Executive Director at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development, Life Coach, Strategic Analyst 
The Gambia

Oley Dibba-Wadda is the Executive Director at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center for Women and Development (EJS Center). Her role includes management of the Center, oversight, and strategic leadership. She also serves as the Center’s spokesperson and Board Secretary.

She is a social development executive and strategic analyst with over 25 years of leadership and management experience. She is an expert in African and international policies on education, women’s rights, gender equality, and youth development. She is the Founder, President, and CEO of the Gam Africa Institute for Leadership (GAIL). Oley previously served as the Executive Secretary for the Africa First Ladies Peace Mission, as well as the Director of Human Capital, Youth, and Skills Development at the African Development Bank.

Before joining the African Development Bank, Oley was the Executive Secretary of the Association for the Development of Education in Africa – a pan-African Institution hosted by the African Development Bank. Oley also worked as the Executive Director of the Forum for African Women Educationalists – a pan-African organization for promoting the education of girls across sub-Saharan Africa – as well as the Executive Director of Femmes Africa Solidarité – an Africa-wide organization working on women, peace, and security.

Oley has held several management and advisory roles across various international development agencies, including Oxfam Great Britain, the Commonwealth Education Fund, and Concern Universal. She is the current Chair of the Africa Advisory Council of Teach for All and a Global Ambassador for 10X10 and Concern Universal.

A certified life coach, and author of “Memoirs of an African Woman on a Mission,” Oley has over the past 20 years provided coaching and mentoring support on emotional life skills to young people across the African continent. She is a strong advocate and champion for women and youth development in Africa.

Oley is a member of the inaugural cohort of the EJS Center’s Amujae Leaders. In recognition of her exemplary contribution towards human development, she was awarded the Inspiring Woman of Excellence prize in 2012 and the African Woman Leadership award in 2013. Oley was one of the nominees for the 2020 She Awards and the 2017 New African Woman in Education award.