The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) has a new director. He is Dr Garuba Dauda. A statement to that effect said the appointment is with immediate effect, contending too that the totality of his academic and professional expertise makes him the right leader for CDD at this important time in Nigeria and West African history.
It credits Dr Dauda with extensive background encompassing over two decades of experience in democratic governance, natural resource management, development policy research and advocacy. He is also assessed to be comfortable in critical issues such as transparency, social accountability, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and security sector reform.
Aside from a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from the University of Ilorin, the new director has a Masters in Political Science and a PhD in Political Science, with a specialisation in International Relations, both from the University of Benin in Nigeria. According to the statement, Dr Dauda has scholarly work in local and international research outlets as well as network coverage spanning local, national, sub-regional, and continental spheres, a combination of which is held to underscore his capacity to foster collaborative efforts and drive impactful initiatives.
Dr Dauda is no stranger to CDD, having worked as a Programs Officer there from 2003 to 2005, and a Senior Programmes Officer till 2008. He worked at the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) from 2008 to 2017, coordinating programmes that focused on Nigeria. He also worked as a technical adviser and senior consultant at the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) from 2017 to 2021, before engaging in independent research and consultant work with different development-focused organisations.
CDD is also extending what the statement calls its heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Sa’eed Husaini, who, along with the senior management team, served as acting director during the transition. And the think tank is extending the same appreciation to its International Governing Council (IGC), under the leadership of its new chair, John Odah, for its work in handling the recruitment process and steering the transition as well, restating its confidence that its primary objective of providing insightful and impactful research and programmatic support towards a democratic and developed West Africa will continue under the new leadership.
Intervention could not lay its hands on anything pictorial of the new director immediately.
