Our CEO

DAME EMMANUELLA ABIMBOLA FASHOLA

A Champion of Empowerment and Social Impact

I am Dame Abimbola Emmanuella Fashola, born into the Ojo Ibadan family in Ibadan, Oyo State. I am Secretary, Administrator, and above all, a passionate advocate for positive change.

For 19 years, I contributed significantly to cultural exchange and education in various roles at the British Council in Nigeria.

As the wife of the former Governor of Lagos State, we built four recreation centres, providing spaces for leisure and community engagement and pioneered the first Retirement Recreation Centre in Lekki, Lagos—a haven for retirees.

As a positive change and purpose-driven humanitarian, advocate and programs designer, I champion quality education for all, fight HIV/AIDS stigmatisation to promote understanding and empathy, promote eradication of poverty by addressing its root causes and advocate for a sustainable planet.

Beyond my role as First Lady in Lagos, we established the Leadership Empowerment and Resource Network (formerly Lagos Empowerment and Resource Network) to empower high school and college students with vocational and entrepreneurial skills. The NGO also runs parenting seminars on sustaining family values. I also operate a food bank through ELLA Cares for the less privileged.

I serve on the boards of several charities. Notable are Sarah Adebisi Sosan Foundation (SAS) a foundation Impacting lives through education and healthcare; Go-Forte, an environmental foundation committed to sustainability; Federal Nigeria Society for the Blind, Advocating for visually impaired individuals.

I am also the President of the Nigerian Girl Guides Association: An international program empowering young girls in Nigeria.

My hunger for knowledge takes me to conferences and seminars globally.

Humbled to mention that my contributions have earned me recognitions from all over the world and notably from His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI.

To conclude, I invite volunteers, partners, sponsors, and donors to join our mission and vision at LEARN. ‘‘Together, we can amplify youth engagement and empowerment in our communities’’.

Thank you.

Abimbola Fashola (Founder, L.E.A.R.N)