People

John Dada, the volunteer CEO of Fantsuam Foundation was born in Jos, Nigeria and obtained a PhD from Ahmadu Bello University, (1989)  and worked there as a lecturer up till 1994. He was a research Fellow at the University of Leeds, UK where he also completed a Masters degree in Public Health. He is a trained nurse and served as a member of the African Stakeholders Network - United Nations ICT Task Force and was chairperson of the African Technical Advisory Committee (ATAC).  

Under his watch, Fantsuam Foundation has done groundbreaking work in growing Nigeria’s rural knowledge economy Nigeria, and this is having significant impact in BayanLoco, Kafanchan and the surrounding villages. FF was established as one of the first rural-based ICT educational institutions in Nigeria in 2000. That year, we were awarded the first Hafkin Africa Prize for our innovative use of ICT. Part of the prize money was set aside to provide scholarships for 10 women to attend basic computer literacy courses at the school. This modest beginning has led to the establishment, of Nigeria's first rural-based, solar-powered Cisco Networking Academy and other ICDL-level courses. The Foundation's achievements has been featured on CNN's Global Challenges Program. BBC World and BBC Africa Service. Dadamac-UK http://www.dadamac.net facilitated his meeting with some stakeholders in Westminster Hub, London, in April 2012 to share his experience.

John’s passion has been the development of a dynamic social protection service for the most vulnerable with support of food security, legal protection, economic empowerment, social welfare benefit and education. A recognition of his efforts was the 2008 Meritorious Award, University of Queensland, Australia. In 2010, he was nominated a CNN Hero. He discusses Fantsuam’s work In The Rosetta Foundation YouTube channel.