Board of Trustees

Esu Bassey-Duke- Chairman, Board of Trustees.

Esu is a founding trustee of Morgan Hill Foundation and he recently joined the staff team on a full time capacity. He assumed the position of Associate Director with the responsibility of coordinating the advocacy campaigns and social welfare programs of the Foundation. He is also required to implement strategies and systems to grow internal capacity, strengthen our processes, and expand stakeholder engagement and the scope of the organization’s footprint.

He came on board after a commendable banking career spanning over 13 years serving in notable Financial Institutions including Standard Chartered Bank and Oceanic Bank amongst others. He worked in critical segments such as Investment Banking, Corporate & SME (Commercial) Banking and Financial Control.

In his early career, he gained cognitive and practical experience working as a Research & Program Officer for a leading gender focused non-profit organization. Esu was directly involved in the development and implementation of critical gender advocacy campaigns, such as the “Domestication of Beijing Conference on Women Rights at State & Federal Levels”. He also worked on the campaign to increase the “Participation of Women in Politics” e.t.c.

He brings this combined experience to bear in the attainment of Morgan Hill’s intervention services and programs.

Etinyin Bassey-Duke- Grand Patron, Member Board of Trustees

He is a Traditional Ruler & Clan Head in Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross-River State. A trained Archaeologist from the University of Birmingham, HRH Bassey-Duke was a seasoned bureaucrat, serving meritoriously at various government establishments until his retirement as the first Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development in Cross-River State.

He was a one-time Director of the National Commission for Museums & Monuments and also at the Unified Cross River State Local Government Civil Commission. He also served as the Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Technology, Cross-River State.

In his role as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Welfare, HRH Etinyin Bassey E. Bassey-Duke was instrumental in the domestication of the Child Rights Act in Cross-River State, as well as the creation of Childs Right Unit within the Ministry, (in compliance with provisions of the Child Rights Act), to oversee adoption activities in Cross River State.

He brings a wealth of skills and experience to Morgan Hill and provides senior guidance to the Foundation’s programs especially our adoption law reform aspirations in other States.

Ms. Ini Isang- Secretary, Board of Trustees.

Ini Isang is a field geologist working in an Abuja based firm.

Utibe Bassey-Duke- Member, Board of Trustees

Utibe is the foundation’s Program Director and coordinator of all adoption matters. She is pioneer of Morgan Hill Children Foundation. MHCF was birthed from her long standing concern for abandoned and vulnerable children.

She holds a post graduate diploma in Social Works from the University of Ibadan and has spent the last 10 years working in various capacities as a care giver, adoption consultant, and child advocator in Cross-River, Akwa-Ibom, and Lagos State. She has undergone extensive trainings in Child Psychology, Parental Counseling, Child Care & Protection, First Responder Treatment, and Homestudy Reporting services.

Utibe has personally supervised the adoption of over 40 adoptions to various counties Such as Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Spain, Italy and now the United States and Canada. MHCF uses this wealth of experience to perpetuate its adoption services as well as its project programs around Nigeria