Since its inception, BudgIT has been a beacon of citizen engagement, fiscal transparency, and accountability in Nigeria and globally. At the core of our impactful journey lies the esteemed Advisory Board, comprised of diverse leaders, thinkers, and change-makers from various sectors. As we gear up for the years ahead (2024–2026), we are thrilled to introduce new and familiar faces to our Advisory Board lineup.
New Members
Ayisha Osori, as the Director of the Open Society Foundation, lawyer, consultant, and communication strategist with 18 years of experience in the public and private sectors, brings a wealth of experience in promoting democracy, human rights, and good governance. Her expertise in policy advocacy and civil society engagement spans vital organizations, such as the World Bank, the United Nations Development Fund, the United Nations Children’s Fund, the Department for International Development, and the Royal Institute of International Affairs.
She is a published writer who has written a series of social studies textbooks for primary schools and a children’s reference book on Nigeria. She wrote a weekly column for five years, first as a Pedestrian Lawyer in Thisday newspaper and, most recently, as a Nigerian citizen for Leadership newspaper. A regular commentator on radio and television, Ms. Osori has been involved in numerous campaigns to improve social justice for women and girls and governance in Nigeria. She is an experienced advocate on gender and social justice issues.
Hauwa’u Evelyn Yusuf is a Professor of Criminology and Gender Studies in the Department of Sociology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna, Nigeria. Notably, she is the University’s inaugural female professor and serves as the Director of Gender Studies. Through her efforts, she has established the Centre for Study and Resolution of Domestic Violence (CERSDOV), dedicated to aiding survivors of sexual and domestic abuse in the region. In recognition of her outstanding research and dedication, she spearheaded the institution’s attainment of a significant achievement in 2023, securing a research grant of N34.7 million from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) National Research Grant Fund (NRF).
Nelson Olanipekun is a product manager with a background in law and cybersecurity and over seven years of professional experience. Nelson’s experience and expertise range from legal tech, cybersecurity, non-profit, and information technology management to secured product development and management, web application security, threats and vulnerabilities management, strategic planning, and social impact. With a background as the Team Lead of Citizens’ Gavel, Nelson is no stranger to championing legal advocacy and justice reform, as seen in Citizens’ Gavel’s foremost legal tech tool—AI for Justice. His passion for social justice and empowering citizens aligns with our mission of bridging the gap between government and the governed.
Bukola Oladapo, heading Structured Ventures at Axxela, brings valuable insights from the private sector to the Advisory Board. Her experience in business development and strategic partnerships will enhance our efforts at promoting sustainable economic growth and corporate accountability. Bukola Oladapo is a financial adviser with over 13 years of experience in corporate finance, transaction services, and audits. She has advised and led transactions for large corporates, financial institutions, private equity firms, and strategic and financial investors seeking to make investment decisions, both on the buy-side and sell-side across Sub-Saharan Africa. Her skills include deal origination, mergers and acquisitions, economic analysis, financial reporting, budget forecasting, and transaction services.
Ashanut Okille, leading Akijul as managing director, embodies the spirit of change and innovation. As a lawyer and development practitioner with over 15 years of experience working on human rights, gender equality, access to justice, and organization development, Ashanut understands social justice content and how to facilitate processes that enable individuals and organizations to perform better. Her experience cuts across 13 countries in different parts of Africa, with national and international NGOs, public sector, development, and UN agencies. Her expertise in driving organizational transformation and leveraging technology for social impact will be instrumental in steering BudgIT toward greater effectiveness and scalability.
Returning Members
Jamie Drummond is an advocacy entrepreneur and Co-founder of ONE, a global pressure group with nearly eight million members worldwide. ONE campaigns against extreme poverty, transforming developing economies, and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Currently, ONE is campaigning for investments in education, especially for girls in Africa, gender equality through enhanced education and health services for the most marginalized girls and women, and transparency in the extractives and financial services sector.
Jamie Drummond was previously the Global Strategist for Drop the Debt—which helped cancel $110 billion of mainly African debt—and Co-founder of DATA.org—which helped double innovative aid, especially for the health sector and the fight against AIDS, and boost trade deals for Africa. Jamie continues lending his advocacy and campaigning expertise to BudgIT’s cause. His global perspective and commitment to eradicating poverty and corruption complement BudgIT’s mission to foster inclusive development and accountable governance.
Alexandra Gillies, Director of the Global Anti-Corruption Consortium at OCCRP, brings unparalleled expertise in investigative journalism and anti-corruption initiatives. Over the years, she has worked to fight corruption by bridging investigative journalism with civil society activism. She is also the author of Crude Intentions: How Oil Corruption Contaminates the World. Her strategic insights and dedication to exposing corruption continue to bolster BudgIT’s efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
Nehemiah Attigah, the Co-founder of Odekro and Board Chair of BudgIT’s Advisory Board, is a seasoned advocate for parliamentary transparency and citizen participation. Nehemiah has led innovation management and technology roll-out projects in Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Gambia, and the United States. He is involved in the propagation of data for development, citizen engagement, and transparency. He has been responsible for the digital media strategies of some leading organizations in Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Liberia and is known for his involvement in Social Justice Projects such as Reclaim Naija, Ghana Decides, One Simple Step, and Ebola Watch.
Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho is a seasoned information technology professional with over 15 years of industry experience in Africa’s largest emerging economy, with a profound purpose for bridging the digital divide and transforming Africa by harnessing the benefits of digital innovation. She is currently the CEO of Future Software Resources Ltd (Futuresoft)—one of Nigeria’s leading digital and technology solutions companies, providing a broad range of digital and IT solutions for scaling African enterprises. Nkemdilim Uwaje Begho is recognized as an Obama African Leader, Forbes’s Top Ten Female Tech Founders in Africa and also sits on the board of Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC and serves in the leadership of the NESG Digital Economy Thematic group. Her expertise in digital innovation and entrepreneurship continues to be invaluable in advancing BudgIT’s initiatives at the intersection of technology, governance, and civic engagement.
Two of these phenomenal individuals will be elected to join the Board of Trustees, further solidifying our commitment to inclusivity, fairness, and collective decision-making.
In addition to these esteemed members, we welcome the insightful contributions of observing members Oluseun Onigbinde, Joseph Agunbiade, and Caroline Anintah. As we continue to pioneer innovative solutions and drive social change, the collective expertise and diverse perspectives of our Advisory Board will serve as a guiding force in shaping the organization’s trajectory and leading us to create more significant impact, accountability, and transparency in the years to come.
