Key Staff

Dr Bola Fajemirokun is a graduate of the University of Lagos and she was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1984. In 1990, she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree of the University of London. She also holds a Master of Law degree of the same University.

Dr Fajemirokun was appointed a Fellow of the Ashoka Foundation in 2002 for her contributions to the development of environmental law in Nigeria. In 1999, she was awarded the Award of Excellence by the Akure Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture and appointed a member of the National Forestry Policy Review Committee.

Dr Fajemirokun was a member of the Programme and Implementation Committees of the Lagos State/UNDP 6th Country Programme for 2005-2007 in the fields of HIV/AIDS, environment and energy. She is a member of the Nigerian Environmental Law Society, the Pan-African Programme on Land and Resource Rights and one of the founding members of the Lagos Environment and Sanitation Network.

In 2000, Dr. Fajemirokun attended the Harvard Business School Executive Programme on Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management. In 2007, she was recognized as a Distinguished Achiever by the University of Lagos Alumni Association. In 2006, she was appointed to the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development's Technical Evaluation Committee on the Privatization of Mining Sector Enterprises. Dr. Fajemirokun was also recently invited to serve on the Technical Experts' Committee on the draft Environmental Law for Lagos State.

2. Dede Kadiri
Senior Programme Officer

Mrs. Kadiri is a 1998 graduate of the Faculty of Laws, Edo State University, Ekpoma, Edo State and she qualified as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria in 2000. In 2001, she participated in the National Youth Service Corps in Lagos State at the Central Bank of Nigeria, and on part-time basis worked with the Legal Aid Social Service as a legal officer.

Her responsibilities included providing legal advice and counselling to the less privileged and the physically challenged.

As a result of this exposure to humanitarian activities, Mrs. Kadiri developed a keen interest in social development work. Her particular focus is the protection and enforcement of the rights of vulnerable groups such as women and children. Mrs. Kadiri joined DIN in 2004. In April 2005, Mrs. Kadiri was nominated to represent Lagos State in the UNDP-supported Capacity Transfer Programme for the HIV/AIDS sector.

She was also selected to participate in the Global Learning on Human Rights in Development that took place in Nairobi, Kenya in December 2005. This training was organised by Dignity International. In June 2007, Mrs. Kadiri was appointed the Vice Chair of the Human Rights Information Network (HURINET NIGERIA).

3. Ayo F. Emefe
Head, Administration

Ayo Emefe is an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Administration and holds an MBA (Human Resources Management) degree of the Lagos State University. In 2000, Mrs Emefe participated in the National Youth Service Corps in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State at Ulayin Community Bank and was later reposted to Egirioke High School, Iyin Ekiti where she taught Economics.

In 2001, she received the Merit Award of the Iyin-Ekiti Development Solidarity Forum for her contributions to education. After her Youth Service year in 2001, she worked with Jessa Nigeria Limited, a clearing and forwarding company based in Apapa, Lagos, as the Assistant Commercial Manager.

Mrs. Emefe joined DIN in January 2003. Her responsibilities include coordination of personnel, financial and administrative activities and the keeping and maintenance of up-to-date personnel, financial and administrative records. Mrs. Emefe is also in charge of the DIN Resource Centre Library. Ayo Emefe completed the MANGO training on Financial Management for NGOs in June 2009.

4. Oluwatoyin Craig
Programme Officer

Ms Craig joined DIN in June 2006 and brings with her excellent communications, inter-personal and organizational skills gained from senior managerial positions in customer services, sales and marketing in various corporate organizations such as Hazcon Nigeria Limited (2000-2001), Tom CYP Computers (2001), E-World Telecom Limited (2001-2002) and Netxpress Limited (2002-2006).

A graduate of the University of Ibadan, Oyo State, she was awarded a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree, B.A. (Hons.), in English in 2000.

5. Dorothy Achiwabor
Secretary

Mrs Achiwabor joined DIN in 2003 and currently holds the position of secretary and personal assistant to the Executive Director.

She attended the Institute of Management and Technology, Enugu and the Lagos State Polytechnic, Isolo Campus, and is a holder of both the Ordinary National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Secretarial Studies.

She also holds a Diploma in Desktop Publishing. Mrs Achiwabor previously served as a secretary with Emzor Pharmaceuticals Industries Limited and Champion Newspapers.

6. Samuel Akpan
Administrative Assistant

Mr. Akpan joined DIN in 1999 as one of its pioneer staff. As an administrative assistant, he reports directly to the Head, Administration.

He holds a Certificate in Computer Studies.

7. Adetoun Adesina
Programme Officer

Adetoun Adesina is a 2003 graduate of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Akoka. In 2004, she participated in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Benue State at the Vincentian Catechist Seminary, St. Mary College and Agriculture Development School, all located at Ugboju.

In the same spirit of human capacity development, she joined the Mass Literacy Group of the NYSC and taught in the Adult Education School on a part-time basis. In 2006, she graduated from the University of Ibadan with a Post-Graduate Diploma in Social Work. This was followed by her internship at the Youth and Women Development Centre, Ibadan, Oyo State, where she served in the youth empowerment, guidance and counseling departments.

From 2007-2009, she worked as a teacher at the Lebanese Community School Yaba, Lagos. She joined Development Initiatives Network in 2009.

8. Evelyn Okwara
Programme Officer  

Evelyn Okwara is a 2006 Law graduate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2007. She is very  passionate about issues concerning social justice for women. As an undergraduate, she volunteered as a facilitator with Ndu-Life, Ike- Strength, Akunuba – Wealth (NIA) where she eventually became a Programme Coordinator and also served as a mentor to young women on the NIA’s BIG SISTER programme.

She did her National Youth Service (NYSC) in Yenegoa, Bayelsa State and was also a member of the NYSC community development group on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The NYSC-MDG group helped to carry out grassroots sensitization on the MDGs. Evelyn joined Development Initiatives Network in January 2009. She has since been actively involved in DIN’s ArtLaw training programmes and has contributed to organizational research and advocacy initiatives . Evelyn is currently representing DIN in the Lagos State Vision 20:2020 Committee on environmental protection.

9. Vincent Attah
Staff Lawyer

Mr. Vincent Ebele Attah is a graduate of Law of the Faculty of Laws, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State. He was called to the Nigerian Bar in November, 2007 and subsequently worked as a Counsel in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Imo State Ministry of Justice for his mandatory National Youth Service.

Before his full time employment in October 2008, Mr. Attah had served as an intern for various short periods since February 2003. His main responsibility is providing legal advisory, research and administrative support in connection with projects being undertaken under the Policy Research and Capacity Building Programmes.

In addition, between September 2008 and March 2009, Mr. Attah served as Project Manager for knowledge events and infrastructure upgrades at the National Museum, Lagos as part of the activities under the Ford Foundation-supported Museum Services Project. 

10. Omolara Ogunyinka
Administrative Officer

Omolara Ogunyinka joined Development Initiatives Network in July 2006 as an intern and she currently holds the position of an Administrative Officer in the General Administration Unit.  She is responsible for events planning and organizing community outreach programmes.

She holds a National Diploma in Computer Science, which she obtained in March 2006 from the Yaba College of Technology, Lagos and she is at present a part-time student of Business Administration at the Lagos State University.