Lagos, Nigeria — CorpsAfrica, a pan-African organization dedicated to advancing locally led development through youth volunteerism, is pleased to announce the appointment of four distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors in 2025: Folake Elias-Adebowale, Ezana Bocresion, Vika Shipalana, and The Honorable Carol Spahn.
These appointments come at a pivotal moment for CorpsAfrica as the organization continues to scale its impact across 11 African countries and marks its 15th year of service. The new Board Members bring deep expertise spanning law, finance, climate and carbon markets, brand leadership, global development, and volunteerism—strengthening CorpsAfrica’s governance and strategic direction as it enters its next chapter of growth.
Folake Elias-Adebowale is a Corporate Partner at Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie and a leading authority in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, and energy law. She advises global and regional investors, funds, and corporations across multiple sectors, including agriculture, financial services, energy, infrastructure, and technology. Widely recognized for her legal and regulatory expertise, Folake serves on several industry and regulatory committees and has played a key role in shaping Nigeria’s private equity and venture capital ecosystem. Her appointment brings strong governance, investment, and regulatory insight to the CorpsAfrica Board.
Ezana Bocresion is a senior financial services professional with over 30 years of experience in investment banking, private equity, fintech, and public accounting. He is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Adamas Carbon, LLC, a carbon merchant bank focused on the development and monetization of environmental attributes. Over the course of his career, he has advised on transactions exceeding USD 74 billion and has deep experience working with institutional investors, sovereigns, and emerging markets, including Sub-Saharan Africa. His expertise strengthens CorpsAfrica’s approach to sustainability, climate finance, and innovative development financing.
Vika Shipalana is the Founder and CEO of VS Luxury Group and a seasoned luxury marketing executive with more than two decades of experience leading iconic global brands. She has held senior leadership roles at SABMiller, MTN, and Pernod Ricard and now advises luxury brands and high-net-worth individuals on brand strategy, curated experiences, and lifestyle innovation. Vika serves on several boards and foundations in South Africa and is deeply committed to social impact, hunger alleviation, and philanthropy. Her appointment brings a unique blend of brand leadership, entrepreneurship, and values-driven excellence to the Board.
The Honorable Carol Spahn served as the 21st Director of the Peace Corps, leading the agency through its historic post-COVID global rebuilding and expansion. Under her leadership, thousands of Volunteers returned to service worldwide, and new country programs were launched. Carol has spent her career advancing volunteerism, global development, women’s empowerment, health systems strengthening, and social enterprise across Africa and beyond. She currently serves as Rice Professor of the Practice at the University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of Global and Public Affairs and as Presidential Executive in Residence at Colorado State University. Her deep experience in volunteerism and institution-building closely aligns with CorpsAfrica’s mission and values.
Speaking on the appointments, CorpsAfrica leadership noted that the new Board Members reflect the organization’s commitment to strong governance, global partnership, and African-led development.
“These leaders bring diverse perspectives and global experience that will help CorpsAfrica deepen its impact, strengthen partnerships, and continue championing youth-led, community-driven solutions across Africa,” the organization said.
As CorpsAfrica marks 15 years of impact and looks ahead to the UN-designated International Year of Volunteers, the expanded Board reinforces the organization’s vision of an Africa led by empowered youth, resilient communities, and sustainable local solutions.
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About CorpsAfrica
CorpsAfrica is a pan-African nonprofit that mobilizes and equips young Africans to serve as Volunteers in their own countries, supporting community-identified development priorities. Through volunteerism, CorpsAfrica fosters leadership, strengthens communities, and advances sustainable development across the continent.
Media Contact:
M.K. Richardson,
Chief Development Officer,
CorpsAfrica