User:Abidemi.bank/sandbox/Josephine Effah Chukuwma

JOSEPHINE EFFAH CHUKWUMA is a Nigerian Development Specialist and advocate against domestic violence who founded the first battered women's shelter in Nigeria - SOPHIA'S PLACE. She is the Executive Director, Project Alert. Her commitment to the defense and security of women led to the establishment of PROJECT ALERT in January, 1999.

Project Alert is a non-governmental women’s rights organization set up to promote and protect the rights of women by providing information on all forms of violence, advocating for zero tolerance to all forms of violence against women/young girls; and providing practical support services to female victims of violence.

She has saved a lot of women through her NGO Project Alert. In May 2001, she launched a shelter project known as SOPHIA’S place (the first battered women’s shelter in Nigeria) – a temporary shelter for victims of domestic violence. For eight years, the shelter operated in a rented building. In 2010, Project Alert was able to acquire its own building for its shelter project through funds raised at the Ngo’s 10th Anniversary Shelter Fundraising event in 2009 and funds received from the African Women Foundation, AWDF, Accra Ghana,

Her NGO provides medical assistance to injured female victims through public fund sourcing and also provide legal services to victims.

She worked for a newspaper called The Diplomat until 1992 when she went for her Master’s Degree after which she joined The Constitutional Rights Project, an institution founded by Clement Nwankwo.

She is an English and Literature graduate with a masters degree in Development Studies with Specialization in women from the Institute of Social Studies in The Hague, Netherlands. She is married to Barr. Innocent Chukwuma.

She is a member of a several organizations – •	Lead Consultant – Justice for all (J4A) Programme, Component 1.4 Voluntary Policing. •	President – Our Lady of Apostle Old Students Association. •	Founding Member – Association on Research in Civil Society in Africa, AROCSA. •	Member - Cleen Foundation •	Fellow - Ashoka