Kafia Naleye is a passionate Social Worker and Human Rights Activist currently serving as the Director of Planning and Institutional Development at the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs (MOJCA), Somalia. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the University of Nairobi.

Kafia is a dedicated advocate for gender equality, human rights, and inclusive governance. In her role at MOJCA, she leads strategic planning and institutional development processes, ensuring that policies and programs are people-centered and responsive to the realities of Somali communities. She has a proven record of empowering marginalized groups, advancing gender-inclusive policies, and strengthening organizational systems to deliver sustainable impact.

Her expertise extends to institution-building and social justice in fragile contexts, reinforced by her experience as a member of the steering committee of the EU-funded Somalia Joint Justice and Corrections Programme (JJCP). This initiative supports the development of a Somali-owned, people-centered justice system that bridges formal institutions with community-based solutions.

Kafia’s background in rebuilding institutions and advancing social justice in Somalia provides her with a unique perspective that strongly aligns with United Front Africa’s work in Northeast Nigeria. Her experience demonstrates how people-centered approaches, gender-inclusive reforms, and community-driven justice systems can transform fragile environments.

Dr. Harisu Abdullahi Shehu holds a Ph.D. in Artificial Intelligence from Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, where he is currently a Researcher in the School of Engineering and Computer Science. His work applies AI to real-world challenges, including environmental monitoring, plant disease detection, and climate-resilient agriculture.

He has led multiple sustainability initiatives, including two global leadership projects that developed proposals aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs), both earning commendation awards. He has also contributed to projects delivering innovative, low-cost solutions to enhance food security and strengthen community resilience to climate change.

Dr. Shehu has secured competitive grants, including the Nigeria AI Research Grant and IEEE conference grants, supporting research at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and societal impact. He remains committed to advancing initiatives that foster climate adaptation, technological innovation, and community empowerment.

Dr. Buhari Lawan Muhammad is a marine biologist and bioinformatician with a passion for environmental sustainability, scientific innovation, and youth empowerment. He currently serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher at SangMyung University in Seoul, South Korea, where he investigates harmful algal blooms and the evolution of toxin-producing genes in response to environmental stressors.

Dr. Muhammad holds a Ph.D. in Marine Biology from SangMyung University under the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS). His research integrates bioinformatics, molecular ecology, and climate-related transcriptomics to understand how aquatic organisms respond to ecological change. His work contributes to early-warning systems and sustainable marine resource management.

Beyond academia, he is a committed science communicator and mentor. Through the Gamji Educational and Mentorship Forum (GEMF), he supports young Africans in accessing global education and research opportunities. Dr. Muhammad is also passionate about using science and technology to inform climate adaptation, especially in vulnerable communities.

Imam is a Ph.D. researcher in Sustainable Development and Climate Change at the University School for Advanced Studies (IUSS), Pavia, Italy. His doctoral research focuses on high-resolution modeling of climate change and its socio-economic impacts in the Alps. With a background in Geoinformation Technology (MTech, FUTA), Imam brings a decade of experience in environmental analysis, climate modeling, and spatial data science.

He has worked as a Technical Officer (GIS) with Command Risk Plus-NIRSAL PLC and as a Research Assistant on flood resilience and climate adaptation projects in Nigeria. He has expertise in remote sensing, GIS, and climate modeling. His research contributions include peer reviewed publications on desertification, flood risk, and spatiotemporal climate anomalies.

Imam have taught GIS and remote sensing courses at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and have received multiple grants, including from USAID and the Lake Chad Basin Commission. He is passionate about science-policy integration.