African Stages

Board of Directors

Comfort Adesuwa Ero

Comfort

Comfort was raised in a Nigerian Bini chief's household, where tradition and culture are passed on to the child by the ever-present grandparents, uncles, aunties and cousins who all live within the same household. Comfort has learned and told folktales and songs ever since she learned to talk. Her vivacity in this regard prompted her parents to send her to school in the city. She studied languages and drama and became a teacher at a time when it was very unpopular in Africa to send girls to school. She has over twenty years of experience as a classroom teacher and principal in Nigerian and Canadian high schools and colleges.

  • Academic qualifications: B.A. (French); Postgraduate Diploma in Education; Master in Education; BC certified teacher.
  • Comfort is currently the artistic director of Zibota Moonlight Theatre and African Stages Association of BC.
  • Profession: Teaching, Storytelling and Social work
  • Member of: BC College of Teachers, Puente Theatre, Vancouver Society of Storytelling, Victoria Storytellers' Guild, Board member Collingwood Neighbourhood House.

Achievements and Awards:

  • Victoria Christian Writers' Association short story contest - A Christmas journey
  • YMCA/YWCA nominee for Arts and Culture
  • First prize for La Fuite, a French novel, and for Kerike the Cricket in a literary competition organized by the Association of Nigerian Authors
  • Featured on Vancouver Society of Storytelling CD project: How Music came to the World and other stories
  • Recent Publication: Children's Fiction - Kokodiko: The Dance Monster.

Patrick Onyeukwu

Patrick
  • Attended Ashesi University, Ghana from 2004 to 2006
  • Member Ashesi University Student Council from 2005 to 2006
  • Moved to Canada in 2007 and graduated from Simon Fraser University Business School in 2009
  • Member Business Administration Student Society at Simon Fraser University
  • Enjoys playing soccer and travelling

Joe Okhinameye Ehizode

Joe
  • African Canadian of Nigerian descent
  • He has a bachelors degree of Arts from University of Ile Ife, Nigeria and a post graduate diploma in journalism
  • Practised journalism in Nigeria for 9 years before immigrating to Canada
  • Owned and managed Good Legs Shoes company, a major shoes retailing company in Vancouver
  • Currently directs and manages projects under Ozzidi Media Inc.
  • Married, with three lovely children.

Amos Mubunga Kambere

Amos
  • Ugandan/Canadian
  • Former Head of Business Education Department at Kigezi High School, Uganda
  • Member of Ugandan Parliament from 1980 to 1985
  • Lived in Congo - Kinshasa 1988 to 1991
  • Immigrated to Canada 1992, and started working for Canada Post Corporation in September, 1992.
  • Studied Business Management and Leadership at BCIT 2003/2004
  • Founder and President of Umoja Operation Compassion since 2002 now based in Surrey B.C. Married for 28 years and has 4 adult children

Profile of Osakue M. Ukponrefe

Amos
  • Canadian of Edo – Nigerian descent
  • Has a Bachelor Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Diploma in Counselling.
  • Has worked as a Crude Oil Drilling Engineer, Marketing Engineer, Logistics and Transportation Engineer, Retail Manager, Investment Advisor, Recruitment and Employment Counsellor
  • Founding member of Edo Friends of British Columbia Association of Canada.
  • Currently work for the Government of Canada.
  • Lives with his wife and four children (Two Boys and Two Girls) in Langley near Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.