Open Society West Africa, Gets New Head
The Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), has appointed Ms. Ayisha Osori as its new head.
Osori who was appointed Executive Director of the OSIWA Foundation is expected to resume work on September 4, 2018.
With her appointment as the Executive Director, Senegalese scholar, author, and OSIWA board member Ms. Felwine Sarr takes over as board chair, while the board member from Sierra Leone, Ms. Mariama Anthony-Williams, emerges as the vice chair of the foundation.
The President of the Open Society Foundations, Mr. Patrick Gaspard, in a statement yesterday, commended Osori for being in the forefront on the fight for good governance, gender equality, women’s economic and political empowerment, and ending violence against women.
Gaspard noted that Osori who also serves on the board of directors of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund, has a deep knowledge of OSIWA, having served as board chair for the past three years. "We are honoured to have the leadership of the next chapter of OSIWA’s work in Ayisha Osori’s capable hands.
“She has already built an impressive legacy of work on a wide variety of issues of concern to Open Society in the region, and she always puts the advancement of women’s rights at the fore. I look forward to partnering with her to advance our work and our values throughout West Africa,” Gaspard said. Speaking shortly after her appointment, Osori said, promised to use the platform to promote good governance, human rights and equality.
“I can’t wait to get started. OSIWA has been at the forefront of civil society’s work across West Africa, and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help lead its efforts to promote democratic practice, economic advancement, equality, justice, and human rights; and to work with some of the smartest and most committed people in the region and the world," she said.
Osori is a lawyer, development consultant and communications strategist, who has worked in both the public and private sectors in different capacities.