The Leadership

Founder & Executive Chair

With over 24 years of experience, practising in South Africa and Australia, Dr. Willard Bepete is a distinguished Orthopaedic Surgeon whose career blends medical excellence with a deep commitment to Africa’s socio-economic advancement.

As an entrepreneur and visionary leader, he is dedicated to empowering African communities. In his capacity, as Founder, Director and Executive Chairman of ADRF (Africa Diaspora Revival Fund), Holding Company, Dr. Bepete is spearheading initiatives driving economic self-sufficiency.

ADRF develops and finances sustainable strategies that Africans can use to invest in transformative sectors like agriculture, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, creating employment, revenue, and transformation that has a positive impact on Africa and the World at large.

Dr. Bepete’s upbringing on his grandparents’ farm instilled in him the resilience and discipline that fuel his success. Through ADRF, he is committed to collective progress, ensuring Africans and their allies fund initiatives that drive lasting impact. His leadership is anchored in wisdom, faith, discipline, and the belief that “Yes, Africa Can.”

Director

Dr. Koffi is a healthcare expert and dentist with over 20 years of experience, a committed Pan-African, and a staunch advocate of economic empowerment.

His extensive knowledge and experience working on political, social, and economic initiatives across West and Central Africa combined with his experience living and working as a healthcare professional in Côte d’Ivoire, France and the United States, has given him a keen understanding of the critical need for adequate funding in achieving sustainable development in Africa.

As a co-founder and Director at ADRF, he is keen on mobilizing Africans and the diaspora to finance solutions that drive sustainable development and long-term impact in Africa. His leadership ensures that ADRF is more than just another funding platform; it is a movement for self-reliance, economic independence, and Africa’s prosperity.

Director

Dr. Julia Ugorji, DNP, MSN-Ed, RN, is an accomplished nurse leader with extensive experience in healthcare management and academic administration. She has held key leadership roles, including Associate Dean and Chief Nurse Administrator at Metropolitan State University and Dean of Nursing at North Hennepin Community College.

 Her leadership in the Nigerian nursing community and dedication to healthcare equity have earned her prestigious awards, including the U.S. President’s Lifetime Achievement Award, and uses her influence to drive excellence in nursing, leadership and global healthcare advancement.

 Currently, she is an Assistant Professor at Southwest Minnesota State University, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare professionals, and an external advisor to the Minnesota Governor’s Office. As a Fellow of the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program, she is a vocal advocate for addressing racism in nursing, contributing similarly to the American Nurses Association’s efforts in this regard.

At ADRF and ADRC NPC, Dr. Ugorji serves as Head of Advisory, helping to ensure that projects financed by ADRF NPC are progressive and inclusive, particularly in the fields of management, education, and healthcare.

Director

A renowned and passionate risk practitioner with extensive knowledge amassed through working for the Africa subsidiaries of Standard Chartered Bank Plc (a reputable International Financial Institution) for over 30 years. The areas of focus were wholesale, corporate and consumer banking businesses in West and Southern Africa.

After leaving the employ of Standard Chartered Bank has been providing advisory services, as a consultant, to Banks and Asset Management Companies in Central, West and Southern Africa, on risk management and good governance principles. Have also become an expert in training on Credit Risk Management for Banks.

For the past one and half years have been providing advisory services to ADRF on the documentation of a number risk management policies including that on the principles of good governance.

Director

Dr. Ayiku is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (FCCA, UK) and holds an MBA from the University of Warwick (UK), a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Ghana, and an Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration (Banking & Finance) from Commonwealth University Business School (UK).

Throughout his career, he has held senior executive roles including Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Finance Director, and Vice President. As CFO of the Consumer Banking Group at Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, he provided financial leadership across 40 African markets, driving strategic growth, governance, risk management, and operational transformation.

In addition to his executive career, Dr. Ayiku has extensive board leadership experience as a Board Chair, Trustee, and Non-Executive Director. He is passionate about strengthening governance, transparency, accountability, and sustainable institutional development across Africa.

Director

Catherine Nyaga-Mbithi is a seasoned governance, risk, audit, and finance leader with over 20 years of experience across Financial Services, Manufacturing, Investments, and Humanitarian sectors in Africa and Europe. She serves as Board Director and Chair of Audit and Risk Committees in several Boards in Africa and United Kingdom.

An MBA graduate, CPA-K, GradIRM, Cybersecurity Certificate holder, and GRI Certified Sustainability Professional, Catherine is passionate about strengthening governance, developing future leaders, and driving sustainable impact. She is also an ICF Certified Coach, mentor, and co-author of The Way She Leads.

As a member of ADRF, Catherine believes deeply in Africa’s potential to improve the livelihoods of its people. She is inspired by ADRF’s vision and three strategic pillars, which she sees as a powerful platform for creating self-reliance, economic empowerment, and sustainable transformation across the continent. Driven by a strong belief in the African dream, she is committed to supporting initiatives that deliver lasting impact for future generations.

Director

Elizabeth Kamau is an innovation, technology, governance, and agribusiness leader with over 15 years of experience providing strategic leadership in ICT, project management, digital transformation, policy development, risk management, business management, and corporate governance across research institutions, diplomatic missions, and international non-governmental organizations. She holds a Bsc Degree. in Computer Technology, an (MBA) in Strategic Management, and is a PRINCE2 Certified Project Management Practitioner and ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library), reflecting her commitment to excellence in strategic leadership, project delivery, and organizational performance.