International charity Christian Aid appoints Nigerian as director

International development and humanitarian charity Christian Aid has appointed Osai Ojigho as its new Director of Policy and Campaigns.

Ojigho is a Nigerian human rights expert, lawyer and advocate for gender equality. She is also Amnesty International Nigeria’s Country Director since 2017.

This is according to a statement made available to The PUNCH on Tuesday, Ojigho will be responsible for leading Christian Aid advocacy, public campaigns, research, policy and learning.

Her appointment as a director at the international charity will take effect on March 6, 2023.

Christian Aid’s Chief Executive, Patrick Watt, said Ojigho’s appointment would bring valuable experience to the organization.

“I am pleased with this appointment. Osai demonstrated strong strategic insight and energy, and she brings valuable national and international experience in campaigning on complex human rights issues and navigating sensitive political contexts.

“Outside Africa, her advocacy experience has taken her to the US, Asia, Latin America and The Hague. This experience comes in handy as she manages a diverse department in five countries. We look forward to having Osai join us,” said Watt.

While Ojigho said in her speech, “I am thrilled to join Christian Aid as it leads a campaign for a just world where everyone is treated with dignity and where equality is the norm. It is an honor to be part of a team committed to communities most affected by the climate crisis, structural social and economic inequalities and gender injustice.

“I look forward to expanding our reach, mobilizing engagement and contributing to a rights-based development practice.”

Prior to joining Amnesty International, Ojigho was Oxfam’s Pan-Africa Program Manager, based in Nairobi, and had held a number of other Pan-African advocacy roles, including as State of the Union Campaign Coordinator and Deputy Director of Alliances for Africa.

At the time, she was also a human rights observer for the AU mission to Mali and the Sahel. She has a legal background and studied in Nigeria and the UK.