Management Team
Pharm. Emeka Emmanuel Okafor
Chief of Party
Emeka Emmanuel Okafor is a seasoned private health sector engagement expert with over 19 years of experience managing complex public health interventions in Nigeria. He holds a bachelors’ degree in Pharmacy from University of Lagos and a master’s degree in Project Development and Implementation from University of Ibadan. Emeka possesses in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Nigerian private health sector. His expertise spans across various areas of public health including private sector engagement, social marketing, community mobilization, procurement, and supply chain management. Emeka currently manages a multi-million-dollar project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates foundation and MSD for Mothers called the IntegratE project and implemented by a consortium of partners led by Society for family Health (SFH).
This project seeks to expand access to quality family planning and primary healthcare (PHC) services through community pharmacists and the patent and proprietary medicines vendors (PPMVs). Emeka’s work in this innovative project is redefining the way family planning and PHC services are provided by the pharmacies and drug stores thus providing evidence for incremental policy change for sustainable delivery of community-level health services for those most in need. This transformative project has led to the recognition and incorporation of the private sector especially community pharmacists and PPMVs in some major health polices in Nigeria. Prior to this role, Emeka has implemented several HIV, Family planning Maternal and Neonatal Child Health projects funded by USAID, FCDO and the Global fund.
Pharm. Michael Alagbile
Deputy Chief of Party
Michael Alagbile is a seasoned Pharmacist with vast experience in public health and pharmaceutical supply chain. Areas of expertise include program management, private sector engagement, public health policy design and health system strengthening. Vast experience in building innovative, private health sector led approaches to increasing access to PHC services at national and sub-national level.
Extensive advocacy and relationship management experience working with governments, donors and private sector partners at the highest level. Academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Pharmacy from the prestigious Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, an MBA from the same university and an MSc in Public Health From College of Medicine University of Lagos. Academic awards include Obafemi Awolowo (O.A.U) university scholarship for outstanding students, the Best Graduating Student in the Faculty of Pharmacy and the Overall Best Student in the 1991 Final B. Pharm examination O.A.U, Ile-Ife among others.
Mr. Sikiru Baruwa
Research, M&E Director
Sikiru Baruwa is a sociologist with over 20 years of experience in monitoring and evaluation in local and international development. He works with Population Council as a Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Director where he supports the design, data management, analysis and reporting of all research studies and M&E activities for the IntegratE project and has worked with Abt Associates as Senior M&E advisor and Family Health International/Achieving Health, Nigeria as Senior Technical Officer, M&E.
Mr. Baruwa earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sociology from the University of Lagos and University of Ibadan respectively. He has attended 8 trainings in the past 15 years including the Summer Institute on Sexuality, Culture and Society at the Universiteit van Amsterdam; a short course on Monitoring and Evaluation of Development Activities at the University of East Anglia; and a workshop on Participatory Community Assessment, organized by International AIDS Alliance for 10 NGOs in Nigeria.
Mr. Johnson Ekele
Regional Programme Manager
Johnson Ekele is currently serving as a Regional Programme Manager with Society for Family Health on IntegratE project, a Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health project funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, that seeks to expand access to family planning and primary health care services through Community Pharmacists and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors. Leading a cross disciplinary team of State Technical Advisors, Accountants and Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Advisor, for the planning and coordination from award of contract to completion.
Leading the daily management of project implementation activities of work planning, budgeting, advocacy, capacity building, reporting and documentation, supportive supervision of project team and human resource management and administration. A highly creative, self- motivated professional with solid progressive experience in applying evidence-based approaches to public health interventions, administration, and proffering solutions.
Owns over 20 years of demonstrated experience with local and international organizations, in applying public health principles for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health programmes, HIV/AIDS prevention and control, social and behaviour change communication (SBCC), and non-communicable diseases related interventions targeted at the poor and vulnerable populations in hard-to-reach communities.
Holds two master’s degree in Health Management and Public Health in addition to a Postgraduate diploma in Education and certificate in Health Promotion from Leeds Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. A Crown Agents (UK) certified Inspiration leader, member Nigeria Institute of Management, a team player and result oriented leader that work effectively with others (i.e. senior management, colleagues, subordinates, technical and non-technical staff), to accomplish corporate objectives.
Jennifer Aderonke Ladokun
Regional Program Manager (South)
Jennifer Aderonke Ladokun is a Public Health Professional skilled in overseeing the planning, coordination, execution and implementation of public health projects. She has proven experience in health systems strengthening, maternal and child health, family planning, program management and healthcare quality improvement.
Jennifer is Passionate about assuring the delivery of quality health care especially for the most vulnerable groups by seeking opportunities that promotes better health outcomes using data for evidence-based decision making that result in improvement changes.
Jennifer holds a Master of Public Health Degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. Currently, she leads the IntegratE project as the Regional Program Manager where she coordinates and provides technical guidance in all program activities in both Lagos and Enugu State.
Mr. Dayyabu Mahmud Yusuf
Regional Program Manager (North-West)
Dayyabu has more than 18 years demonstrated experience in design and implementation of public health, social marketing and Health systems strengthening Interventions in Nigeria. He is a Health Economist, Health Systems, and community engagement specialist. He has worked extensively in the areas of RMNCH, HIV and AIDS, Malaria, Child Survival and Nutrition. He has strong technical experience across the FP and MNCH continuum as well as building and leading large complex teams working across multiple programs.
He has worked extensively on Primary Healthcare System Strengthening in Northern Nigeria. He worked with FCDO funded Lafiya – (UK support for Health in Nigeria) and the DFID funded Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNCH2) Programme as State Team Leader Kano and later as Deputy National Team Leader Technical. Through these programmes, he has led and supported comprehensive Health Sector reforms in Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Yobe, Katsina and Zamfara states.
He has very strong technical skills and advocacy experience working with Public and Private sector, government officials, legislators and influential traditional and religious leaders and institutions to facilitate required institutional behavior and policy changes that facilitate effective program implementation.
