Plan International Nigeria has initiated a process to replace departing Country Director, Dr Hussaini Abdu.
Abdu, who joined the girl and child rights nonprofit in April 2015, is ‘leaving to take up new challenge’ at the end of this month, according to a statement from the organisation.
The organisation thanked the former ActionAid Nigeria boss for leading Plan International Nigeria to a revered position in the West African country.
The humanitarian aid organisation, according to the statement, said it expanded rapidly under the outgoing country director as it currently runs projects with 80 grants in development and humanitarian intervention worth 83.4 million euros.
‘Under his leadership we have seen programme grow significantly in the last six years, becoming one of the largest in the region and leading on a large and complex humanitarian response in the Lake Chad Basin’, the statement quoted the Director of the Sahel Region of Plan International, Dr Fatoumata Haidara, as saying.
‘In the last four years, Hussaini has been an important pillar for our Lake Chad programme involving the neighbouring countries of Niger and Cameroon’.
For her part, National Director, Plan International Germany, Maike Roettger, also commended Abdu for his great contribution to the growth of the NGO.
‘It was a privilege to work with you and learn from you during my visit to Nigeria. I think it was the most impressive visit I ever experienced’, she said.
‘The success of the Lake Chad Programme, which changed the lives of so many people, children, especially girls, is mainly your success’.
Also speaking, the organisation’s Vice President, Programme and Business, Nadine Grant, said, ‘I remember the early days when you had to set everything virtually from scratch and now it is a huge operation.
‘Congrats for all you have done for the girls and boys in Nigeria and for being an incredible leader here in Plan International’.
Abdu, who holds a PhD in Political Science from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria, taught Political Science and Defence Studies at Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna.
Also, the University of Jos alumnus, who is a leading voice on the challenges of poverty, inequality and exclusion in Africa, has invested actively in influencing people, communities, institutions and systems.
Source: Plan International
Photo source: Hussaini Abdu