Afam Onyema is a Nigerian American-born humanitarian. Born in 1979, he graduated cum laude from Harvard University and Stanford Law School, but declined lucrative corporate law offers to establish and lead the GEANCO Foundation. GEANCO’s mission is to save and transform lives in Nigeria. Since 2007, GEANCO has been leading surgical missions and supports maternal health in Nigeria.
Its unique scholarship program provides tuition, medical care, and social support to young female victims of terrorism. His partners include Oprah Winfrey, Chiwetel Ejiofor, David Oyelowo, Chris Rock, Benedict Cumberbatch, Charlize Theron, and The Oscars.
In recognition of his lustrous and endearing feat, Afam was named to the New Leader Council’s (NLC) “40 Under 40” national list of Emerging Leaders in 2009. NLC seeks out and trains the top tier of emerging young leaders and “political entrepreneurs.” The ’09 list included a US congressman, the state treasurer of Illinois, and a US assistant defense secretary.
In 2012, Afam was named to NBC News’ theGrio.com’s list of “100 People Making History Today”, and Mother Nature News selected him as a member of the Innovation Generation: 30 fresh thinkers helping humanity adapt to what’s next.
Afam has been profiled and/or interviewed by National Public Radio (WBEZ 91.5 Chicago), US News & World Report, Forbes.com, Newsweek, American Lawyer (AmLaw.com), NBC News, Daily Journal, AOL/Patch.com, Blackgivesback.com, Young Lawyer Magazine, JET Magazine, Harvard Magazine, Stanford Magazine and Stanford Lawyer.
Afam has presented GEANCO’s work at Harvard Law School, Stanford University’s Center for African Studies, Stanford Law School, UCLA Graduate School of Business, Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
