Our Team

Chair

Born on the twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Maurica’s motivation for wanting to upkeep culture and knowledge was evident at a young age. Maurica was first introduced to CCACH as an AfroQuiz Contestant and then as a tutor while attending university.

As Vice Chairperson of CCACH, her mission with the organization is to integrate her first-hand experienced Caribbean heritage, with the values of a well-established organization; all whilst living the Canadian “village” life.

Vice Chair

Jyening is a mother of 2 beautiful girls who are 8 & 10. She has a degree in Psychology and worked for the City of Edmonton, in the Office of the City Clerk, for 17 years before making the transition to the non-profit sector.

She has a podcast on Mental Health in Canada, called Or So She Thought, and is passionate about living a life of significance. Jyening is the Treasurer for her kids Out of School care Society, is a children’s church teacher at her church, and in her free time, she loves to paint, create in the kitchen, travel/go on adventures with her partner and their kids, and read in the sun (she loves the sun!).

She is currently reading Atomic Habits and You Should See Me in a Crown, and one day hopes to, as her 8 year old puts it, make millions to donate to all the hospitals.

Executive Director

Olami is a proud mother of a spirited 13-year-old daughter, she draws inspiration from both motherhood and her diverse background—her mother immigrated from Jamaica, and her father from Nigeria—instilling in her a deep passion for community and advocacy.

With over 20 years of experience in accounting and entrepreneurship, Olami has worked as an auditor at the Canada Revenue Agency and has successfully run her own modern accounting and Indigenous business consulting firms. She holds certifications in PROSCI Change Management and APMG International, with expertise in evaluating operational models, assessing risks, and managing projects effectively.

In recognition of her dedication and contributions, Olami was honored with the 2016 Afro Canadian Heroes Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award. This achievement continues to fuel her commitment to advancing and empowering the community.

Treasurer

Femi first came to CCACH as a tutor in 2019. She is a registered member of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA). Femi is great with numbers and this led that lead her to the role of Treasurer. In her spare time, she enjoys writing, watching movies, and learning the guitar.

Secretary

Chinyere holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and is completing her second Bachelor’s in Nursing. With six years of experience as a grade school teacher, she now contributes her skills and dedication to Alberta Health Services.

Passionate about promoting diversity and equity in healthcare, Chinyere is deeply committed to positively impacting her field. A devoted mother of three and a 2022 Ujima Fellow with the Africa Center, she balances her professional pursuits with quality family time and active involvement in volunteer work.

Board Member

Sibona (pronounced phonetically) immigrated to Canada at 19 and received incredible support from community organisations that helped her adjust to her new home. That experience showed her how these groups can have a significant impact in someone’s life and inspired her to want to help others.

Sibona joined CCACH in 2020 and is excited to get involved with the amazing work they do. She is passionate about cultural literacy, equality and access to justice issues. Her passion for the latter is the reason why she joined the legal profession. Sibona enjoys reading and travelling during her spare time.

Board Member

Born and raised in Ghana, Alfred moved to Canada in 2014 to pursue graduate studies in applied economics. He has worked in various data and research roles over the last 7 years, both at the provincial and municipal levels.

Outside of government work, Alfred loves to volunteer to support his communities here and back home. He has a strong passion for supporting organizations to measure their impact and value, including using approaches like social return on investment (SROI).

In his spare time, he enjoys watching football (soccer) and analyzing data from different sports.

Board Member

Anthony brings over 13 years of experience working in the public sector at the federal, regional and provincial levels. He currently works as the Director, Affordability with the Government of Alberta. He has also spent over 10 years volunteering in the non-profit sector, where he has designed and implemented various community-based initiatives with organizations such as Kin Canada and The Council of Canadians of African and Caribbean Heritage (CCACH).

He holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology from York University, and an MBA in Community Economic Development from Cape Breton University. His research interests are focused in digital ethics and governance leveraging the third sector.

Board Member

Born and raised in Nigeria, Abdulhakeem moved to Canada in 2023 to pursue a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta. He has a long-standing passion for promoting STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) among youths, a cause he has been dedicated to for years before relocating to Canada.

In 2024, Abdulhakeem joined the board of CCACH, where he is thrilled to be part of a family that is committed to inspiring and making a significant impact in their community. In his spare time, he enjoys listening to music and visiting the gym.

Board Member

Nelson Dakurah is a Policy Coordinator with the Government of Alberta. He has a BA in Political Science and MA in Policy Studies from the University of Alberta.

Former Treasurer

Mesgana Tesfamicael has been involved with CCACH since 2017, involvement grew when she took the position of Treasurer. As a certified accountant and her professional experience as a Senior Accountant at multiple industries provided the foundation required to encounter the role.

“Being at CCACH for over 5 years has been a rewarding challenge and experience, got to see it evolve and appreciate how those changes were used to better serve our communities. Value the experience and personal growth learned during CCACH.”

In her spare time enjoys spending time with her family and friends. Also has a passion for travel, culture and is always on the verge of planning her next trip somewhere around the world.

Lead Tutor

Over the last decade, she has been passionate and dedicated to community advocacy work, as well as contributing to the success of community-based organizations.

Tutor

Anjolaoluwa, is a final year student at the Alberta School of Business. She majors in Finance and minors in International Business. She has held two previous roles as a Teaching Assistant and as the VP Academic, for the University of Alberta’s Black Students’ Association.

Tutor

Thabiso-Joy Vela (Tah-vee-so). She is a third-year Civil Engineering student and a sprinter on the Pandas varsity track and field team at the University of Alberta.She is passionate about building a better future and thrives on competition. When she is not on the track or in the classroom, she enjoys playing competitive games with friends and family, and having silly conversations—like, are boneless chicken wings just chicken nuggets? Always up for a laugh and a good challenge!

Tutor

Sarah is a third-year student at the University of Alberta. She is in Secondary Education, majoring in physical sciences and minoring in math. She is excited to provide her students support and guidance in their academic journey, and finds joy in building meaningful connections.

Tutor

Alison is a student at the University of Alberta, studying Psychology and Human Geography. She is of Jamaican and Guyanese descent and in her free time she loves to cook and enjoy music. She is excited to support and connect with students to make their academic journey easier.

Tutor

Blessing is a third-year elementary education student at the University of Alberta. If she isn't at school studying or tutoring, she works on her photography business or within the academic or cultural community. Most evenings, you can find her at church, trying out new restaurants in the city, or learning a new recipe off of social media.  She is so excited to share the love of learning with the students this year, to see them grow in their knowledge and be just a small part of their academic growth. 

Tutor

Olivia is currently a student at the University of British Columbia. She has always loved her connection and involvement with the black community in Edmonton, so she decided to become an online tutor to keep in touch with home. She loves seeing her students and connecting and learning together each week.