Profile of the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation

1978 ( University of Ibadan)
1981 (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)
Jan. 1984 (University of Ibadan)
Jan. 1989 (University of London)
June 1990 (University of Ibadan)

 B.Sc (Hons.) Geography 1978 ( University of Ibadan)

 M.Sc Geography, 1981 (University of Ibadan, Ibadan)

 M.Sc Urban & Regional Planning, Jan. 1984 (University of Ibadan)

 M.Sc Urban Development Planning in Economics, Jan. 1989 (University of London) as
a British Council Scholar/in-service training;

 Ph.D Urban Geography (Urban Development and Travel Activity Pattern), June 1990
(University of Ibadan)

 Post graduate Certificate in Disaster Risk Studies (Potchefstroom University, South
Africa, 2003).

 Post graduated Certificate in Disaster Risk Management and Development (North
West University, South Africa, 2005)

 Certificate in Disaster Risk Management (Awarded by UN/ISDR and IFRC, Nairobi 2006)

 Member Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (Membership No 428), 1987

 Chartered Town Planner (Membership No. RTP/300) - Town Planners Registration
Council of Nigeria, 1991.

Work Experience after University Graduation (1979 to 1991)

 Completed the mandatory one year National Youth Service in Bauchi State, (1978 to
July 1979)

 Oyo State Teaching Service Commission as a graduate teacher in September 1979 to
1982

 Oyo State College of Education as a Lecturer (1982 to 1984).

 Federal Ministry of Works and Housing Town Planning Officer (March 1985 to 1986).

 Senior Town Planning Officer, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (1986 to 1991).

    Due for the Principal Town Planning Officer post, Federal ministry of Works and
     Housing before proceeding into private professional practice as a Chartered Town
     Planner and also NGO activities in Urban Development and disaster risk management
     activities. March, 1991

Private Sector and NGO Work Experience in Disaster Management and Urban Development (March 1991 to January, 2001)

    Urban and Regional Development Practice Consultancies on World Bank/Federal
      Urban Projects; United Nations Habitat and European Union Programme (1991 to
      2001)

    NGO Work in Disaster Risk Management and Rehabilitation activities with the African
     Centre for Development, Environment and Information Network (a United Nations
     Recognized NGO founded by me) -1995 to January 2001).

 Habitat Partner & Alumni of the United Nations Habitat Programme, 1996 to 2006.

 Nominee, United Nations Volunteer to St Lucia, Caribbean (1992) and Gambia (1995);
but could not accept due to other critical assignments

 Consultant, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing/World Bank Urban Prioritization
Studies/Projects (1993 to Oct. 2000).

 Consultant, Shelter Afrique, Nairobi (African Housing Umbrella for Africa), 1996

 Consultant, African Leadership Forum (ALF, Nigeria) and European Union, towards a
European Union National Country Programme for Nigeria, 2000 to early 2001

Present Public Career- National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), January 2001 to August, 2006

 I had 23 years of adventurous public-private sector experience before coming to NEMA in year 2001.

 Examined and interviewed for the post of Deputy Director in the Department Planning Research and Forecasting, NEMA in year 2000 with a score of 61.5% (above the cut off mark) but offered an Assistant Director (Relief and Rehabilitation) (Jan. 2001 to Jan. 2005)

 Deputy Director Relief and Rehabilitation (promoted Jan. 2005)

 Acting Director Relief and Rehabilitation (June 2007 to date)

 In the year 2002 the Agency’s ware house in Lagos was razed down by fire, leading to a high level Administrative Panel of Enquiry from the Presidency and suspension of my two immediate superior officers leading to a memo from the government directing the DFA to act as the DG and myself being the most senior officer in R&R Department to take over the Headship of the Department.

 Under the leadership of the former Director General and with his unalloyed support, I was able to initiate and coordinate the following programmes, with collaboration with relevant government departments and multi-lateral Agencies, like the UN/ISDR and AU/NEPAD:

 Paradigm shift in disaster management from just emergency response to a development oriented disaster risk reduction and building the resilience of communities to disasters (2005 to date).

 Establishment of a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction for Nigeria (October 2005).

 Embarked on mobilization and documentation of views and experiences on disaster risk issues across the 6(no) geo-political zones, culminating in the production of a “National Action plan for Disaster Risk Reduction for Nigeria” with some designated programmes approved by Mr. President and Commander-in-Chief (document edited and ready for printing).

 Successfully mainstreamed disaster risk reduction paradigm and building of local resilience as the main thrust for the on-going Drafting of a “National Policy for Disaster management in Nigeria” (2006)

 High level advocacy on disaster risk reduction in June 2005 to Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, the President of the Federal republic of Nigeria and Commander-in-Chief, culminating in the mobilization of other Heads of State in the African Union at the AU Libya meeting in July 2005, leading finally to the establishment of the African Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction in December, 2005, Addis Ababa.

 As the nominated focal person by the former DG and other stakeholders on Nigeria Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, I was equally elected (2005 to date) to chair the UN/ISDR-AU/NEPAD supported Africa Regional Consultative Forum of National Platforms in Disaster Risk Reduction, to ammonize experiences, fashion policies and give strategic direction on the subject in the continent and the sub-regions.

 In 2004, I initiated and successfully conducted “the Annual National Conference of Heads and Directors of Disaster/Emergency Management Organizations in Nigeria” for purposes of policy formulation and collaboration among stakeholders.

 Apart from authoring professional papers, I have also edited 3(no) resource books (1 printed; 2 to be printed) on disaster risk management for the Agency to address the dearth of local literature materials on the emerging disaster subject in Nigeria.

 From 2001 to date I have participated and chaired some sensitive Committees on staff welfare and discipline within the Agency to date. Presently I am the chairman of the emerging Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit in the Agency.

 Current Chairman of the UN/ISDR led African Advisory Group on Disaster Risk Reduction, 2005-2006, Nairobi.

 Led Nigerian Delegation to the inauguration of the AU Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, Addis in December, 2005.

 Chairman, Inaugural AU African Ministerial Expert Meeting in Disaster Risk Reduction, Addis-Ababa, December, 2005

 Represented Director General, NEMA on “Presidential Committee on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)”.

 Current Chairman, Anti Corruption & Transparency Unit, NEMA, 2002 to date.

 Chairman, Staff Personnel Audit and Welfare for NEMA, 2005

 Represented Director General, NEMA on many Media activities.

 Received Commendation Letter from the Director General, NEMA on honesty and financial probity, 2005.