Mobolaji (Mobo) Akiode – Founder & Executive Director

Only daughter of Lawrence and Christina Akiode and the youngest among 4 children, Mobolaji spent her childhood in Nigeria before moving to the U.S permanently with her family. She used sports as an avenue to assimilate to her new life and also to open up doors to boundless opportunities. As a scholar athlete from Fordham University, she graduated in 2004 with a degree in accounting. Soon after that, she joined the National team from 2004 – 2007.  This gave her the opportunity to compete in the 2004 Summer Olympics, 2005 African Nations Cup, 2005 Common Wealth games, 2006 World Championship, and various club championships. Her basketball career also spanned playing in several clubs in Europe. It is during her return back to her roots that she knew she could help younger girls also see the opportunities through sports to open doors to a successful, well rounded life. After her Stint with ESPN as an accountant from 2007-2009, Mobolaji left her job to build the h4g program. In 2013 Mobolaji was awarded the Everyday hero award by ESPNW/Toyota and was inducted into the Fordham Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014. While managing her H4G, Mobolaji completed her MBA at NYU Stern School of Business in May 2014.

Tunde Akiode – Director of Operations

Tunde graduated from Rutgers University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1998. Then he started his career as an Electronics Packaging Engineer at Lockheed Martin from 1998 -2000. He pursued his Masters in Engineering from University of Michigan graduating in 2003. He later joined Ford Motor Company as a Product Development from 2000 -2005. During his time at Ford Motor, he developed his passion for volunteerism. He became a volunteer physics teacher and volunteer SAT tutor for a Detroit High-school. As a member of the Ford-Adopt-School program, he delivered compelling presentations about the importance of education to middle schools across Michigan. In 2005, he later pursued his MBA from Harvard business School graduating in 2007. During this time, he volunteered his free time to Junior Achievement Massachusetts.  Upon graduation, he took the job as a Sr. Business Analyst at Victoria Secret 2007 – 2009.  Subsequently, he decided to help Mobolaji build Hope 4 Girls Africa.

Kunle Akinkubge – Board Member

Kunle Akinkugbe is a graduate accountant, entrepreneur and keen youth mentor. He has promoted several start-up businesses and takes pride in the many non-profit and non-governmental organizations he devotes time to. He sits on the Board of several private companies, a leading not-for-profit school, is a Trustee of the Youth Business Initiative Nigeria and an alumnus of the Chief Executives Program of the Lagos Business School. Intensely patriotic, Kunle is a keen golfer and art collector. He is currently Managing Director of Alma Stores Limited.

Catherine Bickersteth – Board Member

Catherine Bickersteth is owner of Strategic Educational Advisory Services Ltd, Nigeria. She holds a BSc in Economics, MSc in Management Science and also a PGD in English. In addition, Mrs. Bickersteth is a British Council Certified UK Educational Consultant. Mrs Bickersteth’s varied experiences as a banker, aid worker, tutor and mother provide breadth and depth to the educational counseling she provides to both parents and students when making choices essential to a successful education.

Awuneba Ajumogobia – Board Member 

She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA). Awuneba holds a BSc. in Economics from the University of Ibadan.  She began her professional career working as an external auditor with two global audit firms – Peat Marwick then Deloitte. After several years in practice Awuneba joined Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). During her 13 years with the Accenture, Awuneba broadened her horizons considerably. She left Accenture as Finance Lead after which she worked on the national Vision 20:2020 project as a member of the Accenture consulting team.  Awuneba currently serves on the Board of UAC of Nigeria plc, Board of Trustees Youth Business Initiative (YBI) and sits on the Advisory Board of Ladol (Lagos Deep Offshore Logistics Base).

Ronke Jaiyesimi – Board Member

Ronke Jaiyesimi graduated from Indiana State University, Terre Haute, Indiana in 1986 with a BSc. in Accounting and an MBA with specialization in Accounting from La Salle University, Philadelphia in 1989. She started her post MBA career as an accountant at Arthur Andersen and Co, Philadelphia until 1992.  Recognized as a potential leader, she quickly rose to Client Financial Controller at Andersen Consulting, Los Angeles, a role she held till 1999. After an illustrious career in the United States, she decided to take her talents back to Nigeria as  Head of  Facilities and Services /Marketing Units of Accenture, Lagos  from  1999 – 2005. She later took the role of Head of Facilities and Services of BP Nigeria from 2006 – 2008. In 2009, she became Head of Contracts and Procurements, Business Services BP. Currently, she is Founder /Director of Tip-Top Corporate Apartments Nigeria,  a Short-letting Corporate Housing Organization

Peter Akindele – Team Member

Peter is one of the many staple coaches and mentors for our camps. He works to develop and maintain our after-school basketball programs and Princess Classic initiatives.

Iyabode Yussuf – Team Member

Iyabode runs administrative functions for the H4G organization.