Leaders and spokespersons of Plan International have been rating the out-going Country Director of the international Non-governmental organisation. The pioneer Country Director of Plan International Nigeria, Dr. Hussaini Abdu, is scheduled to step down at the end of February, 2021. He would be leaving to take up new challenge after steering the ship of Plan International in Nigeria for six years, having joined Plan International in April 2015 from ActionAid Nigeria where he was also the Country Director for six years too. Plan International West and Central Africa Regional Hub is subsequently in search for Abdu’s replacement.
Plan International understands itself as an independent development and humanitarian non-profit organisation that advances children’s rights and equality for girls within the context of a just world achievable by tackling the root causes of the challenges girls and vulnerable children face. It has been on this in terms of building what it calls powerful partnerships for children for over 80 years in more than 70 countries.
Dr. Fatoumata Haidara, Director of the Sahel Region of Plan International, credits Dr. Abdu with achievements in promoting the ideals of the organisation, saying he led the organisation to the remarkable position of a front-line girl and child rights international non-governmental organisation in Nigeria. “Under his leadership we’ve seen programme grow significantly in the last six years becoming one of the largest in the region and leading on a large and complex humanitarian response in the Lake Chad Basin,” she said, adding specifically how Abdu had been an important pillar for Plan International’s Lake Chad programme, involving the neighboring countries of Niger and Cameroon in the last four years.
Maike Roettger, National Director, Plan International Germany also lauded Abdu’s achievements, describing it as a privilege to work with him during a visit to Nigeria which he calls the most impressive visit ever experienced. Roettger is also referencing the success of the Lake Chad Programme, dubbing it as having changed the lives of so many people, children, especially girls.
Nadine Grant, Vice President, Programme & Business, Plan International Canada is not left out. Reflecting on the outgoing Country Director’s role in building the Nigerian programme, she recalls the early days when he had to set everything virtually from scratch in contrast to a huge operation it is now. “Congrats for all you have done for the girls and boys in Nigeria and for being an incredible leader here in Plan International”, she concludes
The statement refers to how, for nearly six years under the leadership of Hussaini Abdu, the organisation expanded rapidly and currently runs projects with 80 grants both in development and humanitarian intervention worth 83.4 million Euros.
