Leadership with a record of moving governments.

Chinwe Umeh-Ujubuonu

Team Lead — Government and Partner Relations

Chinwe Umeh-Ujubuonu is Team Lead for Government and Partner Relations at Human Capital Africa, where she leads engagement with governments and partners across Africa to strengthen Foundational Learning systems through data-driven policy and institutional collaboration. She oversees HCA’s Model District Initiatives and manages high-level coalitions. She leads and coaches a multi-country team, builds relationships with senior government officials and partners, and drives high-level advocacy that advances policy reform across the region.

With a background spanning finance, HR and public sector administration, she has supported the design of tools like the HCA Scorecard and provided technical support to ministries of education across multiple African countries.

Santos Akhilele

Senior Associate

Santos Akhilele is a Senior Associate at Human Capital Africa, where he supports governments and partners across Africa to strengthen Foundational Learning through data-driven policy, accountability and implementation. With a background in data science, he has supported the design and deployment of education data systems, including government-led scorecards and monitoring frameworks that translate evidence into action. His work spans policy engagement, analytics and implementation support across multiple African countries, with a focus on improving learning outcomes at scale.

Outside of his professional life, Santos represented the Nigerian national Taekwondo team for over half a decade and later served as a national coach. He is also an avid wildlife and nature photographer.

Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack

Strategic Advocacy Lead

Adaora Onyechere Sydney-Jack is the Strategic Advocacy Lead at Human Capital Africa, where she leads communications and advocacy strategy, amplifying the importance of Foundational Learning across Africa. She supports high-level convenings with governments, stakeholders and partners through transformational storytelling and research-led policy engagement, collectively shaping the understanding of Foundational Learning through an innovative media approach.

With a background in Broadcast Journalism, Creative Writing and International Relations and Policy Communications, she has led the development of high-level policy communication strategy for governments across Africa, and designed and implemented regional integrated communications solutions using a multidimensional media approach. She is a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Chartered Administrators.

Outside her professional life, Adaora is a distinguished speech therapist, body language expert and two-time Toastmasters International Champion. She has featured in numerous global policy dialogues, including the UN Women Roundtable on Generation Equality, Nigeria-Nordic Connect, the Conference of African Speakers and the British High Commission’s SheLeads Series.

An accomplished creative, Adaora is a spoken word artist, author of the bestseller Women, X and Power, and a podcaster with her own podcast, Issuez Unfiltered, on YouTube. She is also an acrylic painter whose works — Serendipity, Scepter and Anghuli (Happiness) — reflect her passion for leadership, resilience and human advancement, an avid cricketer, and the Ambassador for the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s women’s cricket.

Eunice Chirwa

Associate

Eunice Chirwa is an Associate at Human Capital Africa, where she supports evidence-based advocacy, policy dialogue and strategic partnerships to advance Foundational Learning across Africa. With experience in education policy, programme management and stakeholder engagement, she works with governments, development partners and regional institutions to strengthen education systems and translate evidence into action.

Her work includes supporting the design and implementation of high-level engagements, policy dialogues and accountability initiatives that promote improved learning outcomes for children. She also contributes to project coordination, knowledge management and strategic communications, helping to foster collaboration and inform education policy and practice across the continent.

Passionate about improving learning outcomes, Eunice champions the use of data, evidence and partnerships to drive sustainable education reform. She is committed to strengthening systems that ensure every child acquires the foundational literacy and numeracy skills needed to thrive.

Amal Matovu

Associate

Amal Matovu is an Associate at Human Capital Africa. She supports governments and partners to strengthen education systems through data analysis, policy research and accountability initiatives that improve Foundational Learning outcomes.

Her work focuses on translating evidence into actionable insights, supporting district and national education reforms, developing monitoring and accountability frameworks, and facilitating data-driven decision-making. She has worked closely with ministries of education and local government leaders to strengthen education governance and promote sustainable system improvement.

Amal brings a multidisciplinary background in international development, human rights and data science. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global and Area Studies from Michigan State University, a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Rights Law from the University of Edinburgh, and a Certificate in Computer and Data Science through the MIT Emerging Talent programme.

Kah Walla

Board member

Envisioning a better life for the people of Africa, Edith Kahbang Walla — more popularly known as ‘Kah Walla’ — is a Cameroonian politician, entrepreneur and social activist. Her philosophy revolves around building inclusive systems that reflect an individual’s integrity and dignity, while being a staunch advocate of grassroots reforms and movements in Africa, particularly focused on creating inclusive communities and protecting the rights of women and youth. Globally she is recognized for her deep understanding of Africa’s development issues and her expertise in strategy and management, through her 24-year-old leadership and management firm STRATEGIES!, which works across five continents. She was also the first woman ever in Cameroon to run for the presidency.

HCA welcomes her onboard and is excited to witness how her problem-solving skills and exceptional leadership capabilities will help steer HCA towards achieving its vision.

Erastus J. O. Mwencha

Board member

Erastus has a dream of a regionally integrated Africa to resolve its development woes. He was appointed Secretary General of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) from 1998 to 2008, where he played an instrumental role in establishing COMESA as the first regional body to achieve the status of a ‘Free Trade Area’. After being elected deputy chairperson of the African Union Commission in 2008, Erastus played a significant role in supporting continental development in Africa while enhancing the capacity of its institutions.

At HCA, Erastus will embolden the organization’s resolve to inspire governments and policymakers in Africa to collaborate with HCA in order to resolve Africa’s educational challenges at a regional level.

Trevor Manuel

Board member

Trevor is recognized as one of the world’s astute advocates for the developing world. He holds the accolade of being South Africa’s longest-serving Finance Minister, having served under four different Cabinets, and has spearheaded widespread initiatives and reforms to fundamentally transform South Africa. Under his stewardship South Africa entered its longest period of growth ever, and he is considered Africa’s most respected finance minister.

HCA is honoured to have a person of his stature on our board. He will leverage his immense first-hand experience, and expertise in implementing successful interventions, to achieve HCA’s vision of providing quality FLN education to the youth of Africa.