Board
Chairman
Andrew Boff has been a member of the London Assembly since 2008 after a career in local government dating back to 1982.
Andrew is currently the leader of the Greater London Authority Conservatives, and been the author of reports into violence against sex workers, the quality of housing on the Olympic site and overcrowding in London's housing, and is currently writing reports on the African diaspora in London
Andrew serves as the Chairman of the Confirmation Hearings Committee and the Planning Committee and a Member of the GLA Oversight Committee. Andrew is also a member of the Council of Europe.
Emmanuel Finndoro-Obasi
Director of Business, Trade and Investment
Emmanuel Finndoro-Obasi serves as the Director of Business, Trade, and Investment at Africa House London Ltd, where he plays a pivotal role in transforming business operations and trade across various nations. His work focuses on leveraging business as a catalyst for innovation and integrating financial processes to foster a global economy. An expert in international trade with a rich background in foreign diplomacy, Emmanuel has led notable initiatives, including a trade mission to Ghana and Togo in 2018, in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. His contributions to trade policy have also supported the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's efforts.
In 2024, Emmanuel further expanded his influence by serving as a Foreign Observer for the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election, showcasing his commitment to global governance and democracy.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Emmanuel is deeply committed to community service and leadership development. As the coordinator and Head Coach of the Doncaster Community Tennis Programme, he has been instrumental in winning the 2023 Yorkshire and Regional LTA Connecting Communities Award, and was recognised as the LTA National Runner-Up in 2023. His approach to leadership is rooted in value-centred principles, aiming to foster community engagement and facilitate unique leadership development strategies.
Zahara Kayongo
Director & Head of Administration
Zaharah Kayongo is a marketer and business developer specialising in brand visibility and event management. Zaharah coordinates the annual Uganda Trade & Investment convention in the UK. Formerly, Zaharah worked as a Chairperson to the Road to Safety Programme: Implementing the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety in Sub-Saharan Africa, and as a Recruitment Consultant at London Borough of Newham, in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. She also worked with Old Ford Community & Regeneration as well as pioneering a Pilot Project for residents in temporary housing through Skills Match, Canary Wharf for London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Richard Semitego
Director for Government and Public Sector
Richard Semitego is the current Chairman for the Barking Conservative party as well as Election Agent. He is a former member of Conservative Way Forward Organising Committee (June 2015 – September 2016).
Richard is a Co-Founder of AfricaFirst, an Organisation formed in 2011 to unite African in Diaspora to influence; political, social and economic affairs for Africa. Richard also works with a wide range of international organisations on diplomatic dialogues advocating for good Governance and Development in Africa, especially the Great Lakes Region (Democratic Republic of Congo). Richard volunteered with the British Red Cross for six years.
Dimeji Bankole
Honorary President for Nigeria
Dimeji Bankole is the youngest Speaker to have been elected to the Nigerian House of Representatives: elected at the age of 37, Dimeji served as the 9th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2007 - 2011. In Dimeji's term the House of Representatives passed 136 bills, including the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act which ensured that all revenue generating agencies of government present their budgets for scrutiny each year.
He is a politician, a businessman, a proud father and a philanthropist.
Robert Hurley
Board Member, Director Corporate Development
Robert Hurley is an authority on International Trade with more than 35 years’ experience and a member of the Westminster Africa Business Group. Born in Lagos, Robert returned later to Africa to live and work in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin. He was most recently Head of UK Trade & Investment’s London Region International Trade Adviser sector team, prior to which he delivered senior corporate management and board level sales and marketing roles for leading global international consumer electronics and FMCG corporations, visiting and doing business in another 23 markets across Africa. Appointed Regional Director in 1995, Robert opened an office in Abidjan for Samsung Electronics Head Office, a fulfilling experience.
Justice Ishaq Usman Bello
Non-Executive Director and Board Member
A trained Legal Practitioner called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983. Justice Bello has successfully been a Magistrate (of all grades), Legal Adviser, Deputy Chief Registrar (Supreme Court of Nigeria), Judge (High Court, FCT), Acting Chief Judge and Chief Judge of the FCT, Abuja where he ensured that the activities and duties of the court is carried out in a seamless and efficient manner that ensures the smooth administration of justice.
Chairman
Andrew Boff has been a member of the London Assembly since 2008 after a career in local government dating back to 1982.
Andrew is currently the leader of the Greater London Authority Conservatives, and been the author of reports into violence against sex workers, the quality of housing on the Olympic site and overcrowding in London's housing, and is currently writing reports on the African diaspora in London
Andrew serves as the Chairman of the Confirmation Hearings Committee and the Planning Committee and a Member of the GLA Oversight Committee. Andrew is also a member of the Council of Europe.
Emmanuel Finndoro-Obasi
Director of Business, Trade and Investment
Emmanuel Finndoro-Obasi serves as the Director of Business, Trade, and Investment at Africa House London Ltd, where he plays a pivotal role in transforming business operations and trade across various nations. His work focuses on leveraging business as a catalyst for innovation and integrating financial processes to foster a global economy. An expert in international trade with a rich background in foreign diplomacy, Emmanuel has led notable initiatives, including a trade mission to Ghana and Togo in 2018, in partnership with the Westminster Foundation for Democracy. His contributions to trade policy have also supported the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office's efforts.
In 2024, Emmanuel further expanded his influence by serving as a Foreign Observer for the Bangladesh Parliamentary Election, showcasing his commitment to global governance and democracy.
Beyond his professional endeavours, Emmanuel is deeply committed to community service and leadership development. As the coordinator and Head Coach of the Doncaster Community Tennis Programme, he has been instrumental in winning the 2023 Yorkshire and Regional LTA Connecting Communities Award, and was recognised as the LTA National Runner-Up in 2023. His approach to leadership is rooted in value-centred principles, aiming to foster community engagement and facilitate unique leadership development strategies.
Zahara Kayongo
Director & Head of Administration
Zaharah Kayongo is a marketer and business developer specialising in brand visibility and event management. Zaharah coordinates the annual Uganda Trade & Investment convention in the UK. Formerly, Zaharah worked as a Chairperson to the Road to Safety Programme: Implementing the UN Decade of Action on Road Safety in Sub-Saharan Africa, and as a Recruitment Consultant at London Borough of Newham, in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Games. She also worked with Old Ford Community & Regeneration as well as pioneering a Pilot Project for residents in temporary housing through Skills Match, Canary Wharf for London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
Richard Semitego
Director for Government and Public Sector
Richard Semitego is the current Chairman for the Barking Conservative party as well as Election Agent. He is a former member of Conservative Way Forward Organising Committee (June 2015 – September 2016).
Richard is a Co-Founder of AfricaFirst, an Organisation formed in 2011 to unite African in Diaspora to influence; political, social and economic affairs for Africa. Richard also works with a wide range of international organisations on diplomatic dialogues advocating for good Governance and Development in Africa, especially the Great Lakes Region (Democratic Republic of Congo). Richard volunteered with the British Red Cross for six years.
Dimeji Bankole
Honorary President for Nigeria
Dimeji Bankole is the youngest Speaker to have been elected to the Nigerian House of Representatives: elected at the age of 37, Dimeji served as the 9th Speaker of the House of Representatives of Nigeria from 2007 - 2011. In Dimeji's term the House of Representatives passed 136 bills, including the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and Fiscal Responsibility Act which ensured that all revenue generating agencies of government present their budgets for scrutiny each year.
He is a politician, a businessman, a proud father and a philanthropist.
Robert Hurley
Board Member, Director Corporate Development
Robert Hurley is an authority on International Trade with more than 35 years’ experience and a member of the Westminster Africa Business Group. Born in Lagos, Robert returned later to Africa to live and work in Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo and Benin. He was most recently Head of UK Trade & Investment’s London Region International Trade Adviser sector team, prior to which he delivered senior corporate management and board level sales and marketing roles for leading global international consumer electronics and FMCG corporations, visiting and doing business in another 23 markets across Africa. Appointed Regional Director in 1995, Robert opened an office in Abidjan for Samsung Electronics Head Office, a fulfilling experience.
Justice Ishaq Usman Bello
Non-Executive Director and Board Member
A trained Legal Practitioner called to the Nigerian Bar in 1983. Justice Bello has successfully been a Magistrate (of all grades), Legal Adviser, Deputy Chief Registrar (Supreme Court of Nigeria), Judge (High Court, FCT), Acting Chief Judge and Chief Judge of the FCT, Abuja where he ensured that the activities and duties of the court is carried out in a seamless and efficient manner that ensures the smooth administration of justice.
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