Good Governance Africa Nigeria works to improve governance through research, policy engagement, and practical reform support. In Africa’s largest economy and most populous country, we focus on the governance issues that shape security, accountability, investment, public service delivery, youth participation, and natural resource management. The aim is not just to analyse problems, but to help drive workable solutions that lead to more effective institutions and better outcomes for citizens.
From insight to action Across all six pillars, GGA-Nigeria applies the same core approach: rigorous research, practical policy engagement, and action-oriented reform support. This allows us to respond to immediate governance challenges while also contributing to longer-term institutional change.
We work to strengthen governance responses to insecurity by turning research into practical solutions. Through analysis, policy engagement, and strategic dialogue, we support efforts to prevent conflict, build peace, and improve security sector governance. Our goal is safer communities, protected rights, and stronger public trust in the state.
We promote investment that delivers both economic growth and public value. By supporting transparent, responsible, and sustainable investment practices, we help build trust, improve investment readiness, and encourage long-term, inclusive economic resilience.
We equip young Nigerians to play an active role in shaping their country’s future. Through leadership development, civic education, and policy advocacy training, YAGG creates opportunities for youth to engage with decision-makers and contribute meaningfully to governance reform.
We help public institutions work better for citizens. By strengthening governance systems and supporting evidence-based decision-making, we enable government agencies and public institutions to deliver services that are more reliable, responsive, and accountable.
We tackle corruption by strengthening transparency and accountability where it matters most. Using evidence-based research and practical reform tools, we support stronger oversight, more responsible public sector performance, and governance systems that are more answerable to citizens.
We work to ensure natural resources are managed transparently, sustainably, and in ways that support inclusive development. By promoting accountability, reducing conflict risks, and aligning with climate and sustainability frameworks, we support resource governance that benefits communities without deepening instability or environmental harm.
Explore Our Work
Browse our latest reports, insights, and commentary to see how GGA-Nigeria is contributing to evidence-based governance reform.
This report examines the origins, evolution, and operational logic of Lakurawa, a significant armed group operating in Northwest and North-Central Nigeria. Based on triangulated qualitative data,...
Lithium stands at the heart of the global energy transition, powering the electric vehicles and battery storage systems essential for a clean energy future. However, its path from mine to market is...
Zamfara State has become one of the most prominent theatres of Nigeria’s insecurity, not only because of the scale of violence but also because of the central role that natural resources now play in...
This report examines the origins, evolution, and operational logic of Lakurawa, a significant armed group operating in Northwest and North-Central Nigeria. Based on triangulated qualitative data,...
Lithium stands at the heart of the global energy transition, powering the electric vehicles and battery storage systems essential for a clean energy future. However, its path from mine to market is...
Zamfara State has become one of the most prominent theatres of Nigeria’s insecurity, not only because of the scale of violence but also because of the central role that natural resources now play in...
The prolonged struggle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government over the control and legitimacy of local councils has created a...
Oladiran (Ola) Bello obtained both his MPhil and PhD degrees in International Relations from the University of Cambridge and also holds a First Class BSc degree from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. He has worked for organisations including the United Nations (New York) and Management Systems International (Washington DC), Merchant International Group (London) and Arthur Andersen (later KPMG). Dr Ola Bello has more than 10 years of experience in research and policy advisory, including on governance and extractive sector reform; sustainable development; and international development cooperation (including in EU-Africa relations). He spent three years with FRIDE (Spain) managing a donor-funded programme on the EU’s role in managing fragility and resource governance in select African countries. In 2012-2015, he was Head, Governance of Africa’s Resource Programme (GARP) at the South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) and also functioned as head of SAIIA’s Cape Town office. Ola is spearheading GGA's technical support to Nigerian reform, including delivering ethics training for senior Nigerian judicial officers and change-makers (2017-2019). He's also working to expand GGA's role as in-country resource centre for multilateral consultative missions to Nigeria's ministries and parastatals. These missions include the UNECA/AU mineral sector governance team.
Fisayo Alo is a Senior Researcher at Good Governance Africa Nigeria where he coordinates and supports research efforts. Fisayo has fifteen years of experience working in the development consulting, research, quality control, and community engagement. His interests include citizen participation in governance, policy analysis, economic development, and sustainable community development. Fisayo holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration (University of Lagos), a Post Graduate Diploma (PDG) in Agricultural Extension and Rural Development (Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta), a Certificate in Ethical Circular Economy (Arizona State University), and a B Sc. degree in Microbiology from Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU). He has managed a number of development projects and agricultural value chain studies for International donor agencies, such as USAID, FCDO, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and GTZ.
Eniayo Ibirogba is a law graduate from the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom. Before studying law he got a degree in international law and diplomacy from Babcock university, Ogun state, Nigeria. His core interests are policy advisory, community development and human rights.
Dr Julia Bello-Schünemann is a multilingual research consultant. She is versed in integrated forecasting across sectors (including demographics, infrastructure, economics, conflict and violence, etc.), trend and risk analysis, data analysis, policy advice for governments and international organisations. Her expertise straddles Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and the European Union. She possesses vast experience in project management, fundraising, strategic planning, multi-stakeholder consultations, training and facilitation. She is currently an Associate Senior Research Consultant with Good Governance Africa-Nigeria. She holds a PhD in International Relations from the Complutense University Madrid, Spain and an MA in Communication, Political Science and Economics from Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich in Germany.
Mr Mark Adogah was appointed Chairman GGA-Nigeria in 2021. Mark is a Director at Citibank Nigeria’s Banking, Capital Markets and Advisory (BCMA) business. He is responsible for driving and supervising Citi Nigeria’s strategy for multinational Branded Consumer Goods, Aviation and Oil Services clients. He has been involved in several landmark lending and financing transactions in the industry.
Mark has over 23 years’ experience in the areas of financial statements audit and assurance, business advisory and corporate and investment banking. He started his career with Arthur Andersen in Nigeria (now KPMG Professional Services) and worked in the Corporate Bank of Zenith Bank Plc and the Corporate Finance desk of FCMB Capital Markets Limited before joining Citibank. He has been in a senior management role since joining Citibank as an Assistant General Manager in October 2008.
He is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), a member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and The Chartered Institutes of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). Mark holds a BSc (Hons) degree in Accounting and a Master's degree focused in Finance and Investments from the University of Exeter, United Kingdom. Mark has extensive local and international training on leadership, negotiation, derivatives, risk management, advanced credit skills and other areas of accounting, finance and banking.
He is happily married with children.
Kabir Hassan is a researcher at Good Governance Africa-Nigeria. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Transport Planning and Policy from Lagos State University, Nigeria. His research focuses on sustainable transport development and planning, with a strong interest in policies that promote equitable and efficient mobility systems. Kabir is actively involved in community development work, especially youth capacity-building initiatives and youth civic engagements. He has been part of notable transport-related projects through his roles at the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and TSL Metroline Limited, where he was involved in road transport network operations and survey analysis.
Lawal Asiata is currently the office manager and project coordinator for GGA Nigeria. She has worked as a librarian and personal assistant in both private and government parastatals. Asiata holds a bachelor's degree in Library, Archival and Information Studies from University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Her hobbies include reading and travelling.
Malik Samuel is a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa-Nigeria. Before joining GGA, he was a researcher with the Institute for Security Studies, specialising in the Boko Haram conflict in the Lake Chad Basin Region. Malik also worked as a conflict researcher with Amnesty International Nigeria. He was also a Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders field communications manager in Northeast Nigeria. Before that, he was an investigative journalist at the Abuja-based International Centre for Investigative Reporting. Malik holds a Master's degree in Conflict, Peace, and Security from the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).
Adejumo Kabir Adeniyi is a senior researcher at Good Governance Africa-Nigeria. He is an expert with many years of experience in community development work and governance accountability sector. Before joining GGA, Adejumo worked at Premium Times and HumAngle Media, two of Nigeria’s biggest newspapers specialising on conflict and accountability reporting. His work has featured on esteemed local and international platforms, including Zam magazine, El Pais, IJNet, Premium Times, HumAngle Media and TheCable among others. He is a 2019 recipient of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, a 2020 recipient of the Thomson Foundation Young Journalist Award in the United Kingdom, and a 2021 recipient of NAREP Oil and Gas Fellowship.
Mariam Hassan is a researcher at Good Governance Africa-Nigeria. She is a graduate of Public Health from Babcock University, Nigeria. Mariam has contributed to health interventions through her engagements at Action Health Incorporated, where she supported adolescent health programmes, and at the Youth Clinic of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where she gained hands-on experience in youth-centred healthcare services. She is passionate about creating positive change in communities through research and advocacy, and also supports capacity-building initiatives that specifically target women and young people.