Onome Ako is a distinguished international development executive
with over 15 years of leadership experience driving transformative
programs across Africa and beyond. She currently serves as the Chief
Executive Officer of Action Against Hunger Canada, where she
leads the organization’s strategic direction, strengthens operations,
and fosters innovation in maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent
health and nutrition. Under her leadership, Action Against Hunger
Canada—part of the global Action Against Hunger International
Network—continues to advance solutions that tackle hunger, gender
inequality, and the complex crises facing vulnerable communities.
Onome’s professional journey spans several leading development
organizations, including World Vision Canada, Amref Health
Africa, AfricaRecruit (a Commonwealth program), and
UNESCO’s Regional Bureau for Education in Africa. Her work
has impacted over 15 countries, focusing on community-led
initiatives, policy reform, and inclusive development. Her ability to
navigate global health, humanitarian, and governance systems has
positioned her as a respected voice in the development and social
She holds a B.A. in English from Obafemi Awolowo University, an M.A. in International Affairs and
Diplomacy from Ahmadu Bello University, and an M.Sc. in Management of NGOs and Social Policy from
the London School of Economics. Onome also chairs the Board of the Canadian Partnership for Women
and Children’s Health (CanWaCH) and serves on the Advisory Committee for the International
Development Program at Centennial College. In recognition of her influence and impact, she was named
among the 2020 Canadian Women in Global Health.
Deeply inspired by her family’s legacy of entrepreneurship and community service, Onome brings to her
leadership a strong belief in practical, people-centered problem-solving. Growing up in Nigeria, she witnessed
her mother’s entrepreneurial resilience and her father’s commitment to community wellbeing—values that
shaped her career in global development. Her father’s act of providing clean water to the community through
a self-funded tap installation remains a lasting symbol of local innovation and collective good principles that
continue to guide Onome’s approach to leadership.
Taking the helm of Action Against Hunger Canada amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Onome demonstrated
entrepreneurial agility in steering the organization through a time of compounding global crises. She describes
her approach as “entrepreneurial humanitarianism”—an adaptive, solutions-oriented mindset required to
confront interconnected challenges such as food insecurity, conflict, climate impacts, and gender inequality.
For Onome, fighting hunger is more than delivering food—it is about addressing its systemic causes. She
advocates for holistic interventions that integrate nutrition, water and sanitation, psychosocial support, and
community empowerment. Her leadership emphasizes collaboration, inclusivity, and trust-building,
recognizing that sustainable change depends on engaging communities as partners in their own development.
As a Board Member of Women in Mining Initiative (WIMIN), Onome brings her expertise in inclusive
governance, institutional strengthening, and gender equality to the mining sector. Her global perspective and
experience in empowering women and communities make her a vital contributor to WIMIN’s mission of
advancing women’s participation, leadership, and sustainable practices in Nigeria’s extractive industries.