Pascaline Ogechukwu Udegbunam
Researcher | Policy Analyst | Development Journalist
A dedicated research professional with nearly a decade of diverse experience in journalism, policy analysis, and investigative reporting. She writes high-impact research initiatives and crafting compelling story narratives on climate change, agriculture, and governance. Also she produces comprehensive research outputs, engaging stakeholders across sectors, and driving policy reforms through ethical, solution-focused reporting.
Lucky Owoicho is an education development practitioner committed to ensuring that children in rural and low-income communities have access to education. With over seven years of experience in the development sector across various fields, he is passionate about advocating for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are essential for effective development work.
Currently, he serves as a programme manager at the Aid For Rural Education Access Initiative (AREAi), an EdTech nonprofit organisation dedicated to bridging learning gaps in underserved and marginalised communities.
Lucky is also a Fellow at the Open Mind Young Voices programme, supported by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, a German nonprofit organisation. He also leads ""The Benue We Want"" project, which envisions a brighter future for the state. This initiative began in 2023 with a series of discussions and has since resulted in the creation of a policy brief and an advocacy initiative which has united indigenous youth leaders and experts to envision the role of young people in advancing governance, promoting agricultural and food systems for development, leveraging ICT, improving access to public information, and building partnerships for youth growth in Benue State.
SANI Emmanuel is a Nigerian Lawyer and Programmes Officer at PROMAD, he is
dedicated to solving the critical challenges of governance and Youth political inclusion with
over four (4) years of experience, he advocates for social accountability, civic empowerment,
and SDGs, driving efforts to bridge the existential knowledge gap in civic participation and
fostering innovative civic solutions in his work for the attainment of sustainable development
in grassroots communities.
I’m a dedicated professional with experience in communications, secretarial duties, and English instruction. Currently working as the Desk officer organizational/mobilization at a union office, I also volunteer passionately for gender equality and rights. With strong administrative, networking, and communication skills, I aim to support inclusive advocacy and meaningful change. I’m also committed to continuous personal growth, driven by resilience, gratitude, and a deep love for learning.
Daniel Akande is a human rights activist, journalist, and environmentalist. He is the Founder of Greenwaves Environmental Consult and Greenwaves Climate Action. A development expert and political and socio-economic analyst, he specialises in civic space restrictions, grassroots resistance, and democracy/governance issues in Nigeria. With expertise in investigative journalism, policy analysis, and community mobilisation, he amplifies marginalised voices in the struggle for democratic freedoms and social justice.
As a Civic Space Researcher and Advocacy Writer at PlightTalk Media, Daniel investigates political repression and resistance movements, producing analytical reports and advocacy content. He engages with activists, academics, and thought leaders to provide strategic insights into civic engagement.
In his role as Media and Communications Officer at the Movement for a Socialist Alternative (MSA), he develops grassroots resistance strategies, coordinates advocacy campaigns, and exposes systemic injustices while proposing alternative policies for democratic governance. Additionally, as a political analyst and writer for the International Socialist Alternative (ISA), he examines global civic space suppression, labour rights, and socio-economic struggles.
Daniel has played a leadership role in social movements such as #OccupyNigeria, #EndSARS, and #EndBadGovernance, mobilising communities and advocating for oppressed Nigerians. A skilled researcher and content creator, he is also the CEO of PlightTalk Media. He produces high-quality reports and digital advocacy materials, ensuring grassroots voices inform global human rights efforts.
His unwavering commitment to social justice and democratic governance makes him a vital contributor to civic freedom advocacy worldwide.
A passionate gender champion and a seasoned expert in gender equality, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) for women and girls. As a dedicated community mobilizer and advocate, she actively mentors women and girls while engaging with policy stakeholders to promote, support, and implement laws and policies that protect and advance women’s rights.
Her work is driven by a strong commitment to empowerment, advocacy, mentorship, and policy implementation—key pillars she believes are essential for sustainable societal transformation. Plangnan has collaborated with several organizations on impactful projects centered on inclusion and the rights of women and girls, underscoring her unwavering dedication to social change.
She is an alumna of the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Centre and a Fellow of the Institute of Disaster Management and Safety Science and a fellow of the Open Mind Young Voices Fellowship.
Angela Omale is a prolific writer and a communications specialist committed to using her skills to combat social injustice and gender-based violence. She aspires to become a renowned writer and global citizen who contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Inspired by her experience as a survivor of SGBV, Angela founded the Fight Against Rape (FAR) Initiative, which strives to eradicate sexual violence and support adolescent victims and survivors through education, community and school outreaches.
She is a Youth Advisor at Plan International Nigeria and a fellow of reputable organisations, including YALI Abuja, Friedrich Ebert Stiftung-Open Mind Young Voices, and Accountability Lab Nigeria.
Francisca is an advocate for inclusive governance and climate justice. With over 3yrs experience and a commitment to project management, research, community engagement, and advocacy for women’s inclusion at various decision-making levels.
Her aspiration to promote women’s leadership arose from her experience at her Alma mater, where no woman has contested or been allowed to contest for the position of the president of the Student Union Government of the institution.
To remedy this situation, she led campus advocacies against social injustice where women are not allowed to contest for head positions in the Student Union Government, which motivated over 50 females to take an interest and contest for positions. As part of her sustainability plan, she created a self-funded girls' club project in her Alma mater as a support group for promoting and advocating for women’s leadership in the Student Union Government, through which 15 female students gained elective positions in various faculties.
Francisca registered as a member of the People's Democratic Party to understand the framework of political participation in Nigeria and to advocate for gender equality in the party's policies. Since then, she has trained 2,000 women and girls to understand grass-root of politics, play a larger civic role in Government, Public Affairs, and to defend Democracy.
She created the Touch to Heal Initiative, where she mobilized 60 women and led an advocacy campaign against the rejection of the five gender bills by the Nigerian 9th Assembly during the constitutional review process in partnership with Women Aid Collective. She engaged with over 30 government stakeholders and corporate office leaders to practice a quota system that reserves a fraction of positions for women, which accelerated women's representation and participation in different arms of Government and Corporate bodies. She participates in policy reform, policy reviews, and public hearings where she shares gender-responsive ideas on various policies and bills. She registered over 70 youths and women voters in remote areas with no access to the digital registration platform/technology and provides election and civic information through voter guide materials, and awareness campaigns, making them more assertive in voting and being voted for. She participated in co-creating prototypes that solve digital democracy and inclusive governance challenges, organized by CIVICUS. She has tracked the status of 15 women-related Government Promises and projects and calls for immediate actions where required in partnership with support from Promad Foundation, which has led to the completion of various projects.
She, along with 9 advocates, drafted and submitted a youth and gender-friendly policy to the Enugu State Government, highlighting barriers and solutions to youth participation. She has spoken at over 20 events (webinars, panels, fireside chats) highlighting barriers and solutions to women's political representation, including The Feminism Lab Feminist Friday radio engagement, ActionAid Democracy convening events, etc. She utilizes data, storytelling and social media to create awareness about political exclusion issues and their solutions.
Francisca has led as Project support researcher at feminism lab Nigeria on “Feminism perceptionâ€, she served as the first female student secretary of the Department of Home Science and Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the Enugu state coordinator for the National Female Student Association of Nigeria, the youth coordinator for the Nigeria League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Enugu, among many others.
Due to her diligence in promoting democracy and inclusion, she was also selected as a grantee for the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, where she organized discussions and campaigns for women's and youth’s participation and representation in civic and electoral activities. She is the 2022 Female and More Social Impact Project winner among 200 African women. A fellow of the Friedrich Elbert Stiftung Nigeria Open Minds Young Network and Yiaga Africa Community Organizing Institute.
Francisca aspires to join the country's Parliament and directly engage in strengthening legal and policy frameworks for the protection and promotion of women’s rights.
Omotola Joy Adebisi is a dynamic professional with a solid foundation in Mathematics from the Federal University of Lafia. At 18, she has emerged as a leader and advocate for social impact, notably served as the first female and youngest President of her department in 2021. With over three years’ experience spanning tech, project management, and gender advocacy, at Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Abuja office she supported youth activism and security reform. She is currently a board of director on GBV, inequalities and Social vices at Sunshine Gender Humanitarian and Human rights initiatives Nigeria and also work presently with YouthHubAfrica as a program support. Omotola’s work with NGOs shows her passion for women’s empowerment reflect her commitment to inclusion.
