WACSIR-UDS

Abraham Zakaria is an emerging Agricultural and Food Systems Economist dedicated to sustainable agricultural and food systems research in Africa. He possesses robust methodological expertise, proficient in both qualitative and quantitative research, and adept at designing data collection tools, conducting analysis, and performing feasibility studies, needs assessments, and project evaluations. His practical experience includes evaluating projects for prominent organizations such as JIRCAS, JICA, USAID/IFDC-Feed the Future ATT projects, and GIZ. Zakaria actively contributes to the sector, notably participating as a panellist and compiling the report for the World Shea Expo 2024, focusing on sustainable Shea Value Chain Development. His skills extend to policy analysis and grant proposal writing, complemented by a strong command of Microsoft Office suites. With research interests spanning agricultural value chains, food security, and technology adoption, Zakaria seeks to join collaborative teams to advance Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) across West Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and beyond.

Anastasia Ayuuni

Assistant Director, Northern Regional Coordinating Council

Anastasia Ayuuni

Assistant Director, Northern Regional Coordinating Council

Ms. Anastasia Ayuuni is a dedicated public servant with over 12 years of experience in local governance, currently serving as Assistant Director with the Northern Regional Coordinating Council. Throughout her career, she has gained valuable experience working across different regions, starting in the Eastern Region, then transitioning to the Ashanti Region, and now serving in the Northern Region. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management and Consulting from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Ms. Ayuuni's academic foundation is further strengthened by her Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Development Studies with a major in Development Communication from the University for Development Studies (UDS). Her expertise in strategic management, development communication, and local governance has been instrumental in driving regional development initiatives. Notably, she played a key role in the entire organisation for the World Shea Expo 2024 and was responsible for writing letters of invitation to institutions and high-profile people who participated in the event. Her multifaceted experience and skills make her an asset in promoting development and collaboration.

Local Organising Committee (LOC)

Profile of Local Organising Committee Members for the World Shea Expo 2025

Prof. Alhassan Abukari (PhD)

Ms. Eunice Akpeere

Mr. Jeremiah Seidu

Mr. Hafiz M.I. Muntaka

Chief Saaka Seidu Bakari

Mr. Felix Basing

Abdul Gafaru Nyagsi Fuseini

Ms. Rabiatu Abukari

Alhassan Sumaila Dubie

Ms. Henrietta Zaato Norgah

Ms. Rahinatu Zakaria

Mr. Eugene Yirbuor

Abraham Zakaria

Anastasia Ayuuni

Organizers & Key Partners

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