Originally trained as a barrister in Nigeria, Joe Abah gained extensive experience in the governance sector, working on public sector reform programs for the U.K. Prime Minister’s Office. He has spent more than 10 years managing governance programs in Nigeria for the U.K. Department for International Development, including on the DAI-led State Partnership for Accountability Responsiveness and Capability project.

• Ph.D., Maastricht University, The Netherlands
• M.A., business law, London Guildhall University, United Kingdom
• Bachelor of Laws, University of Calabar, Nigeria

Judith Ogedegbe serves as Executive Director for DAI in Nigeria, responsible for all of DAI’s operations in Nigeria. She started her career with Shell Petroleum Development Company. Having completed her master's degree in human resource management and development, with extensive executive education from the Harvard Business School and London Business School of Finance, she has developed an executive-focused client relationship management style, serving multiple clients and organisations.

• M.A., human resource management and development, University of Manchester

Douye Ikhumi manages the consultancy, contracting, and negotiation aspects of DAI’s work in Nigeria. Additionally, she provides technical services in program design and institutional capacity building to private clients and donor-funded projects. She currently serves as the Capacity Building and Resource Mobilization Advisor to the African Ministers’ Council on Water under the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Water for Africa through Leadership and Institutional Support project. She also serves as a lead consultant and faculty member at the Pan Atlantic University (Enterprise Development Center), where—under the Social Sector Management Programme and the Oxfam Work-In-Progress project—she assists organizations to strengthen their board governance structures and establish process flows for optimal productivity. With extensive experience in coaching, Douye has served as a Mentor for the Young African Leaders Initiative, organized by the West Africa Regional Leadership Centre.

• B.A., French
• Master’s degree, international law and diplomacy

Prior to joining DAI in Nigeria, Esther Adegunle spent five years with Deloitte and PwC. At Deloitte, she worked as a management consultant focused on strategy development, business plan development, business process review, and operational due diligence. As a Senior Industry Analyst at PwC, she developed thought leadership and sectoral reports across the agriculture, finance, and real estate industries. In 2013, Esther founded BeyondaDegree, a foundation that helps university students transition to life after school, and she continues to support the foundation by organizing events for students.

• B.Sc., economics, University of Lagos
• M.Sc., business analytics and consulting, Warwick Business School
• Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA, CGMA)

As Security Manager, Paul Thomson provides direction on issues of safety and security, providing oversight for all DAI programs in Nigeria. In his more than 40 years of operating in the security management sector he has gained a wealth of experience operating in hostile and extreme risk environments in Africa and the Middle East. Prior to joining DAI, Paul served in the British Army and qualified as an instructor at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He spent 16 years in Special Forces and previously worked in Nigeria for two years with development companies.

• U.K. Security Industry Authority qualified—Close Protection and Surveillance
• City and Guilds in Security Management certification, Leicester University

Equipped with a background in economics, Pelumi Joseph has built competencies in finance, investments, and accounting across financial services, telecoms, and the social sectors. Prior to joining DAI, he led Investor Relations at Africa Practice, where he was involved in several landmark transactions including Nigeria’s Eurobond issuance programme between 2016 and 2018 that provided additional fiscal headroom for the Nigerian Government. Over the course of his nearly 15-year professional career, Pelumi has sought to deliver significant impact on people and institutions, which he also seeks to achieve at DAI. As Finance Director for DAI’s Nigeria office, Pelumi is responsible for the strategic financial direction of the business and support to business development and project teams.

• MSc, finance, Imperial College London
• BSc, economics, University of Lagos
• Member, Association of Certified Chartered Accountants

Sadiat Giwa-Osagie is in charge of Human Resources for DAI in Nigeria. With a human resources (HR) career spanning 10 years with consulting and development companies, she is an expert in all HR areas, including talent acquisition, career management, individual performance management, and organizational process improvements. Her work has covered matching people to the needs of firms, organizations, and development programs in the IT, health, governance, and economic growth sectors. Currently, Sadiat also serves as the HR Advisor for the African Minsters’ Council on Water (AMCOW) under the U.S. Agency for International Development’s Water for Africa Leadership and Institutional Support project. Sadiat holds a postgraduate degree in management.

• Associate, Nigerian Chartered Institute of Personnel Management
• Certified Professional in Human Resources Management, HR Certificate Institute

Tosin Adeyanju specializes in operations, working with diverse collaborators to lay the foundation for effective performance by DAI’s corporate and project teams. He is well versed in contract processes, supplier profiling, procurement, project set-up, and office administration. He previously managed consulting, procurement, and logistics services for donor-funded projects and private clients. Earlier, Tosin worked in the private sector as an accounts and new business specialist.

• B.Sc., economics, Obafemi Awolowo University

Virtuous Igbodika manages the delivery of the project portfolio in DAI’s office in Nigeria. Her job entails implementing the head contracts, managing stakeholder relations, and providing strategic advice and technical support across various project teams. She worked for three years in retail banking in Nigeria, giving her a good understanding of the private sector. Before joining DAI, Virtuous worked with the largest UKaid-funded governance project for eight years and led the service delivery, Open Government Partnership, and public financial management component at the federal level.

• B.Sc., economics, University of Maiduguri
• M.Sc., development management, University of Birmingham