0
Nigerian development Expert, Health Economist, and Civil Society Leader, Dr. Uzodinma Akujekwe Adirieje, has been unanimously elected as the inaugural President and Chair of the International Board of Directors of the African Refugee Council (ARC), a newly emerging continental platform dedicated to advancing the rights, protection, inclusion, and empowerment of refugees, asylum seekers, returnees, and displaced persons across Africa.
Daily Independent learnt this from Afrihealth CEO, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje, today, being on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, in a release made available to Journalists in Abuja, Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (F.C.T) by Adirieje’s Special Assistant on Media, Publicity & Communication Matters, Comrade Sir Bieni Victor Emenike, as he stated that the election took place during the Third Preliminary Meeting of the African Refugee Council.
Afrihealth CEO stated further that the virtual event, held on June 5, 2026, brought together founding members from Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda. He was nominated by Kenyan founding member Mukiri Muchene and seconded by ARC Convener Kakule Wasingya Rémy of the DRC. With no opposing nominations, members unanimously endorsed his candidacy and elected him by acclamation as the Council’s first President.
The release commending the leadership of the African Refugee Council (ARC) had elected him as the Council’s first President; found him worthy of such global recognition, then noted that his election marked a significant milestone in the formation of what is envisioned as a continental voice for refugee governance, advocacy, coordination, and protection. Participants cited Dr. Adirieje’s extensive leadership experience, strong policy background, international reputation, and commitment to inclusive development as key factors influencing their decision.
The release by the first president of ARC reads in part: “In my speech accepting the mandate, I, Dr. Adirieje, had described the position as a responsibility rather than an honour, emphasizing that the role should be exercised in service to all member countries and stakeholders. This is not a position for one individual,” he told members following his election. “It is a collective responsibility to build a credible institution that represents refugees and displaced persons across Africa. The President must remain first among equals, working collaboratively with all members and national coordinators.”
“The African Refugee Council is being established as a continental network that seeks to strengthen refugee participation in governance processes, advocate for durable solutions to displacement, promote livelihoods and economic empowerment, support legal protection and policy reforms, and foster partnerships among governments, civil society organizations, humanitarian agencies, and refugee-led groups”.
“At subsequent deliberations held on 12 June 2026, Dr. Adirieje chaired his first official meeting as President, where the Council adopted key governance decisions, approved executive leadership appointments, and formally resolved that Kenya would host the continental headquarters of the organization. The meeting also reviewed a draft Five-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2030) aimed at positioning ARC as Africa’s leading refugee governance and advocacy platform.
“Under Dr. Adirieje’s leadership, the Council has already identified seven strategic pillars to guide its work, including policy advocacy and legal protection, refugee leadership and participation, durable solutions and inclusion, livelihoods and economic empowerment, partnerships and global engagement, research and knowledge systems, and institutional sustainability”.
“Dr. Adirieje brings to the position decades of experience in development policy, civil society leadership, health economics, monitoring and evaluation, and international advocacy. He serves as Chief Executive Officer and Programmes Director of the Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA), President of the Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN), and Chairperson of the Global Civil Society Consortium on Climate Change (GCSCCC). He has played important roles in advancing health equity, climate justice, sustainable development, and civil society engagement across Africa”.
“Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is an Evaluation expert who drafted Nigeria’s national M&E policy, was President of Nigeria Association of Evaluators (2019–2022), National Chairman of the 80,000 organisations strong CSOs Strategy Group on SDGs in Nigeria (2019 – 2024), Chairman of Nigeria’s World Malaria Day Committee (2019), among others. He previously served as Technical Adviser to Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs (2012 – 2014), and Conference Coordinator for the 2nd GlobalPOWER Women Network Africa (GPWNA) High Level Meeting (HLM), organized by the Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the African Union and with support of UNAIDS; Member of the Presidential National Steering Committee on Alternate School Programme (ASP) in Nigeria (2019-2023); Member of the Malaria Technical Working Group (TWG), NMEP/FMOH, Nigeria; and member of the National Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) TWG, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Nigeria”.
“Dr. Adirieje was the consultant of NACA/World Bank that developed Imo State Multi-sectoral HIV and AIDS Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Plan in 2012; and served as the sole consultant for the ‘Development of GFATM Comprehensive Manual of Procedures’ for Nigeria, 2012. In 2014, Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje undertook a data quality self-assessment (DQS) of RI in Njaba and Owerri West LGAs of Imo State as a consultant of the NPHCDA. Dr. Adirieje was the National Team Supervisor and Data Team Leader (data collector, data analyst, and data quality assessment) of the Global Fund/NMEP/ISA’s Malaria Matchbox Nigeria Project 2020-2021 in conflict-ridden Northeastern Nigeria. He is a Member of Nigeria’s TWG on M&E; and National Core Working Group on 2020 Voluntary National Review (VNR), and Chair of Civil Society Response for Nigeria’s 2020 VNR”.
“Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje was the Co-Principal Consultant who drafted the Monitoring and Evaluation Policy of Nigeria, which has been approved by the Nigerian Government. He was the consultant who produced Nigeria’s SDG-3/Health Evaluation synthesis, and was a key participant in Nigeria’s national evaluation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3 and 4. During 2017-2018, he was the Project Director that implemented the very successful ‘Sustainable Citizen Participation (SCP) in Nigeria’s Niger Delta’ Project funded by United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF), addressing biodiversity, ecosystems, environment, renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation and climate change (BEEREECCC), and other SDGs challenges across 81 communities/LGAs in Niger Delta – home to over 30 million people. Dr. Adirieje was the National Team Supervisor and Data Collection Team Leader (data collector, data analyst, and data quality assessment) of the Global Fund/NMEP/ISA’s Malaria Matchbox Nigeria Project 2020-2021 in conflict-ridden North-eastern Nigeria.
“Uzodinma was the Conference Manager of the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) in 2005, and Projects Coordinator of the Nigeria National Health Conferences in 2006 and 2009, respectively. He’s a Member of the Technical Committee Meeting on Draft Standards for Renewable Energy in Nigeria. Dr Adirieje participated in the 2018 African Ministerial Conference on Environment (AMCEN) in Nairobi and the 2018 meetings/activities of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Observers note that his election reflects growing recognition of the need for experienced and visionary leadership to address the continent’s complex displacement challenges. Africa currently hosts millions of refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, and returnees affected by conflict, climate-related disasters, banditry, economic instability, and humanitarian emergencies. The African Refugee Council aims to provide a coordinated continental framework through which refugee voices can be amplified and integrated into policymaking processes”.
“The organization intends to work closely with governments, regional institutions, humanitarian agencies, development partners, and refugee communities to promote protection, inclusion, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. Founding members expressed confidence that Dr. Adirieje’s leadership would help establish the credibility and visibility of the new organization while strengthening collaboration among national refugee councils across Africa”.
“As ARC continues to expand its membership and establish national chapters, stakeholders across the continent are expected to watch closely as the organization develops into a unified platform for advancing refugee rights, social inclusion, and human dignity. For many participants, the election of Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje represents not only the emergence of a new continental institution but also a renewed commitment to ensuring that refugees and displaced persons are recognized as active contributors to Africa’s development and future prosperity”.
