A Nigerian Catholic Nun from the Congregation of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy (DMMM.), Sr. Agatha O. Chikelue is the Executive Director, Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) with the responsibility of providing leadership as well as develop all COFP programs. She has uniquely steered the Foundation through unprecedented period of growth by initiating COFP Fellowship Program and other transformative human development programs for the Foundation. Sr. Agatha is currently the Chair of Religions for Peace International Women’s Coordinating Committee which provides leadership for the Global Women of Faith Network RfP. She also serves as the Co-Chair – Religions for Peace African Women of Faith Network as well as the Co-Chair Nigeria Women of Faith Network.
Currently, Sr. Agatha holds the position of National Coordinator for the Global Network of Religions for Children (GNRC) Nigeria and serves as a Committee Member of AMA – Mensen met een Missie. She previously served as a Governing Council Member of the Nile University of Nigeria (NUN), and as an elected Member of the Ten-Man Steering Committee of the African Union (AU) on Interfaith Dialogue. Additionally, Sr. Agatha worked as a Consultant/Advisor at the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Nigeria.
She has been recognized with the Women Peace Ambassador Award from the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) for her contributions to lasting peace in Nigeria. Recently, Sr. Agatha was honored with the Women of Excellence in Multi-Religious Action Award from Religions for Peace (RfP) for her outstanding efforts in promoting peace, security, sustainable development, and human rights, especially for the most vulnerable, within and beyond her community, through interfaith collaboration and cohesion.
Sr. Agatha holds a B.Sc. in Public Administration from the University of Abuja, an M.Sc. in International Affairs & Diplomacy from Imo State University Owerri, and another M.A. in Peace and Justice Studies from the University of San Diego, California. She is currently a Doctoral Candidate of Conflict, Peace & Strategic Studies at Turkish-Nile University of Nigeria (NUN).