Rebecca Umbur Abanka (She/Her)

Founder, Cheerful Hands Initiative

About Rebecca Umbur Abanka

My name is Rebecca, a dynamic and purpose-drivendevelopment practitioner with a strong commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable growth. Rooted in a passion for social equity, I have devoted my career to working with diverse and underserved communities empowering individuals to unlock their potential and become agents of change in society. I am the Founder and Executive Director of Cheerful Hands Initiative (CHI), a non-governmental organization I established in 2019 to champion the rights and development of girls, women, youths, the elderly, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). Prior to this, I served as the Coordinator of the YALI Network Benue (2020–2024), where I led strategic initiatives to build youth leadership, civic responsibility, and innovation across the state. Through CHI and other community-based platforms, I have led several transformative initiatives in the areas of education, environmental sustainability, health, mental health awareness, gender-based violence prevention, women’s empowerment, and human rights advocacy. My leadership style combines strategic vision with a deeply collaborative approach, allowing me to build and sustain partnerships with government institutions, civil society organizations, and community stakeholders for meaningful impact and currently working with Centre for Conservation Science and Practice (CCSP).

Which category below best describes the type of organisation you currently work for/or run?

Charity/Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO)

Areas of expertise

Education & training Human resources Livelihood, Economic & Moral Incentive Partnerships and collaboration development

Would you be willing to be approached and share your lessons learned in your area(s) of expertise with our community?

Yes

Would you like to be added to the calendar invitation for our monthly WildHub Socials?

Yes

Are you currently signed up for one of our WildTeam training courses? Please select "No" if you are not signed up, or choose the course you are registered for below.

3. Project Planning for Wildlife Conservation

Influencer Of

Recent Comments

Jun 23, 2025

You are most welcomed and we are happy to have you join our community with your wealth of experience and legal background

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