By International Non-governmental Organisation working on girls’ rights, Plan International has announced the appointment of a new Country Director, Mr. Usie Charles Emmamuzou for its Nigeria programme office.
“After a rigorous recruitment process to fill the position following the exit of our pioneer country director who had been in the helm for six year, Mr. Charles came top to lead our growing and dynamic Nigeria Country Programme,” a statement by the organisation said.
The new country director of Plan International Nigeria comes with enviable academic qualifications and more than two decades experience in the development and humanitarian sectors including as the immediate past Country Director of Christian Aid UK where he led a team of over 390 experts delivering life changing interventions for poor and marginalized people.
Prior to that, Charles worked as a National Specialist for Action Aid International between January 2005 and June 2007 supporting the roll out of the REFLECT and STAR community empowerment approaches to tackle HIV in Nigeria. He was also a team lead heading the child survival and youth empowerment for Care for Children Project- an Initiative of the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC) Jos, Catholic Archdiocese of Jos from 1999 to 2004.
Charles who resumed in his new role on Monday, 18th October, 2021 is also currently serving as a member of the Advisory Board of the UNOCHA Nigeria Humanitarian Funds. He is a member of the Institute of Strategic Management, Nigeria and is currently the Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the INGO Forum in Nigeria.
Charles is preparing his Doctoral thesis in Environmental Resource Management with the Nasarawa State University but a Masters of Arts degree in Environment, International Development and Policy from the University of Sussex, United Kingdom made possible as a Chevening scholar in 2012, a Master’s of Science in Health Policy and Planning from University of Benin (still in view-dissertation not submitted), Edo State Nigeria and a Bachelor of Science in Geology and Mining from University of Jos, Plateau State Nigeria.
“I am excited to join the highly dynamic and inspired colleagues at Plan International to build on the solid foundation in the Nigeria country programme in advancing the rights of children and equality for girls,” the statement quoted Charles as saying.
“Nothing inspires me more than seeking and providing solutions to life’s greatest challenges. As an Environmental Health expert, life coach, behavioural influencer and fitness trainer, I believe that people also by right are entitled to live a decent, honourable, fulfilling and pleasurable life, here on earth before they die.”
