Congratulatory messages have been flying in the air for Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji on his recent substantive appointment as the Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI). Many, particularly stakeholders at Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), speak highly of the newest appointee in the bloc, describing him as a veteran journalist. He is a well-known Nigerian broadcaster, journalist, political economist and development communication specialist and columnist. They are confident in his ability to perform brilliantly and excellently; thus, wishing him success in the new role.Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji’s appointment as the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) is for an initial single term of five years in accordance with the provision of Section 12 (2) (a) and 6 (3) of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (Establishment) Act, 2007.No doubt, Orji’s wealth of experience as a widely travelled scholar, author of many books and several researched publications; Fellow of many Corporate bodies including the Corporate Institute of Administration and member of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations would come to play in this new role he has been saddled with by President Muhammadu Buhari. The new Executive Secretary who hails from Abia State is a renowned natural resource governance expert, political economist and development communications expert, who holds M.Sc degree and PhD in Political Economy and International Development from the University of Abuja.Before his new appointment, Orji was the agency’s Director of Communications and Advocacy at NEITI. He attended the Senior Executive Fellows program on public policy and communication at J.F Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. An alumnus of Blatvanik School of Government, University of Oxford, England, the Institute for Public and Private Partnership, Arlington Virginia, the World Bank Institute, and the African Development Bank Institute, Orji holds a Ph.D in Political Economy and International Development.He also received management training from other development institutions. These include the Thomson Foundation Institute, Cardiff U.K, the African Development Bank, the World Bank Institute, the Institute for Public and Private Partnership, Arlington, Virginia, the International Law Institute (ILI), Washington DC and the Lagos Business School. Furthermore, he is a recipient of professional fellowships from the US State Department and from the governments of Germany and the United Kingdom.Dr. Orji was a special adviser to Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Communication on Strategic Development Communication. Between 2004 and 2006, he worked with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) as a national consultant on public procurement reforms. At the UNDP, he worked with other development partners such as the World Bank and USAID on institutionalizing public procurement processes in Nigeria, by articulating a bill on public procurement for consideration and passage into law by the National Assembly. Following the passage of the Bill into law and establishment of the Bureau of Public Procurement on June 4, 2007, Orji headed the media and public affairs department of the Bureau.He served as Special Adviser to the President of the Senate at the National Assembly from 2000 to 2003. During this period, he provided technical support to develop the institutional framework on strategic media/civil society relations and engagements with the country’s legislature emerging from years of military rule.Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji has extensive experience in communications, international development and public service. He is an expert on EITI and natural resource governance.Dr. Orji has worked in management positions in government and for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). He has managed several World Bank, USAID projects on public sector reforms. He was among the team that piloted Nigeria’s public procurement reform program.
NEITI is the Nigerian chapter of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), an international organization with 53 member countries which leads the global campaign for transparency and accountability in the management of extractive resources in resource-rich countries around the world. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji was named NEITI’s Acting Executive Secretary/CEO in 2015, a position he held briefly until 2016. NEITI was established in 2004 as the key anti-corruption agency at the Presidency and is responsible for enthroning transparency, accountability and governance of the country’s oil, gas and mining industries.
Dr. Orji’s role in repositioning Nigeria in the international scene is immense. He represents NEITI on Nigeria’s National Steering Committee of the global Open Government Partnership (OGP) and chairs the extractive sector thematic group in the country’s OGP. He began his career at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) and also worked with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), where he managed several donor-funded projects. At FRCN, he rose to the rank of Director.Orji Ogbonnaya Orji began his early life and education in 1970 at the Presbyterian School, Amanator Isu, Ohaozara in the then Afikpo Division. He attended Ishiagu High School Okigwe for his secondary education from 1975 and obtained his West African School Certificate from the school in 1980. He later proceeded to the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT) Enugu where he graduated with a certificate in Mass communication in 1987. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Abuja, Nigeria in 1999, a master’s degree in political economy and development studies in 2004 and a PhD in the same discipline and from the same University in 2012.
