About Us

About Us

The establishment of SIRI Behavioural Health (formerly AKPESIRI for Mental Health Users) is about a VISION. It is widely recognised that the second largest non white group in London is Black African closely followed by Black Caribbean. Yet the history of misunderstanding and discrimination continue to disproportionately affect the appropriate mental health and criminal justice services they receive.

At SIRI the individual is validated in terms of others. This basic concepts and value is complemented by emphasis on FAMILY and COLLECTIVE SURVIVAL. The family is a reference point for interconnecting the person to all other family members – past, present and future – and includes relationships based on blood, marriage, and both formal and informal adoption.

The continuous ineffective Eurocentric approaches to the mental health and social care of African and Caribbean people threatens our generation’s future hence the inevitable results of SIRI.

Legal Status

The following legal documents govern the status of SIRI:

• Charities Act 1960
• Companies Act 1985

SIRI HAS A LIMITED BY GUARANTEE STATUS

Our Team

Patrick Mgbeojikwe - Chairperson Accountant
Rev. Jim Ewetade - Clergy & Community Leader
David Hughes - Deputy Chair
Rev (Mrs) Theresa Ayertey - Treasurer
Dr Edwin Sawacha - Project Management
Peter Swaray Mac Jajua - Young People Representative
Lettice Noto - User Representative
Ms Sharon Johnson - Service User Representative
Tony Ogefere JP - Clinician-in-Chief
Mohamed Tayyib-Bah - Civil Servant
Ms Sedia Nallo - Retired Social Worker
Mrs Akpesiri Godwin - Solicitor

Clinician-in-Chief: Dr.Tony Ogefere, JP, Ambassador for Peace

Tony Ogefere, JP, an Accredited Counselling Psychologist and Social Work Practitioner is the founder of holistic counselling. Tony specializes in Dual Diagnosis and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders Management and has been practising counselling since 1978 across three continents taking into consideration the cultural heritage of the service user.

Tony provides supervision, training and consultation to mental health professionals worldwide and is listed in the 2001-2002- 2003 Edition of International WHO’S WHO of Public Service Professionals.

Over the past years, Tony has worked with individuals who have psychological and chemical use problems, as well as with their families.

Tony’s contributions to the development of Children’s Services and Family Assessment and Mental Health have received wide recognition; he has been widely published and awarded the Lifetime Millenium Fellowship as well as the Justice of the Peace by the Nigerian Government. Tony is very skilled with wide experience of Court Reports, Mental Health Act Appeals and has been involved in the preparation of Child Protection Cases and Reports in the USA and UK. Tony is respected for encouraging co-operation and teamwork between professions and facilitated several professional seminars and workshops.

Chairman: Mr. Patrick Mgbeojikwe

Patrick Mgbeojikwe is a chartered Accountant and chartered member of the Institute of Logistics . He is chain director, Chibson Foods and Senior Partner, Chix Logistic Consulting - a supply chain management specialists.

Patrick has an extensive working career in Business, Industry and Public service to include over 12 years with HM Customs and Excise in Excise & VAT administration.

Patrick combines his busy life with charity work. The focus of his recent work has been on Social Responsibility with the aim of demonstrating and enhancing the potentials of ethnic minority communities. He is currently engaged in mentoring with ethnic minority students, City and East London College and actively engaged in Social Responsibility in Islington.

Treasurer: Mrs Miranda Dokubo

Miranda , former director of Economics Development is a graduate Economics and had been the treasurer, S1. Peter's Church of England.

Miranda has been involved with charitable work in various third world countries supporting displaced orphans. Miranda is the Principal Partner of Matinique Concept, export and Import Consortium.

Deputy Chair: Ms Nkiru Egbochukwu

Nkiru is a seasoned Nurse practitioner. With over 30 years of Community Nursing across the board, she established the Luton Primary Care Trust Sickle Cell & Thalaesamia Service from the scratch. The user support group is a beacon of the service.

Nkiru holds a number of positions on charity boards. As a Parent Governor of a sixth form institution, she is remembered for her contributions to equal opportunities and diversity.