Mission
Depression is one of the leading causes of disabilities, and suicide is a leading cause of death among people between ages 15 and 29 years. Unfortunately, people living with untreated mental health are more likely to experience premature death than people who have access to care.
At CWAAF we recognize that community issues such as social justice, poverty, impacts of politics and policy, economic injustice, conflicts and violence-conflicts and the struggle for self-actualization are all interlinked, and unresolved creates psychological reactions that affects the physical and psychological wellbeing of people in the community. Intrusive and extrusive psychological response arising from psychological stress could potentially affect individuals, family and community as a whole. Unfortunately, the lack of a safe zone in trauma communities has been a major challenge for interventions at the different levels; personal, family and community levels. Our goal is to bridge this gap.
CWAAF’s peacebuilding efforts acknowledge that inter-generational trauma and continuous traumatic stressors are linked and impact intergroup relations. We acknowledge the research that supports childhood trauma impact. We recognize that physical health is tightly connected to psychological wellness and wellbeing as integrated whole.
We approach peacebuilding from the integrated and multidisciplinary perspectives. Trauma communities are assessed holistically and are engaged from physical and mental health perspectives. We recognize that psychological and physical violence negatively affects and overwhelms wellbeing and community functioning.
We take Adverse Childhood Experiences seriously because 4 out of 10 children in Nigeria have experienced childhood trauma that may impact the development.
CWAAF is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Abuja, Nigeria as a nonprofit organization. CWAAF is also registered as a foreign registered nonprofit in Rhode Island, USA to provide and support wellness education to immigrant communities. Our objective is to partner with other organizations through outreach programs in Nigeria and Rhode Island to improve care. We utilize disruptive thinking and research, partnership to improve wellness in our communities. We strive to create individual, family and community resilience through behavior and system change.
We use the research, advocacy, community outreach and grassroots work to disrupt and modify systems to improve individual, family and community conditions. We strive for resilience at the different levels of wellbeing; we are system driven and integrative in approach. We investigate the impacts of systems on wellbeing, and we work with our partners to strengthen systems. We evaluate the impacts of systems on individual, family and community functioning, and use disruptive thinking to promote change.
The President of the Citizen Wellness And Advocacy Foundation (CWAAF) is a trauma expert. He researched Continuous Traumatic Stress (CTS) in Nigeria. Dr. Rashid works in the US in child protective capacity, and has worked in different capacities in the mental health field. Dr. Rashid holds a doctoral degree in Human Services, Masters of Social Work degree from University of Connecticut and Master’s degree in Peace and Conflicts Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He’s interest areas are interventions in continuous traumatic stressors in trauma communities. Continuous Traumatic Stress (CTS) condition and mental health issues Dr. Rashid has managed Ford Foundation, EU and OSIWA funded projects in Nigeria from 2001 and 2007.
Program Coordinator, he is a Reader in the Department of Political Science, University of Ilorin, Nigeria. He has first and second degree in Political Science from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and his doctoral degree in International Studies from University Utara Malaysia (the Northern University of Malaysia).
A legal practitioner. He is an alumnus of Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria, where he obtained Bachelor of Law degree. He completed his law school program in 1996 and earns his LL.M in 2009. He has attended several trainings in New Technologies in Petroleum Exploration & Development at the China University of Petroleum, Beijing, 2011, Terrorism and Counter- terrorism with the Institute of Industrial Security and Safety of Nigeria (IISSN), 2013 and Supervisory Development Program at Dangote Academy, Nigeria in 2015 amongst several other trainings. Mr. Zubair is currently a Contract Management Specialist with Dangote Industries Limited. He is conscientious and meticulous; he subscribes to teamwork; dedication to excellence; ability to understand complex issues and proffer solutions.
Office Manager
He attended Federal Polytechnic, Offa where he successfully completed his National Diplomain Accounting (2005) and proceeded to obtain his Bachelor of Arts (B.A History), from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (2016).
Program Officer - Rafiu Olalekan earned bachelor degree in Adult Education and Political Science from University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. His skills include processes and operations of corporate organization and Non-governmental Organizations National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Emergency Vanguard, and has been with CWAAF Nigeria from its inception.
Board of Advisers
A distinguished scholar, researcher and administrator. He is a professor of Comparative Politics and former Vice Chancellor of Igbinedion University, Okada, Nigeria. As scholar and researcher, he attracted grants for research and led the Ford Foundation-funded Program on Ethnic and Federal Studies. He was Director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Ibadan. As an administrator, professor Osaghae was the Head of the Department of Political Studies at the University of Transkei, South Africa from 1994 and 1998. He was a visiting professor to numerous institutions of learning; a Visiting Professor/Fellow/Distinguished Senior Scholar at the Carter Centre of Emory University USA (1989), University of Liberia (1989/90), Salzburg Seminar, Austria (1993), University of Cape Town South Africa (1994), the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala Sweden (1994), University of Ulster, Northern Ireland (1999, 2000), Northwestern University USA (2002, 2004), University of Cambridge UK (2003), a number of universities and research institutes in India (2005, 2009), Dartmouth College USA (2005) and Yale University USA (2009).
Gender and development professional with experience in women peace and security, gender research, resource mobilization, donor relationship, project management and community mobilization within Nigeria. She has over 15 years’ experience in non-for-profit leadership, working with policy-makers, International development partners, civil society and community-based organizations in sub-Saharan Africa. Ms. Oyekunle is an independent consult for international and national organizations such as Sahel Capital & Partners Advisory Ltd, Mercy Corps, Save the children, Action Health Incorporated, British Council, Cordaid, Global Fund for Children, UNGEI, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
An ardent advocate for gender equality and social justice, Amy is a member of the African Feminist Forum (AFF) and Nigerian Feminist Forum (NFF). She is Vital Voices Lead Fellow (2013), HOW Fund fellow (2010) and Global fund for Children International Fellow (2009).
Amy has a MA in development studies from the University of Leeds, UK, postgraduate diploma in management from the Leeds Metropolitan University and a Bachelor of Science in sociology from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
An alumnus of the University of Ibadan where he obtained a degree in Language Communication Arts before proceeding to the United Kingdom. In the UK, he attended the prestigious City University in London where he obtained a master’s degree in International Journalism. He also obtained proficiency certificate in journalism from the University of Georgia, United States. He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Citigate Communications Limited, in Nigeria. The company offers its services through three subsidiaries namely Citigate Graphic & Printing Machinery Company, Citigate Reprographics Services and Citigate Media Associates. The company enjoys strategic partnerships with foreign global dealers in graphic machinery and has been of service to numerous Nigerian printing and publishing concerns particularly reputable newspaper publishing companies in the country. He was the London correspondent of African Concord magazine and Africa Economic Digest, making numerous contributions to other publications in the UK. He was also a pioneer staff of Nigeria HomeNews in the UK. Under him, the newspaper enjoyed tremendous growth emerging as the most sought-after African newspaper in the UK.
We use the research, advocacy, community and grassroots work to disrupt systems and improve individual, family and community conditions. We strive for resilience at the different levels of wellbeing and therefore systems driven and change focused. We investigate the impacts of systems on wellbeing, and we work with our partners to strengthen systems. We evaluate the impacts of systems on individual, family and community functioning. We use disruptive thinking to disrupt negative hemostasis.
