Welcome to the Vanguard of Global Public Service Transformation
In a world where public institutions are expected to be more agile, inclusive, transparent, and technologically advanced than ever before, the International Civil Service Conference arrives at a historic moment for Nigeria and its global partners. Taking place on 25–26 June 2025 at Eagle Square, Abuja, this inaugural gathering promises to be a game-changer in how governments build, manage, and deliver for the people they serve.
Hosted by the Federal Government of Nigeria, the conference brings together some of the brightest minds and most experienced reformers from across the globe—visionaries from government, business, and international organisations who have shaped the future of civil service in their own countries, and who now converge in Abuja to share their insights.
With a focus on performance, innovation, trust, and leadership, the event sets the stage for vital conversations around how civil services must evolve to meet 21st-century challenges. It offers a rare opportunity for Nigerian civil servants, policymakers, and technocrats to engage with international counterparts, exploring what works—and what doesn’t—in the dynamic world of public sector governance.
Attendees will have the opportunity to customise their experience, taking part in everything from high-level keynotes to interactive panels and closed-door roundtables. Whether the focus is on talent development, digitalisation, cross-sector collaboration, or restoring public trust, the International Civil Service Conference promises deep insight, robust debate, and powerful inspiration.
Below are some of the distinguished speakers who will be lending their voices to this landmark occasion—leaders whose careers, ideas, and experiences exemplify the principles of excellence in public service. These are the men and women helping to define what the future of governance looks like.
Their profiles offer a window into the minds shaping reform—not just in Nigeria, but across continents. As you read, we invite you to reflect on how their stories might illuminate your own path forward in public service.
Let the conversation begin.
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Didi Esther Walson-Jack
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Nigeria
Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who was appointed the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation of Nigeria in August 2024 after 33 years of public service, began her career in the Civil Service as a State Counsel in the Rivers State Ministry of Justice, Nigeria.
In a career that has seen her traverse the Public Service of two States, two arms of government, and ultimately, two tiers of government, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack stands out as the only person in Nigeria to have served a State Government in the Offices of Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice; Deputy Chief of Staff; Hon. Commissioner of Science and Technology, and Manpower Development; and Chief of Staff, all in the service of the people and Government of Bayelsa State. Mrs Didi Walson-Jack joined the Nigerian Federal Civil Service in 2009 and rose through the directorate ranks before being appointed a Permanent Secretary in 2017. She served as Permanent Secretary of the Service Welfare Office in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), the Ministries of Niger Delta Affairs, Power; Water Resources and Sanitation, Education; and the Special Duties Office in the OHCSF.
Mrs Walson-Jack holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of Lagos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1987. Her expertise in Legislative Drafting and her certification as a Mediator, Conflict Resolution and Peace-building practitioner has been brought to bear on her work in the Civil Service.
She is a Member of Nigeria’s prestigious National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (mni). In 2023, she was awarded Nigeria’s National honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON).
Mrs Walson-Jack is the author of one of the best-selling books, “Roses in the Thorns”, an autobiography and a true story of resilience and the triumph of faith over adversity.
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Dr Joe Abah, OON
Vice President and Country Director, Nigeria, DAI
Dr Joe Abah is an expert in governance and institutional reforms, political economy analysis and change management. His academic and professional interests focus on how organisations can overcome daunting institutional constraints and still deliver their mandates, and how societies can shape their institutions, traditions and governance practices to achieve beneficial development outcomes for their citizens.
Between 2013 and 2017, Dr Abah was the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Service Reforms in the Nigerian Presidency. His work as Director-General shifted the focus on public service reform efforts in Nigeria away from only the public service and on to the public itself. This laid the foundation for improvements in citizen-facing services such as passport administration, national identity management, tax administration and drivers licensing.
Before his appointment as Director General in 2013, Dr Abah led several international development programmes for various donors, including the creation of the Abuja Enterprise Agency that has supported more than 73,000 Nigerians to start businesses, 90% of which are youth. Prior to returning to Nigeria from the United Kingdom in 2003, he was at the forefront of governance reforms in the UK, including driving public service reforms from the Prime Minister’s Office of Public Service Reforms in the UK Cabinet Office.
Even out of government, Dr Abah continues to contribute to governance improvements in Nigeria and around the world. He was on the Presidential Steering Committee on Digital Identification and contributed to the development of Nigeria’s National Development Plan 2021-2025. In 2025, Dr Abah was nominated into a Presidential committee to review the operations of the National Youth Service Corps.
Dr Abah’s expertise is in demand across the world. In November 2022, he joined the faculty of the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University to train the new government of Brazil that took office in January 2023. He was also the 2023 Keynote Speaker at the M.I.T. ‘Africa Innovate Conference’ in April 2023. In December 2023, he was appointed a Visiting Fellow of Practice at the Blavatnik School of Government at Oxford University.
Dr Abah is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, and a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. He holds a Ph.D. in Governance and Public Policy Analysis from Maastricht University in the Netherlands and has certificates in Behavioural Science from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and in Finance for Executives from the London Business School.
In May 2023, he was awarded the National Honour of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) for services to public service and national development.
Dr Abah is currently Vice President/ Country Director for Nigeria for DAI, a global development company that works with a range of clients in more than 100 countries.
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Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi (KIA), CCIE
DG/CEO, NITDA, Nigeria
Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi (KIA), CCIE, is a distinguished technology architect and transformational leader with 20 years of experience in digital transformation across the public and private sectors. As the DG/CEO of NITDA, Nigeria’s leading IT regulatory body, KIA is driving Nigeria towards becoming a digitally empowered nation.
Under KIA’s leadership, NITDA is implementing an AI strategy to enhance regulatory effectiveness and drive productivity, cost savings, and efficiency across Nigeria and Africa. Key initiatives include the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL) programme, aiming for 95% digital literacy by 2030, and the Nigeria Startup Act, which has boosted Nigeria’s tech ecosystem and attracted more investment.
KIA has also led transformative programmes like the Three Million Tech Talents (3MTT) initiative, preparing Nigerian youth for global competitiveness, and established over 648 IT centres nationwide. His commitment to online safety is evident in the development of the Code of Practice (CoP) for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries.
A strong advocate for data protection, KIA’s work at NITDA led to the establishment of the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC) and improved accountability in IT governance through the IT Project Clearance programme, saving the Nigerian government over ₦312 billion. He is also guiding NITDA’s Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2.0), outlining key pillars for Nigeria’s digital future.
KIA’s leadership has earned him numerous accolades, including the African Achievers Award, the ISACA Global Inspirational Leadership Award, and the Nigeria Excellence Award in Public Service for Digital Innovation.
Before NITDA, KIA served as a Technology Architect at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and held roles at Galaxy Backbone Ltd. He holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, and has completed executive education programmes at MIT, Harvard, Cambridge, and Oxford.
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James Folusho Kayode Abiona
CEO, JFK Abiona Consultancy Ltd
James Folusho Kayode Abiona, fondly known as JFK, is a distinguished peak performance consultant and entrepreneurship coach. As the CEO of JFK Abiona Consultancy Ltd, he empowers individuals and organizations to discover their core competence, bridging the gap between their current state and desired level of success.
Key Strengths:
- Transformational speaker, writer, and resource person
- Change agent with a passion for excellence, knowledge, and core values
- Articulate, disciplined, and multitalented life coach
- Dynamic and focused approach to personal and organizational growth
Areas of Expertise
- Helping individuals and organizations achieve peak performance
- Guiding prospective retirees through a smooth transition
- Supporting young school leavers in creating job opportunities
- Facilitating the return of Nigerians in diaspora with a seamless transition
Impact
JFK’s work is driven by a strong vision to positively influence individuals and organizations, fostering growth and transformation. His expertise and dedication have made him a trusted catalyst for change, empowering others to reach their full potential.
Clients: United Nations Senior Staff Association, Julius Berger, Transcorp Hilton, Office Of Head Of Civil Service Of The Federation, Chevron, Rivers State Government to mention a few.
Family: Happily married for 27 years and blessed with five children. They live in Abuja.
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Otunba Bimbo Ashiru
Chairman, Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Nigeria
Otunba Bimbola Ashiru was born in Ijebu-Ode to the illustrious Ashiru family. His father, late Pa Simeon Adeyemi Ashiru, was a distinguished Ijebu statesman while his mother ‘Omo’ba (Princess) Moradeun Ashiru, is from the Fidipote royal family of Ijebu Ode and the ruling house of Owu-Ijebu.
He is well read, graduating with a degree in Marketing, Purchasing & Supply, and a Masters’ Degree in Strategic Management. With this background, he entered the services of the then Chartered Bank in the year 1989. In a successful career that has spanned over three decades and taken him to various institutions, he has served in various capacities of Management (Head, Private Banking Unit; Branch Manager; Head, Institution & Professional Banking; Regional Coordinator; Country Director, Personal and Business Banking; Director, Corporate Affairs and Corporate Social investments; until his last position of Group Head, Public Sector with Stanbic IBTC Bank. He was the pioneer head of the department.
Otunba Bimbola Ashiru is a man with a desire for developing people around him, and this translated into his appointment as the representative of the Awujale of Ijebuland on the Ijebu Development Initiative on Poverty Reduction (IDIPR). He has distinguished himself in this field and represented his people favorably to the best of his ability. He was also on the Technical and Communications Committees of the 17th Nigerian Economic Summit (2011).
He is a member of The Metropolitan Club, Ikoyi Club 1938 and a member of the Ijebu Heritage Group and Ijebu Renaissance Group. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors.
Otunba Ashiru is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers [FCIB]; Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria; National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria [FNIMN] and Chartered Institute of Commerce of Nigeria.
In recognition of his selfless service to society and having distinguished himself as a true son of Ijebu land and an astute banker of repute, Otunba Bimbola Ashiru was presented with the royal
title of Otunba Adeona Fusigboye of Ijebu land in December, 2006 by His Royal Majesty, The Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebu Land, Oba (Dr.) Sikiru Kayode Adetona CFR.
He is a recipient of numerous awards, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to society and his people. These include but are not limited to: Best Commissioner of the Year 2015, Most Outstanding Commissioner, Awards forService Excellence, Ijebu Man of the Year.
He was the Honorable Commissioner for Commerce and Industry in Ogun State, serving two terms between 2011-2018.
Under his stewardship, the business environment of the state developed beyond imagination with over 1, 279.84% increase in internally generated Revenue of the State. Over 300 factories / companies established their presence in Ogun State with a cumulative investment profile of about N691.77 Billion in 2014, compared to N377 Billion in 2013. This placed Ogun State in first position in Nigeria, according to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria. During his time, approximately 75% of Manufacturing Foreign Direct Investment into the country between 2011 – 2016 came into Ogun State.
Also, during his tenure the World Bank Group, in its Doing Business in Nigeria 2014 Report, ranked Ogun State as one of the best five States in term of ease of doing business against the 36th position in its 2010 report. He also facilitated the creation of a One-Stop Shop Investment Center (OSSIC) which sits within the Ministry of Commerce & Industry to assist potential investors with procedures for investment and documentation processing.
Otunba Bimbola Ashiru is the Chairman of Blackcod Asset Management Group, Director Africa Private Sector Summit and Director OGC Foods and Beverages Ltd. (Lasena Water).
He is currently the Chairman of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, a conglomerate jointly owned by the six southwestern states of Nigeria. He joined the Board in May, 2020.
Otunba Bimbola Ashiru is happily married to Olukemi Ashiru, a lawyer, and they are blessed with two lovely children.
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Thomas Beautyman
Deputy Director, Government Digital Capability, Government Digital Service, United Kingdom
Thomas joined the Cabinet Office in 2021, in the new Central Digital and Data Office, and is responsible for transforming how Government grows capability in digital and data. This including attracting, recruiting and building digital expertise, through to developing the many leaders in government who have specialism in other domains, but increasingly need digital and data confidence to deliver. Thomas moved to the Cabinet Office from DWP Digital, having joined Government in 2019 from BT where he led workforce planning, apprenticeships and learning transformation.
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Siobhan Benita
Event Moderator, Global Government Forum
Siobhan was a senior civil servant in the UK with more than 15 years’ Whitehall experience. She worked in many of major delivery departments, including Transport, Environment, Health and Local Government. She also had senior roles at the heart of government in the Cabinet Office and HM Treasury, including supporting the then Cabinet Secretary, Lord O’Donnell, to lead work on civil service reform and strategy. Siobhan left to run as an independent candidate in the Mayor of London election. She subsequently joined her alma mater, Warwick University, as Chief Strategy Officer of Warwick in London and Co-Director of the Warwick Policy Lab.
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Kevin Cunnington
Former Director General, Government Digital Service (GDS), United Kingdom, and Expert Advisor, Global Government Forum
Kevin was Director General of the International Government Service and Digital Envoy for the UK from August 2019, until April 2021. Prior to that, he was the Director General of the Government Digital Service from August 2016 to July 2019. Kevin left the UK Civil Service in April 2021.
Kevin has led a variety of large scale, and global, digital transformation programmes. He spent his early career in programming and IT consultancy. More recently he was the Global Head of Online for Vodafone Group and Business Transformation Group Director General at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Kevin now advises Global Government Forum, and leads the Global Government Digital Leaders’ Study.
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Kachollom Shangti Daju, mni
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Kachollom Shangti Daju, mni, is a distinguished public servant whose career exemplifies excellence, dedication, and leadership in Nigeria’s public sector. Beginning her journey as an Information Officer at the then Federal Ministry of Information (now Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation), she steadily rose through the ranks, attaining the position of Director (Information) in 2019.
Her expertise in public relations and communication strategy was further demonstrated in her role as Director of Public Relations and Protocol at the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture. In April 2022, she was appointed a Federal Permanent Secretary by President Muhammadu Buhari and deployed to the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. She now serves as the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping Nigeria’s health policies and governance.
With degrees from the University of Jos and Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Daju has held key positions, including Press Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development, Head of the Heart of Africa Project a national image initiative and Board member of the Nigerian Film Corporation. She currently sits on the Board of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control as well as National Post Graduate Medical College Of Nigeria respectively.
Her professional affiliations include the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), the Advertising Regulatory Council of Nigeria (ARCON), and the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria (ISMN), where she is a Fellow. She is also an alumna of the prestigious Senior Executive Course 43 (SEC’43) at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru.
In recognition of her contributions to national development, she has been honored as an Honorary Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College of Pharmacists.
Kachollom Shangti Daju’s career is a testament to resilience, strategic leadership, and unwavering commitment to public service, making her a role model for Nigerian women aspiring to break barriers and excel in their chosen fields.
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Joy Dariye
Country Director, Nigeria, Tony Blair Institute
Joy leads the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) in Nigeria. The Institute leverages the experience of its Executive Chairman, Sir Tony Blair, Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to support political leaders in over 40 countries around the world. Her role involves establishing effective delivery structures in the Presidency for their priority initiatives including the establishment of a National Digital Farmer Registry. Additionally, she leads a team dedicated to helping a State Governor at the subnational level translate his vision into tangible benefits for the community.
Before her current role, Joy played a key part in founding and heading the Agricultural Delivery Unit in the Office of the Vice President during the previous administration. This effort resulted in the enumeration of over 6 million smallholder farmers, enabling the federal government to disburse subsidies exceeding $12 billion.
Joy has also had the privilege of collaborating with development partners such as Adam Smith International, USAID, Gates Foundation, and Dalberg. She began her career at Goldman Sachs in London and holds a Master’s degree from the London School of Economics (2015) and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Warwick (2010).
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Innocent Fred Ejolu
Portfolio Advisor, United Nations Development Programme
EJOLU is a strategic and results-driven development advisor with over 25 years of experience spanning government, the United Nations, academia, and global development think tanks. Currently serving as Portfolio Advisor at UNDP Nigeria, he provides strategic leadership in aligning UNDP’s programming with Nigeria’s national priorities and is leading the Integrated Smart States Programme to strengthen subnational leadership in regional development, economic diversification, and long-term prosperity, peace, and resilience.
EJOLU has held senior roles across UNDP Country Offices in Nigeria and Uganda, including as Team Leader for Inclusive Growth and Innovation, Partnerships, and Institutional Effectiveness. He has driven high-impact initiatives such as the Makerere Innovation Pod under UNDP’s flagship timbuktoo Initiative for Africa – an effort currently being scaled to numerous public universities in Nigeria, the AfCFTA MSME competitiveness, and UNDP’s development policy advice, digitalization, innovation, financing, governance, inclusive growth and resilience strategies and programmes in East and West Africa.
As a Senior and later Principal Policy Advisor in Uganda’s Cabinet Office and the Office of the Prime Minister, EJOLU played a pivotal role in national policy coordination, institutional reform, and delivery of government priorities. He led the establishment of Uganda’s Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit and steered the creation of the Cabinet Office Department of Policy, embedding policy analysis and evaluation systems across government. He coordinated high-level government engagement with the private sector through the Presidential Investors Roundtable and represented the Office of the Prime Minister on the National NGO Regulatory Board. He also served as Advisor to the Governing Board of the Uganda Red Cross Society.
EJOLU has contributed to development thought leadership as a Research Fellow with ECDPM in the Netherlands and taught graduate-level courses in public policy design and analysis at Uganda Management Institute and Uganda Christian University. He holds a Master of Science in Public Policy and Human Development (specializing in Globalization, Trade, and Development) from Maastricht University, and an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Economics, majoring in Agricultural/Rural Economics from Makerere University.
His professional ambition is to shape and strengthen institutional capacity, innovation ecosystems and knowledge partnerships to accelerate and scale inclusive, resilient, and future-fit development across Africa.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/innocent-f-ejolu-34a47316/
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Ahmed Ladan Gobir, FCIPM, fnli
President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria
Board Member, African Human Resource Confederation
Mr. Ahmed Ladan Gobir is currently the President & Chairman of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria. Nigeria’s only regulatory body Chartered by an Act of the National Assembly to regulate the practice of Human Resource Management in Nigeria. He is a highly skilled, dedicated and licensed HR Professional and Corporate Lawyer with over 35 years hands on experience in both the public and private sector. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, a Master of Business Administration (MBA) specialising in Management and a Bachelor of Laws (LL. B). He is a Barrister & Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
He has worked in the public and private sector for over 35 years starting his career in the public service as a Personnel/Industrial Relations Officer in 1985 with the Ajaokuta Steel Company Ltd and rising in the private sector to the position of Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Crittall-Hope Nigeria Ltd in 2013 after serving for 12 years as General Manager & Company Secretary/Legal Adviser.
In 2018, he joined the Dangote Cement Plc Group which is the biggest cement group in Africa and the largest employer of labour in Nigeria outside the Government. He is currently Group General Manager/Strategic HR Business Partner for the Commercial & Anglophone Subsidiaries of Dangote Cement Plc overseeing and providing strategic human resource leadership and support to the 6 Anglophone Country Subsidiaries of:
Dangote Cement Ethiopia PLC
Dangote Cement Ghana Ltd
Dangote Cement Sierra Leone Ltd
Dangote Cement South Africa
Dangote Cement Ltd Tanzania
Dangote Cement Zambia Ltd.
In this capacity, he had also served as HR Advisor at Dangote Cement Ltd Tanzania (2019), HR Advisor at Dangote Cement Ethiopia Plc (2021) and HR Advisor at Dangote Cement Zambia Ltd (2022).
Mr. Gobir is a former Honourable Commissioner for Commerce, Industry & Co-operatives and member of the State Executive Council. He had at various times served on the Boards of various companies, State and Federal Government parastatals and committees as Director and Board Member acquiring extensive corporate and boardroom experience over time. Some of these include:
Member National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC), Federal Ministry of Labour, Nigeria
Member Governing Board, National Bureau of Statistics
Member National Steering C’ttee, Open Government Partnership, Fed. Ministry of Justice, Nigeria
Vice President Manufacturers Association of Nigeria
Member Federal Government Tripartite Committee on the Review of the Minimum Wage
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Dr Otive Igbuzor
Founding Executive Director, African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)
Dr. Otive Igbuzor is the Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), a policy and research institute dedicated to promoting transformational leadership and sustainable development in Africa.
A seasoned development expert, governance reform advocate, and public intellectual, Dr. Igbuzor has held several high-impact roles in government, civil society, and academia. He served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy President of the Senate in Nigeria’s 9th National Assembly and was the International Head of Campaigns at ActionAid International, as well as Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria. From 2008 to 2013, he served as a Commissioner in the Police Service Commission (PSC), representing civil society.
His extensive career includes serving as Programme Coordinator at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), where he worked on democratic governance and peacebuilding in West Africa. He was also Secretary of the Citizens’ Forum for Constitutional Reform (CFCR), a coalition of over 100 civil society organizations advocating participatory constitutional reform in Nigeria.
An academic by training and a reformer by passion, Dr. Igbuzor previously lectured at the Lagos Centre of Delta State University. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, two Master’s degrees in Public Administration and International Relations, and a PhD in Public Administration with a specialization in Policy Analysis.
He is a prolific writer with 53 academic publications, including 10 books and 16 journal articles. His published works cover a wide range of issues, including democracy, public administration, gender, leadership, and national development. Notable titles include Perspectives on Democracy and Development, National Security and Policing in Nigeria, Alternative Development Strategy for Nigeria, and Overcoming Challenges of Transformation in Nigeria. He has co-edited authoritative volumes on constitutional reform and poverty eradication, including Contentious Issues in the Review of the 1999 Constitution and Poverty Eradication in Nigeria: Perspectives on a Participatory and Pro-Poor Approach.
Dr. Igbuzor is a founding member of several human rights and mass democratic organizations from Nigeria’s pro-democracy movement in the 1980s and ’90s. He is a Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) and the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria (ISMN), where he also served as President. He is the current President of The Ejiro & Otive Igbuzor Foundation.
He sits on the boards of various organizations, including the Oando Foundation, Police Health Maintenance Ltd (Police HMO), Nigerian Women Trust Fund, CEWHIN, and POWER (Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation).
In recognition of his global leadership, Dr. Igbuzor was appointed in 2012 by former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-Moon, to the Global Network of Men Leaders to End Violence Against Women.
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Nana Oguntola
Liberal Democrat councillor, Milton Keynes City Council, United Kingdom
Nana Oguntola is a dedicated councillor, educator, and creative leader whose career spans over 25 years in film, media, and community development. As a Liberal Democrat councillor on Milton Keynes City Council, she champions inclusive policies and initiatives that uplift underrepresented voices and foster civic engagement.
Nana’s early career began with a UNICEF documentary on girls’ education in The Gambia, followed by roles in national broadcasting, research on public health and gender issues, and founding the country’s first independent production company. Her international work has included collaborations with UNICEF, UNDP, the World Bank, the EU and the BBC.
In the UK, Nana founded Film Academy Milton Keynes (FAMK), an accredited training hub that has empowered more than 3,000 young people across Milton Keynes and surrounding areas with skills in filmmaking and digital storytelling. FAMK evolved from her earlier Junior Filmmakers project, which focused on providing access to creative education for youth.. mkpeople.co.uk+1Milton Keynes Citizen+1
Beyond education, Nana curates impactful community events such as the Black Excellence Awards, the Black History Month Art, Culture and Business Exhibition, and the Milton Keynes Power Breakfast Networking Event and Multicultural Excellence Awards. These platforms celebrate local talent, foster collaboration, and spotlight contributions from often-overlooked communities.
Currently pursuing a Doctorate in Education, Creative and Media at Bournemouth University, Nana’s research explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and filmmaking education. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to innovation, equity, and building sustainable legacies for future generations.
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Dr (Mrs) Olufolakemi Gbonjubola Olomojobi
Head of Service, Ekiti State Civil Service, Nigeria
Dr. (Mrs.) Olufolakemi Gbonjubola Olomojobi is a public health practitioner of over 20 years cognate experience, and a seasoned administrator cum public servant of about 30 years. She was born on the 20th September 1971.
Folakemi completed her elementary education at St. Peters Demonstration Primary School, Akure, Ondo State in the year 1981, and proceeded to the Federal Government College, Ido-Ani, Ondo State for her secondary school education. At the school, she performed outstandingly well. She obtained the Bachelors of Dental Surgery (B.Ch.D) degree at the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) in the year 1987 and joined the Ondo State Hospital Management Board in 1996 after completing the mandatory internship programme and her National Service.
As a Medical Officer, she championed several community health programs to improve hospital utilization while serving at the General Hospitals, Ifaki & Ido Ekiti between 1996 and 2000. She later proceeded to the College of Medicine, at the University of Lagos, where she bagged a Master’s degree in Public Health in the year 2001 and the University of Ado Ekiti for a Master’s degree in Business Administration in the year 2005.
Dr. Olomojobi who transferred her service from Ekiti State Hospitals Management Board to the Ministry of Health in 2001 was appointed as the Project Manager, Ekiti State Health System Development Projects II and served between the year 2004 and 2010. This project rated Ekiti State as the best performing State among the 35 participating States at the time, bringing facility drug availability from 7% in year 2004 to 78% in the year 2008. Dr. Olomojobi was equally nominated as a “Change Agent” in the year 2005 by the Department of International Development (DFID) Programme – Partnership for Transforming Health Systems (PATHS). The Change Agent program facilitated the Nigerian team study tour of the Egyptian health systems in the year 2005.
In line with her insatiable desire for knowledge and continuous improvement, in the 2017, Dr. Olomojobi completed a Master of Science Degree in Health Economics, Policy and Management from the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science, in the United Kingdom. In the course of her career, she obtained certificates on Procurement of Goods, Equipment and Consultancy Services from the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (2004), Certificate on Project and Programme Management from the Royal Institute of Public Administration, Rochester, London (2005), and Certificate on Basics of Health Economics from the World Bank Institute, Washington DC, USA (2008).
She also participated in the flagship course on Health Sector Reform and Sustainable Financing at the Harvard School of Public Health in November, 2005 and Executive course in “decentralisation tools for policymakers” at the Harvard School of public health in the year 2014.Her roles in the conception and implementation of the first Ekiti State NHIS/MDG maternal and child health programmes, and the Ulera Ekiti free health programs was of cumulative benefit to hundreds of thousands of Ekiti citizens. Her exploits at the Ministry of Education was equally marked with infrastructural support to the public schools as well as Ekiti state recording the highest girl-child literacy rate in Nigeria.
Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi has served on several boards such as: the first Governing Council of Ekiti State University College of Medicine, Governing Council of Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan-Ekiti, Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, and the College of Health Sciences, Ijero-Ekiti. She is a member of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), and the pioneer president of Ekiti State Medical Women Association (MWAN).
On the nomination of Ekiti State Government, Dr. Olomojobi received the award of excellence in Leadership Productivity in the year 2020. She is skilled in public speaking and facilitation of small group interactions. She is a recipient of the Order of Merit award, Oloore Odua by His Royal Majesty, the Oore of Otun-Ekiti, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo in 2021, as well as the National Peace Award in the year 2023. She is a community development enthusiast and this earned her the recognition and award of the “Young Lady of Patriotic Value Award” by the Otun-Ekiti Community in the year 2016 during the reign of His Royal Majesty, Oore of Otun Ekiti, Oba Adedapo Popoola of blessed memory.
Dr. Olomojobi also has multiple published academic papers to her credit and is a member of the Nigeria Institute of Management. Her marriage to her soul mate; late Professor Yinka Olomojobi, a professor of Law of blessed memory, is blessed with Godly children.
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Honourable (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
Honourable (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Minister of Interior, Government of Nigeria
Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, is a distinguished and accomplished individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership and expertise in various fields. With over 17 years of experience in project and strategic management, he has established himself as a leading authority in the public and private sectors.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Tunji-Ojo has held various prestigious positions, including CEO of Matrix IT Solutions Limited, a renowned indigenous consulting company in Nigeria, which he attained at the remarkable age of 24. His expertise spans critical sectors such as Oil and Gas, Information Technology, Agriculture, Research, Finance, Management Consultancy, and Manufacturing industries.
A highly educated individual, Dr. Tunji-Ojo holds a master’s degree in Digital Communication and Networking from London Metropolitan University. Notably, he was certified as one of the first set of Certified Ethical Hackers from Royal Britannia Training Academy in the United Kingdom before turning 24.
Before venturing into politics, he consulted for top government and international institutions including the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), World Bank, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education among others.
In August 2023, Tunji-Ojo was appointed Minister of Interior, and by mandate was saddled with the responsibility of protecting internal security and the enhancement of citizenship integrity.
Through his exceptional leadership and vision, Tunji-Ojo has transformed the country’s paramilitary agencies including the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), and Federal Fire Service (FFS).
Notably is the review of the standard operating procedure (SOP) of agencies under the Ministry of Interior, and the full automation of acquisition process that ushered in a new passport and visa regime where applicants could seamlessly complete their application from the comfort of their homes.
As Chairman of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), and in a strong stance against career stagnation, Tunji-Ojo in 2023 approved the promotion of 32361 personnel across agencies under the Ministry, setting a new record for the board as its all time high. As of September 2024, he has promoted a total of 53228 personnel to further demonstrate his commitment improving both staff welfare and career development.
Before his appointment as minister, Tunji-Ojo while serving as Member, House of Representative, facilitated infrastructure development, including schools, healthcare centres, and rural road networks, across Akoko North-East/North-West Federal Constituency.
In addition, his tenure as Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), remains memorable for his active role in championing anti-corruption reforms, as well as, empowering youth through strategic appointments into leadership positions.
Tunji-Ojo’s commitment to institutional growth, human capital development, and economic progress has significantly impacted the country’s growth, and his influential role in shaping policy and legislative reforms has continued to improve the quality of services delivered to Nigerians.