By Charles Abani, PDA Advisor
2020 brought several exiting changes for key players in the first generation of Participatory Development Alternatives at both Executive and Board levels – we’d like to share our exciting news of these changes with you all.
Firstly, our long-standing CEO since inception, Victoria Ebere Eze, moved on to other exciting opportunities where she can have greater impact working at a larger scale. We honestly appreciate her years of dedication and the focus that she brought for PDA – building a deep culture of integrity and rooted-connectedness to the communities we work with across Ebonyi state and beyond. Her leadership will be greatly missed. As Ebere transitions out, we are confident that her institutional memory will be retained – she will serve as a Board Advisor, eventually transitioning to the full board.
In her place comes in new Executive Director Chidinma Arukwe. Chidinma joins us with experience in the education sector as well as masses of passion and drive from the voluntary space. This new and exciting opportunity gives her the opportunity to continue in the footsteps of Victoria, while bringing her unique style and passion to the role. Please join me to welcome Chidinma to the PDA family.
In addition, after many years of dedicated service, the Finance Manager Pauline Egwu moved on and is now replaced by Josephine Ekuma who takes over to help ensure accountability and chart the course for PDA. We thank Pauline for her dedicated work and welcome Josephine into this position.
As many of you will be aware, I also moved on to take a role in the United Nations in Ghana – where I am now the UN Resident Coordinator and UN Ambassador to Ghana. This exciting role (which I feel privileged to be in) implied that I could not play a central role on the Board anymore. As I have moved into an advisory role, I am delighted to announce that the Board has appointed Dr Mark S C Abani as Board Chair. He will replace me – bringing the vast experience and networks from a whole raft of backgrounds to help PDA climb to the next level.
Please find the below the biographies of the incoming leadership at both Board and Executive level.
Dr. Mark Abani – Board Chair
Dr Mark Abani is a first-Class honour graduate of UNN (where he also obtained PhD) and he brings to PDA over 40 years’ work experience covering Agriculture, Taxation, Education, and Leadership across Academia, Government service (UK and Nigeria), Not-for-Profit organisations and the Private Sector. Previously a university lecturer and member of FUTO Senate, he has worked at very senior levels in Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (the UK tax authority) and as Board Member Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) in Nigeria. He currently works as an independent consultant; Leadership, Management, Taxation, and Internally Generated Revenue, Public Finance, Trade Facilitation, Governance, and Agricultural Leadership, among others, for the World Bank, DFiD programmes, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, The EU and various Federal and State Governments across Nigeria. Dr. Mark Abani is the CEO of MSCA Projects with the strapline, ‘Growing People, Plants and Ideas for positive results.’ And he runs a smallholder farm (MSCA Farm Projects) and an agro-processing facility (Nnesco Foods).
He is married to Nnenna (Nee Ndubuka) with adult children and a grandson. His vision of PDA is to become a leading organisation working with, and alongside poor and marginalised communities in Ebonyi State to give them a voice, and to empower them to sustainably advocate for their rights and solve problems for themselves.
New entrant to the ex-officio Board Advisory Group
Victoria Ebere Eze – Board Advisor
Victoria Ebere Eze is a Gender and Development Specialist with over 17 years of working experience in rural communities in Nigeria. She holds Post graduate Diploma in Public Administration and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in Public Administration at Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu. She is the Local Government Manager for the USAID/ Nigeria State Accountability Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) Activity. Beyond managing 7 LGAs in Ebonyi State, she is also responsible for the updating of State2State Political Economic Analysis.
She was a founding staff of Participatory Development Alternatives (PDA) and managed Actionaid Nigeria programmes for over 12 years in Ebonyi State. She was the South East Zone and State coordinator under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP 2018-2019) and facilitated the development of Ebonyi State climate change Policy which was an indicator to her ability to mentor, share technical expertise and knowledge on issues. She is also a board member to two women-led organizations that address women issues. Victoria initiated the rural Women Advocacy Working Group in Ebonyi State and facilitated the formation of Ehugbo women with disabilities.
Chidinma Elemchi Arukwe – Executive Director
Chidinma Elemchi Arukwe joins PDA as its its new Executive Director who assumed responsibilities in April 2021. Chidinma is a seasoned community activist, leader and teacher with nine years teaching experience. Prior to joining PDA, Chidinma worked as a teacher as well as being a community mobilizer, organizer, networker and a committed supporter of youth and women in Ebonyi State. Her development experience spans work with young people through her teaching role in Ebonyi State as well as voluntary work undertaken through faith-based organizations as well as outreach and advocacy work conducted at community level-especially during the COVID 19- with youth, children and on women’s rights. Chidinma has used the power of positive influence and attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to work hard and succeed. She in inspired daily by her love for humanity.
Chidinma holds a B.Sc. in Marketing from Ebonyi State University, Post-graduate Diploma in Education from the Usman Danfodiyo University and M.Ed. from the Administration and Planning Department of Ebonyi State University.
Josephine Ehihia Ekuma – Finance Manager
Josephine Ehihia Ekuma is the new Finance Manager of Participatory Development Alternatives (PDA). Josephine is an experienced accountant with fourteen years practice. She is currently a student at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).