Dr Otive Igbuzor to Receive Leadership and Development Advocacy Award at 7th OurNigeria News Awards
Dr Otive Igbuzor to Receive Leadership and Development Advocacy Award at 7th OurNigeria News Awards
By Matthew Eloyi
Dr Otive Igbuzor, a renowned development expert, democracy advocate and public policy strategist, will be honoured with the Leadership and Development Advocacy Award at the 7th OurNigeria News Awards, scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.
The prestigious ceremony, organised by OurNigeria News Magazine, is expected to attract top government officials, diplomats, policymakers and influential personalities from across Africa and beyond, in a grand celebration of excellence, leadership and national development.
Dr Igbuzor is the Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), a leading think-tank dedicated to promoting good governance, democratic development and social justice in Africa.
He is also the General Overseer of the Palace of Priests Assembly (PPA), reflecting his unique blend of civic leadership and spiritual guidance.
Over the years, Dr Igbuzor has built a distinguished career spanning public service, civil society advocacy and international development. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy President of the Senate in the 9th National Assembly, bringing his deep policy and governance expertise into the legislative arm of government .
His international development footprint is equally remarkable. He was once International Head of Campaigns at ActionAid International and later Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, leading campaigns and programmes across more than 50 countries focused on eradicating poverty and injustice .
Dr Igbuzor also served Nigeria as a Commissioner in the Police Service Commission (PSC) between 2008 and 2013, representing civil society and contributing to reforms in police governance and accountability. Earlier in his career, he was Programme Coordinator at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Secretary of the Citizens’ Forum for Constitutional Reform (CFCR), where he played a key role in advancing participatory constitutional and democratic reforms in Nigeria .
An accomplished scholar, Dr Igbuzor has authored and co-edited numerous influential books and academic publications on democracy, governance, national security, public administration, development and leadership. In all, he has 53 academic publications, including 10 books and 16 journal articles, making him one of Nigeria’s most prolific public intellectuals in governance and development studies .
His academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, two Master’s degrees in Public Administration and International Relations, and a Doctorate in Public Administration with specialisation in Policy Analysis, equipping him with a rare multidisciplinary approach to development and leadership .
Beyond academia and public service, Dr Igbuzor is deeply engaged in institutional and social development. He is the President of the Ejiro & Otive Igbuzor Foundation and sits on the boards of several respected organisations, including Oando Foundation, Police Health Maintenance Ltd (Police HMO), Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) and Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation (POWER).
In global recognition of his advocacy for human rights and gender justice, Dr Igbuzor was appointed in 2012 by former UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, into the Global Network of Men Leaders to End Violence Against Women, a prestigious global platform promoting gender equality and the protection of women’s rights .
According to the organisers of the OurNigeria News Awards, Dr Igbuzor’s selection for the Leadership and Development Advocacy Award reflects his decades-long commitment to democratic governance, social justice, citizen participation and institutional reform in Nigeria and across Africa.
The award night promises to be a highlight on Nigeria’s socio-political calendar, celebrating individuals and institutions whose work continues to shape national discourse and promote sustainable development. For Dr Otive Igbuzor, the honour stands as yet another affirmation of a lifetime dedicated to leadership, service and transformative change.
