Team Profile

Executive Director | Tel: +27 12 6634062 Ext 11 | Email: gracian@itoca.org

Gracian began his career in the world of electronics engineering in 1987 and worked as a Computer Engineer for 3 years in Zimbabwe. By 1994, he found himself in the marketing and distribution of highly sophisticated industrial electronics on a regional scale in Southern Africa. His passion for marketing led him to pursue a career in the field, qualifying as a Chartered Marketer and graduating with a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from Thames Valley University (UK) in 2000. He took charge of the sales and marketing division of Africa Online (Africa's leading ISP) from 1997 to 1999.

He, in March 1999 successfully pioneered Africa's outreach and training in the use of TEEAL which has taken him to almost every part of the continent. His passion for the use of agricultural scientific knowledge via the electronic media has seen him devoting his life, heart and soul to bridging the digital divide that separates Africa from the rest of the world. Gracian, current member of the HINARI-AGORA management team, has been an invited participant in international, regional and national-level policy meetings that address information capacity building in Africa.

Senior Programme Officer | Tel: +27 12 6634062 Ext 14 | Email: vimbai@itoca.org

A vibrant young man with 12 years experience in the field of Library and Information Science. He holds a BA in Media Studies, MSc in Library and Information Science and a host of other specialized courses. Vimbai is involved in planning, organizing and conducting of workshops as well as implementing outreach and support for Research4Life programmes, TEEAL and PROTA. To date he has been involved in facilitation of many workshops in different countries.

His working years have seen him through the University of Zimbabwe Medical School Library, Zimtrade ( Zimbabwe's export promotion body), Ministry of Agriculture's Central Library and Africa University Library before joining ITOCA. He played a pivotal coordination role in the provision of agricultural information to Zimbabwe's Agricultural Research Centres falling under the Ministry of Agriculture and has first hand experience on constraints faced by researchers in Africa.

At the Pan-African Africa University where he doubled as Agriculture and Health Science Librarian he helped set-up the agriculture and health collection and was heavily involved with the promotion and training of use of e-resources for research, learning and teaching.

Finance and Administration | Tel: +27 12 6634062 Ext 15 | Email: magda@itoca.org

Magda Jansen has an extensive background in bookkeeping for the last 35 years. She has received training in the financial sector and specifically at Audit Firms, since 1974. She has a passion for creative bookkeeping and creating systems that enables the company to do bookkeeping without any difficulty.

Assistant Programme Officer | Tel: +27 12 6634062 Ext 13 | Email: sailas@itoca.org

Sailas holds a BSc. in Library and Information Science (Hons) from the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) and is currently studying for a Masters Degree in Development Communication with the University of Pretoria. He first came into information capacity building work when he joined ITOCA in 2004 as an intern. He has been involved in the outreach and training for Research4Life programmes, TEEAL and PROTA in the region. His research interests include knowledge management, ICT for development and training.

"I believe it is only through education and training of knowledge that is current amongst men that can cause the powers latent in the mind to be revealed and enable the individual and others to benefit therefrom."

Assistant Programme Officer | Tel: +27 12 6634062 | Email: blessing@itoca.org

Eradication of poverty and suffering in the world is one of the vision and ambition that Blessing is working at through the provision of agricultural, health and environmental sciences information. She is a dedicated young lady who holds a Bachelor of Science Honors degree in Library and Information Science and is currently studying towards a Masters in Development Communication. Blessing has a passion for the use of new ICT tools and is involved in the training and outreach for Research4Life programmes, TEEAL and PROTA.

Secretary | Tel: +27 12 6634062 | Email: mercy@itoca.org

Mercy holds an HND in Secretarial Studies and is currently studying towards a BSc Information Sciences with the University of South Africa (UNISA). She has been working as a Secretary for the past 12 years. Mercy joined ITOCA in 2006, before then she worked for Patex Medical Supplies, Ledwidge Enterprises and Bramhope Holidays and Tours. She strongly believes one can keep up-to-date with changes happening in the information age through "Lifelong Learning".

ITOCA East Africa Representative | Tel: +254 726334230 | Email: pamela@itoca.org

Pamela holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics from the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart, Germany. She has done outreach and training on TEEAL and Research4Life programmes in East Africa since 2006. Before joining ITOCA as the Representative for the East Africa region, Dr. Marinda worked as a lecturer at Masinde Muliro University of Science & Technology in Kenya. At ITOCA, Pamela is working within the framework of the "Scientific Information for Agricultural Education in Africa project".

She believes that it is important to empower researchers, faculty and students with the essential skills that would enable them to maximise on the benefits that AGORA, HINARI, OARE and TEEAL offer. In turn, this will contribute to enhancing the quality of research, training and education in SSA and other developing regions of the world.

Administrative Assistant | Tel: +254 726334230 | Email: dora@itoca.org

Dora holds a Diploma in Front Office Operations from Dima College in Nairobi Kenya and is currently pursuing for an Advanced Diploma in Community Development & Project Planning at Premese Africa Development Institute. Before Dora joined ITOCA, she worked for a local Women organisation called KEPAWAE (Kenya Professional Association for Women in Agriculture and Environment) based at the University of Nairobi, Kabete Campus as an Assistant Program Officer. Dora joined ITOCA in August 2009 as an Administrative Assistant.

ITOCA West Africa Representative | Tel: +234 8023256354 | Email: dele@itoca.org

Fawole is the ITOCA Representative in West Africa. He has done outreach and training work for TEEAL program in West Africa for the past six years and has visited virtually all countries in the sub-region.

Fawole obtained his B. Sc. (Agric.) (Hons.) degree in 1972 from the University of Ibadan (UI), Nigeria. He proceeded to Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, U. S. A. for postgraduate studies immediately after graduation from UI and he obtained the M. S. (Plant Pathology) and Ph. D. (Plant Nematology) degrees in 1975 and 1977, respectively. He is currently a Professor of Nematology in the Department of Crop Protection and Environmental Biology, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.

Assistant West Africa Representative | Tel: +234 8023256354 | Email: biodun@itoca.org

Dr. Cole is involved in the outreach and training for Research4Life programmes, PROTA and TEEAL in the West African Region.

She is a lecturer at the University of Ibadan in Nigeria

IT Administrator | Tel: +263 4 744611 | Email: chipo@itoca.org

Chipo is a Bachelor of Business Management and Information Technology graduate from Catholic University in Zimbabwe. She is a new generation IT specialist who posseses a unique mix of experience, knowledge and skills and she joined ITOCA as an IT officer in 2008.

In William Pollards' words Chipo thinks "Information is a source of learning. But unless it is organized, processed and available to the right people in a format for decision making, it is a burden, not a benefit". Chipo is based at the ITOCA Office in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Administration Officer | Tel: +263 4 744611 | Email: asalia@itoca.org

Asalia Beans holds a Bachelor of Technology in Business Studies (Honours) Degree. She joined ITOCA in October 2007, as a Financial Administrator. She also plays an important role in the promotion and follow-up of TEEAL in Zimbabwe. Her job includes organising and facilitating workshops for TEEAL.