Introducing myself and my journal: My World Our Girls

About Me:
More like my CV: I have worked in the following places:
• 2007 - United Nations Volunteer Operations Officer – (UNDP) Sierra Leone

Reporting to the Operations Advisor
 Assist the National Elections Commission (NEC) counterpart with planning, management and implementation of the electoral operational plan;

 Build capacity of NEC counterpart by providing advice on electoral field coordination strategies within the county;

 Assist NEC in the recruitment and training of staff for the county office and for electoral operations and ensure proper recruitment procedures are carried out.

 Assist NEC in ensuring that all operational tasks are completed on time, comprehensively and in accordance with the election operational plan, timeline and election regulations.

 Assist NEC in coordination of all personnel and material movements in close coordination with the NEC Operations and Logistics departments;

 Assist NEC in development and effective internal reporting mechanism;

 Act as an administrative supervisor for the UNV County Electoral Adviser Training/Civic Education

 2004- 2005 United Nations Volunteer: County Electoral Adviser (Operations)- (UNMIL) Liberia

 Assist the National Elections Commission (NEC) counterpart at county level with planning, management and implementation of the electoral operational plan;

 Build capacity of NEC counterpart by providing advice on electoral field coordination strategies within the county;

 Assist the County Magistrate in the recruitment and training of staff for the county office and for electoral operations and ensure proper recruitment procedures are carried out.

 Assist the NEC counterpart in ensuring that all operational tasks at county level are completed on time, comprehensively and in accordance with the election operational plan, timeline and election regulations.

 Assist the County Magistrate in coordination of all personnel and material movements in close coordination with the NEC Operations and Logistics departments;

 Assist the County Magistrate in development and effective internal reporting mechanism;

 Act as an administrative supervisor for the UNV County Electoral Adviser Training/Civic Education and the UNV County Electoral Adviser Logistics;

 Team leader for the Electoral team in Bomi County

 The team finished compilation of result before any \\county in the entire Country

 The team had an outstanding performance.

 2001 – 2006 Electoral Commissioner:
Benue State Independent Electoral Commission
Planning, conduct and management of elections into Local Government Councils.
• management and policy-making, overall supervision and control of the process of the elections
• responsible for the preparation, organization and the adoption of all necessary measures to ensure free and fair elections
• Build Capacity of regular and ad hoc staff, recruitment and training for elections.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Chairman, Action Plan Committee
• Draw up action plan of activities for the commission
• Recommend organogram for the local government offices as well as the commission.
• To work out logistic requirements for election

Head: Public Relations,
• Liaison with the public and Press for the Commission
• Training of Electoral Staff
• Civic and Voter Education

 1998 – 2003 Coordinator:
Gender and Peace Initiative: A local NGO involved in advancement of the rights and mobilisation of women and youth, creating gender awareness and sensitization, and promotion of nonviolence for peaceful co existence.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Coordinator
• Coordinate all affairs of the organization
• Gender awareness and sensitivity trainer
• Active Non-violence trainer

 1995-1998 Self exile

 1992-1993 Member: Federal House of Representatives:
Federal Republic of Nigeria
Member: House Committee on Communications, House Committee on Tourism, and House Committee on women and Children Affairs.
RESPONSIBILITIES: Law making for the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Liaison between constituency and Legislative House
Ensuring Federal Government presence in constituency

 1990-1992 Public Relations Executive:
Lenoil Nigeria Limited
Ensuring that the organisation was portrayed in a good light; responsible for the effective and efficient performance of company’s social responsibilities; client relations; identifying PR needs [target publics] and proposing adequate PR solutions, effective liaisons between the company and the relevant publics; ensuring customer satisfaction.

 1989-1990 Accounts department: Ashland Oil [National Youth Service Corp]
Liaison between company and contractors. Documentation of contractors’ payments. (Accounts Executive)

 1985 Reporter: National Concord Newspapers.
News reporting and events coverage; assisted State correspondent in Niger State.

MY CERTIFICATES

 2006 Benue State University
MA (Theatre Arts)

 1990 Nigerian Institute of Journalism
NIJ Certificate in Advanced Public Relations
NIJ Certificate in Intensive Advertising

 1989-1990 National Youth Service Corp [NYSC]
Certificate for National Service

 1986-1989 University of Jos, Plateau State
BA [Theatre Arts]

 1984-1986 Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State
OND [Mass Communications]

 1977-1982 St. Anne’s Secondary School, Otukpo, Benue State
GCE [O’ Levels]

SEMINAR PRESENTATIONS

 ‘Community Theatre, Gender Equality and Empowerment in Nigeria’ (2002)

 ‘Role of Gender in Conflict Resolution: The Case of Tiv, Nasarawa and Jukun Crises’ (2002)

 ‘The Experiences of Tiv Women in the Nasarawa, Taraba Crises’ (2002)

 ‘An Analysis of Henrik Ibsen’s “A Dolls House”: Employing the Feminist Theatrical Theory’ (2002)

 ‘Growing up’. Paper presentation as part of activities marking graduation at AVECO Model Secondary School, Makurdi, Benue State. July 2003

 ‘Coping with Pubertal Changes: Tips for Adolescents’. Paper presentation as part of activities marking Children’s Day by Children’s Rights Information Network (CRIN) held at Mt. Saint Gabriel Secondary School, Makurdi, Benue State. May 2003

WORKSHOPS FACILITATED

• ‘Gender Awareness and Sensitivity Workshop for Secondary School Teachers’ GOTIT YOUTH CENTRE, No. 8 Armstrong Avenue, Otukpo, October 2004

• ‘Non-Violence: A Way of Life’ A One Day Sensitization Workshop for Undergraduates. Organized by GPI July 2004

 The Workshop on the Training of Benue State Civil Society Groups on legislative Advocacy for Good Governance in Benue State, Nigeria. By Child Rights Protection Initiative [CRPI] Makurdi, Benue State. October 2003

 ‘The Role of Women in a Democratic Process’. A presentation at the All Female Politicians’ Summit. Under the auspices of Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) Benue State Chapter. March 2003

 ‘Challenges to Women in the Nigerian Democracy’. A presentation at Enhancing Women’s Active participation in Democracy Workshop. Organized by Women Opinion Leaders Forum (WOLF). August 2002

COURSES ATTENDED

 ‘Foundation course of the International Civilian Peace-Keeping and Peace-Building Training Program’ Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR). 2002

 ‘The Specialization Course on Humanitarian Assistance of the International Civilian Peace-Keeping and Peace- Building Training Program. Austrian Study Center for Peace and Conflict Resolution (ASPR) 2002

 ‘ How Can Parliamentarians Best Re-engage The Public?’ Wilton Park Conference in association with The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. UK. June 2003

 Regional African Gender Training. Organized by the Women Peacemakers Program (WPP) of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) and JYAK. Uganda September 2003

 International Training on Peace-building and Good Governance for African Civilian Personnel. Organized by Legon Centre for International Affairs, Accra Ghana, and Scuola Superiore Sant’Ana, Pisa, Italy, - Ghana September 2004.

 Advanced International Training Programme: Gender and Peace building
Cluj-Napoca, Romania, TRANSCEND and the Peace Action, Training and Research Institute of Romania (PATRIR) , Romania April 2006.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 Nationality: Nigerian

o Date/Place of Birth: February 28 1966 / Otukpo, Benue State

o Marital Status: Married with three [3] children

o Hobbies: Travelling, reading, writing and meeting people.

o Next of Kin Obande Julian Ogbole, (Husband)

o Travels: United States, United Kingdom, France, Austria, Ireland, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Ghana, Uganda, Cote D’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Togo, Benin Republic, Liberia, Guinea, Romania.

My Passions:
I want to see a gender equitable society, gender balance and violence free for both male and female.

My Challenges:
Finding people to work with who have genuine committment to the cause of the girl child

My Vision for the Future:
keep working and maintaining my space

My Areas of Expertise:
gender, theatre arts & elections