About

Strategic Engagement Director and Development Advocate with over 10 years of leadership experience, adept at driving multi-stakeholder partnerships and mobilizing resources across West Africa. Leverages an M.Sc. in International Relations, coupled with expertise in Data Science, AI, and Cybersecurity, to deliver evidence-based programming for global development. Proven track record in securing $12M+ in philanthropic funding and brokering complex public-private dialogues, committed to scaling high-impact national programmes through innovative engagement and data-driven leadership.

Work

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

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Senior Regional Lead, Strategic Partnerships

Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

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Summary

Architected cross-border engagement strategies between West African governments, private sector host organizations, and philanthropic partners to drive institutional alignment and job creation.

Highlights

Secured over $12M in new funding from high-net-worth donors by leveraging Data Science to identify untapped philanthropic and corporate investment trends.

Led a multi-stakeholder coalition of 15 tech firms to launch a regional 'Digital Economy Initiative,' creating sustainable opportunities for 2 million underserved Nigerians.

Spearheaded a resource mobilization drive that increased private-sector institutional giving by 40% year-on-year.

Integrated Responsible AI frameworks into public sector engagement protocols across Ghana and Nigeria, accelerating operational transparency.

Managed an impact portfolio of $25M, ensuring 100% compliance with international ESG reporting standards and UN administrative guidelines.

The Commonwealth AI Academy

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Head of Resource Mobilization

Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

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Summary

Designed strategic advocacy frameworks to integrate technology with public policy and industrial development, enhancing resource generation and partnership outcomes.

Highlights

Brokered a landmark partnership between Intel and West African ministries to train 50,000 youth in Generative AI and technical skills, expanding regional capacity.

Designed a strategic engagement dashboard using advanced analytics that reduced donor acquisition time by 30%, optimizing outreach efficiency.

Negotiated $5M in blended finance agreements for critical rural connectivity and digital infrastructure projects in Northern Nigeria.

Automated donor reporting using Python, significantly enhancing transparency and trust with international partners.

Advocated for Global Development Equity at three UNGA-side events, resulting in two new bilateral funding agreements.

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)

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Senior Program Officer (Strategic Engagement)

Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria

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Summary

Managed climate risk, agropolitical value chains, and social protection engagement for regional agricultural hubs, ensuring sustainable development.

Highlights

Coordinated a strategic dialogue between the FAO and over 50 Nigerian agribusinesses to secure funding for sustainable industrial and SDG targets.

Developed a risk assessment matrix for social protection programs, protecting $3M in grant funding from local market volatility.

Increased local stakeholder engagement by 65% through a series of impactful 'Town Hall Diplomacy' initiatives.

Authored a white paper on 'Managing Climate Risks' that influenced state-level industrial policy in the Niger Delta.

Managed a diverse team of 20 field officers across five West African locations, ensuring effective program implementation.

NITDA Nigeria (Digital Skills Initiative)

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Government Relations Associate

Abuja, FCT, Nigeria

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Summary

Facilitated communication between the Federal Government and international technology donors to advance national digital initiatives.

Highlights

Played a key role in the initial launch of the 3MTT initiative, facilitating critical donor-government roundtables.

Drafted the communication strategy for the National Identity Management System (NIMS) rollout, enhancing public awareness and adoption.

Monitored and evaluated a $1M pilot program for digital literacy in underserved schools, ensuring program effectiveness.

Successfully onboarded 10 new corporate sponsors for the 'Digital Skills Nigeria' initiative, significantly expanding program reach.

Coordinated logistics for high-level ministerial visits from West African neighbors, strengthening regional partnerships.

Skills

Strategic Engagement

Impact Philanthropy, ESG, Public-Private Dialogue, Cross-border Engagement, Stakeholder Engagement, Government Relations, Policy Advocacy.

Resource Mobilization

Blended Finance, Donor Relations, Grant Management, Fundraising, Investment Trends.

Technical Integration

Data Analytics for Philanthropy, Responsible AI Frameworks, Data Science, AI, Cybersecurity, Predictive Analytics, Python, Machine Learning, Digital Economy Initiatives.

Leadership

Cross-functional Team Management, Regional Policy Advocacy, Program Management, Strategic Planning, Operational Transparency.

Project Management

SDG Compliance, ESG Reporting, Risk Assessment, Communication Strategy, Program Development, Initiative Launch.

Education

University of Benin

Benin City, Edo, Nigeria
Master of Science (M.Sc.) International Relations Grade: 3.8/5.0

Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. Ed) Political Science

Projects

THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PREDICTIVE FUNDING MODEL

Summary

Utilized Data Science and Machine Learning to predict which global industrial and economic crises would attract the most philanthropic interest. This involved creating a Python-based visualization tool that helped the organization proactively pitch development projects to donors.

THE "SAFE-ENGAGEMENT" PROTOCOL

Summary

Implemented Cybersecurity best practices into high-level diplomatic communications and inter-agency data sharing processes to enhance security.

"AGRI-ENGAGE" DASHBOARD

Summary

Applied Project Management and AI Basics to track SDG Indicators across regional supply chains. This project created a transparent, real-time tracking system for industrial sustainability.

PETER WEJINYA

Director of Strategic Engagement | Industrial Development & Philanthropy

10 wintech school Obeama Oyigbo, 500727, Abuja, NG.

Languages

English