Our Leadership Team
Photo coming soon…
Olabode (Sam) Toriola
Founder & Executive Director
Sam Toriola founded Spora Network in 2020 after returning to Nigeria for the first time in over 15 years and witnessing firsthand the challenges facing rural schools. What began as a simple school renovation effort in his hometown of Ado-Ota, Lagos, has grown into a global nonprofit connecting diaspora expertise with community-based education initiatives across Africa.
A data strategist and policy analyst by profession, Sam brings over a decade of experience leading data analytics, program assessments, and policy modernization for federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education. His approach to education reform is grounded in evidence-based strategy, local empowerment, and sustainable development.
Sam leads Spora’s global vision, partnerships, and program strategy, mobilizing diaspora professionals, educators, and donors to invest in Africa’s next generation through learning, leadership, and technology.
“Spora was born from the belief that the diaspora isn’t just a community abroad, it’s Africa’s greatest untapped resource for transformation.”
Mr. Lukman Lere
Mission Chief, Nigeria Operations
As Mission Chief, Mr. Lukman Lere Toriola leads Spora’s operations on the ground in Nigeria. A respected community leader in Ado-Ota, he has long been a champion of local development: building boreholes for clean water, constructing school latrines, and improving community health and education access long before Spora’s founding.
Mr. Lere oversees project implementation, community engagement, and infrastructure development, ensuring that every Spora initiative reflects local priorities and delivers measurable impact. His hands-on leadership keeps Spora deeply rooted in the communities it serves.
“Change begins where people are, and our mission is to meet them there.”
Photo coming soon…
Mrs. Feyishade Makinde (nee Akinwale)
Akoore Director of Staff Professional Development
Feyishade “Shade” Makinde is a respected educator and program manager with decades of experience in adult education, leadership development, and public service training. Mrs. Shade brings a strong background in curriculum design, organizational development, and statewide workforce training. She leads program design, evaluation, stakeholder coordination, and professional development initiatives that strengthen service delivery across the state.
With Masters degrees in Adult Education and Public Administration, and extensive experience in instructional design, diversity training, and leadership coaching, Mrs. Shade is committed to building equitable learning environments and helping professionals thrive in their roles.
She is known for her integrity, compassion, and ability to transform complex systems into clear, effective programs that uplift both teams and communities.
“Education is where dignity, opportunity, and community all begin.”
Khala Smith
Strategic Organizational Consultant & Financial Advisor
Khala is an African-American woman born and raised in Maryland (Susquehannock & Piscataway Land) where she is currently residing with her husband Sam, two kids, and two fur babies, Hoshi and Maya.
Khala serves as Spora Network’s strategic consultant, shaping the organization’s vision, outreach, and engagement strategies. With expertise in nonprofit communications, organizational design, and donor relations, Khala helps position Spora as a trusted voice in diaspora-led education development.
She supports program design, storytelling, and partnership development, ensuring that Spora’s impact is not only felt but clearly seen and shared across global platforms.
Khala is a systems thinker and healing advocate with a Master’s in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, Bachelor’s in Family Studies and Community Development, and is a certified full-spectrum doula. She values having a holistic, person-centered approach to her work while incorporating intergenerational healing and racial justice. She brings attention to the intersection between our inner and outer worlds, understanding that it is essential for growth and expansion.
“Spora connects hearts, minds, and resources to bridge communities through purpose.”