The Advisory Committee has been constituted to work with ANEEJ and the East-West Management Institute to undertake advocacy that will lead to the actualization of the NEAT Initiative in Nigeria through the establishment of endowment to fund locally focused, independent, and accountable foundations that will support the work of CSOs in the country.
Ene Obi, Chair
Ene Obi is an activist who served as the Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria until 2023. During her tenure, she worked with local women leaders to challenge power dynamics, increase women’s participation in decision-making processes, and end violence against women and girls. She is known for leading rallies and protests against corrupt practices and injustices targeting youths, women, and girls in Nigeria. One of her notable actions was leading a protest in March 2022 against the National Assembly’s rejection of women’s Inclusion in Governance bills, during which women activists camped at the National Assembly gate for days to demand the passage of the gender bills. Ene Obi is currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Committee of the Nigeria Endowment through Asset Transformation (NEAT) Initiative.
LEDUM MITEE
Ledum Mitee is a Legal Practitioner, former president of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), and former Chairman of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). Hailing from Ogoni in the Niger Delta, Ledum Mitee saw first-hand the impact oil companies had on the environment and the Nigerian people. As a result, he grew up with an acute awareness of justice, which guided him in establishing a career in law. Also, inspired by his friend and fellow activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, he risked his life to raise awareness of the Ogoni plight. “Anything you gain through a quick fix does not leave you fulfilled or inspire others. The same can be said for wealth and material possessions – people don’t remember you for these things in the end.”
Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji
Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji is the Executive Secretary & National Coordinator of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). Orji joined NEITI in 2010 with over 25 years experience working in public service, media, communications, and international development, including the UNDP. Until his appointment as National Coordinator / Executive Secretary, he was the NEITI’s Director of Communications and Advocacy. Orji holds a master’s degree and Ph.D. in Political Economy and International Development from the University of Abuja. He is an alumnus of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford, the International Law Institute, Georgetown University, Washington D.C., the World Bank Institute, the African Development Bank Institute, and the Lagos Business School, among other global institutions.
Andrew Mamedu
Andrew Mamedu is an accomplished and visionary leader with an impactful 23-year career in the fields of project management, resource mobilization, and strategic advocacy within the Development Sector. Until his appointment as AAN Country Director in September 2023, he was the Director, Resource Mobilization and Innovation, and had previously worked in progressively higher capacities within ActionAid Nigeria, towards the realization of the organization’s vision of eradicating poverty and promoting social justice. Overseeing 16 pivotal projects across Nigeria, Tanzania, and Cameroon, he has orchestrated advocacy, research, network building, and policy innovations. He is a graduate of Economics and Statistics and holds a Master’s degree in Political Science. He is currently undertaking a Ph.D. in Political Science (Political Economy). He has undergone several trainings from various institutes in and outside Nigeria. He is a member of the Chartered Institutes of Economics and Strategic Management.
Prof. Eddy Onemolease
Prof. Eddy Onemolease holds a Ph.D. in Agricultural Extension with over 30 years experience in university teaching, research, and consulting. Eddy has strong project/program management skills, is result-oriented, and is experienced in team building and coordination. Eddy has successfully managed USAID-funded activities and has extensive research (academic and consulting) experience having led and supervised several research initiatives, including numerous postgraduate theses, agricultural (food security/livelihood) program evaluation, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA), Human Rights Impact Assessments, project (grant) management, business assessment, and monitoring. Other skills of interest include data management and statistical analysis. Eddy has consulted for international development agencies such as USAID Feed the Future project, DFID, the United Nations (UN) Migration Agency, the Norwegian Embassy, Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), Catholic Relief Services, ActionAid, and International Centre for Agroforestry Research (ICRAF), among others. He has also consulted for private sector firms and state governments.
Hon. Francis Waive
The Honourable Francis Ejiroghene Waive is currently a second-term Member of the House of Representatives and represents Ughelli North/Ughelli South/Udu Federal Constituency, Delta State. As an Accountant, he worked with Oceanic Bank PLC, which Ecobank Nigeria later acquired. He later resigned to become a Minister of the Gospel and founded the Church of the Anointing Warri, Delta State, in 1997, where he served as the General Overseer. Under the All Progressive Congress (APC) Platform, Honourable Waive was elected into the House of Representatives in 2019, serving as the Vice Chairman, House Committee on Power. He was re-elected under the same political party in 2023. Hon. Waive established the Riverine Communities Health and Development Organisation to dispense charity to medically deprived communities within the core Niger Delta region.
Juliet Ibekaku-NwagWu
Mrs. Ibekaku-Nwagwu was Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Justice Sector Reform and International Relations with a focus on international asset recovery and management as well as the use of recovered assets for sustainable development. In this position, she led the negotiation team from the Federal Ministry of Justice and the guidance of the Attorney General of the Federation to recover more than $800 million USD for the government of Nigeria. She has 28 years postgraduate call experience and has worked extensively in the anti-corruption, anti-money laundering, and counter-financing of terrorism sector in Nigeria and internationally. She is also an international criminal law attorney and development expert. Mrs. Ibekaku-Nwagwu has investigated several corruption cases and won an Egmont FIU Award for the Best Case while serving as Director of the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit of EFCC from 2012-2013. She was also instrumental in the removal of Nigeria from the FATF Non-Cooperating Countries or “Grey List” in 2013. She was called to the Nigerian Bar as a Barrister and Solicitor in 1993. She has a master’s degree in international human rights, humanitarian, and criminal law and a postgraduate certificate in anti-corruption studies, investigation, and prosecution of financial and economic crimes. She is currently studying for a master’s in governance and corruption at the University of Sussex, UK.
Monday Osasah
Monday Osasah is the Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD). Mr. Osasah is a capacity building professional and advocate of good governance and open society. His career of over 15 years traverses various fields including manufacturing, journalism, and the nonprofit sector. He trained as an economist and holds a master’s degree in public administration from Delta State University, but has strong flair for journalism. He is a member and fellow of two institutes: the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria and the Institute of Strategic Management Nigeria (ISMN). Before he became the executive director of Centre LSD, he was the Programme Director of Centre LSD. He is married and the marriage is blessed. He loves reading and takes delight in supporting others.
Rev. David Ugolor
Rev. David Ugolor is the Executive Director of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), an NGO based in Benin City promoting good governance and anti-corruption work through research, policy dialogue, education, and advocacy. He has over two decades experience working on anti-corruption work and also has Master Degrees on Agricultural Economics and the Study of Corruption from the Universities of Benin and Sussex. He has made several paper presentations on corruption, Illicit Financial Flows, and Sustainable Development at local and international workshops and Seminars. Rev. Ugolor has participated as a resource person in several UN meetings, facilitated civil society engagement on Open Government Partnership, and currently serves as the Co-Chair of the Anti-Corruption Working Group of the Open Government Partnership Nigeria. He also facilitated the Pre-Global Forum on Asset Recovery consultation in Nigeria and participated in the GFAR panel debate held in December 2017 in Washington DC.