CEDEP’s faculty consists of seasoned development practitioners, nonprofit executives, social entrepreneurs, governance experts, and thought leaders from around the world who have at one time or the other led masterclasses, facilitated training sessions or mentored alumni.
Our erudite faculty boasts deep field experience, Expertise in nonprofit leadership, Commitment to dignified development, Strong facilitation and mentorship skills, and Global perspectives with local relevance
Our faculty members guide curriculum development, facilitate masterclasses, mentor ESSLIP fellows, serve on the grants academy, and support alumni growth.
Dr. Ini Abimbola
UN Women Specialist (emeritus) at Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives. Former consultant at the Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the African Union Adis Ababa, she also serves as a faculty on the MBA program on international CSR management at the Ferdinand Porsche FernFH – University of Applied Sciences Austria. She is a 2008 Draper Hills Fellow at Stanford University.
Dr. Stephanie Stidham
With extensive international development experience, Dr. Stephanie Stidham has served as senior HR manager and consultant for various international development organizations within the United Nations framework. Over the past decade, she has led and managed human resources teams across Africa, Asia and Latin America, focusing on developing workforce strategies, strengthening HR processes and implementing talent management programs to support large-scale international processes.
Dr. Anna Bethune
Dr. Anna Bethune is a learning scientist and impact strategist. Over the last decade, she has worked with nonprofits, corporations, tech startups, government agencies and community organizations from Silicon Valley to Africa. She is the lead strategy officer at EduFocal in Kingston Jamaica after previously serving as member, World Bank Youth Advisory Council. She served as a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University after obtaining her Bachelor of Arts in Economics at Stanford University.
Bibi Wycliffe
Bibi Wycliffe leads the UN Industrial Development Organization’s Investment & Technology Promotion Office Nigeria. Educated at the University of Warwick -Warwick Business School, Bibi was the in-country advisor on the USAID gas to power transactions project for Africa and led the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 sustainable production pillar.
Dr. Kemak Onyenaucheya
Dr. Kemak Onyenaucheya sits on multiple boards in the development sector and has over 2 decades of experience leading impactful programs and organizations in Africa, Europe, and North America. He has consulted with the world’s leading international development organizations and multi-lateral agencies including UK-AID, GIZ, the USAID, Stanford University SEED Program, etc. He served as Nigeria’s envoy to the World Youth Forum.
Dr. Pooja Vikra
Dr. Pooja Vickra is a globally respected expert in sustainable development, climate resilience, and inclusive economic transformation, known for her ability to translate complex global challenges into actionable strategies for governments, corporations, and development institutions. With more than 20 years of leadership across Africa, Asia, and Europe, she has shaped high‑impact programs that advance climate adaptation, gender equity, circular economy transitions, and sustainable finance.
Jakub Zientala
Jakub Zientala an international development consultant and public affairs expert navigates trade, government affairs, and citizens empowerment, -translating political and regulatory complexity into strategic advantage. He has led and continues to engage sustainable projects in Africa, Southeast Asia and Europe. He served as a European Commission climate pact ambassador and holds a master’s degree in public policy and human development from the United Nations University.
Folashade Efiong-Bassey
Folashade Efiong-Bassey is a seasoned HR executive in Africa’s global technology sector. She holds an INSEAD executive MBA on future focused global leadership program executive education. She has led high-impact initiatives in learning and development, talent optimization, succession planning, and change management -delivering measurable results in productivity, retention and organizational growth.
Dr. Susan Mitchell
She has a proven track record of successfully improving program design and execution with strong emphasis on sustainability planning. She has led initiatives to enhance local capacity and effectiveness, channelling these into global execution of development programs. Her work in the last 15 years has been instrumental in promoting SME growth in the middle east, ensuring sustainable development outcomes in the region.
Oluwaseyi Ladejobi
Oluwaseyi Ladejobi strenghtened the capacity of local MSMEs and Manufacturers as National Project Coordinator, United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) after serving as Head of Employability and Start-ups at Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. Her extensive work in the financial sector mirrors her MBA from Nexford University.
Clare Henshaw
Clare Henshaw, head of inclusive growth at UNDP Nigeria is a well-heeled international development consultant with over 2 decades of experience. She holds several degrees including an MBA from Rome Business School, Metropolitan School of Business & Management UK, and has led several multilateral, multinational development organizations and agencies as country director.
Joseph Agunbiade
Joseph Agunbiade educated at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a cutting-edge career at General Electric USA is an innovation, product and operations expert and founder/chancellor at Univelcity – a visionary leader in tech education in Africa. He was an innovation consultant at Bloomberg Global Mayors Challenge in the United Kingdom, United Kingdom Department for International Development, Silicon Harbour, etc. In the past 3 years, he has consulted across insurance, banking, Edtech, and Telecoms helping organizations bridge gaps between strategy and execution. He is the co-Founder at BudgIT, Africa’s leading governmental budget execution watchdog.
Dr. Michael Sunbola
Dr. Michael Sunbola an Obama Leader, Ashoka Fellow, French African Foundation Laureate and award-winning social entrepreneur, food system activist and community mobilizer is the founder of Lagos Food Bank, the largest hunger-relief nonprofit in Nigeria. He has been profiled in several globally recognized publication including Forbes Magazine, Redrick Public Relations, etc. Through his work, Michael has raised over $2 million USD and leads 25,000 volunteers at the initiative serving 2.4 million beneficiaries.
AMB. Kondwani Mwendo
Ambassador Kondwani Mwendo has served on charter Panels representing his native Malawi across Africa and globally. One of Malawi’s emerging generations of development leaders, he is a sexual & reproductive health rights activist, an environmental sustainability and youth development advocate. His position as a leading young change agent in Malawi has seen him at the intersection of government and the grassroots in developing and delivering turnkey programs that have positively impacted the livelihoods of rural Malawians.
Mr. Kumar Pawan
Pawan is an international development practitioner and diplomacy advocate with nearly a decade of experience across South and Southeast Asia. His work focuses on global health, entrepreneurship, public policy, and multilateral cooperation. He has contributed to USAID-supported initiatives on tuberculosis and mental health during the COVID-19. During India’s G20 Presidency, he served as a Youth Envoy, promoting youth engagement in global policy dialogue. He is an alumnus of BRICS International School – New Generation and served as a National Specialist with the United Nations in South Asia.