Dr Otive Igbuzor Set to Be Honoured with Leadership and Development Advocacy Award at 2026 OurNigeria News Awards
A renowned development practitioner, democracy advocate and public policy strategist, Dr Otive Igbuzor, is set to be honoured with the Leadership and Development Advocacy Award at the 7th OurNigeria News Awards, scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the Abuja Continental Hotel, PulseNets learnt.
The highly anticipated ceremony, organised by OurNigeria News Magazine, is expected to draw senior government officials, diplomats, policymakers and influential figures from across Africa and other regions, in what organisers describe as a major celebration of leadership excellence, public service and national development, PulseNets reported.
Dr Igbuzor is the Founding Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), a leading African think-tank widely recognised for its work on good governance, democratic development and social justice. He also serves as the General Overseer of the Palace of Priests Assembly (PPA), a role that reflects his distinctive blend of civic engagement and spiritual leadership.
Over several decades, Dr Igbuzor has built a career spanning public service, civil society advocacy and international development. PulseNets obtained that he previously served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy President of the Senate during the 9th National Assembly, where he brought strong policy, governance and legislative expertise into the heart of Nigeria’s lawmaking process.
His international development record is equally notable. He once held the position of International Head of Campaigns at ActionAid International and later served as Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, leading anti-poverty and social justice campaigns across more than 50 countries, according to information made available to PulseNets.
Dr Igbuzor also served the country as a Commissioner in the Police Service Commission (PSC) between 2008 and 2013, representing civil society interests and contributing to key reforms in police governance, oversight and accountability. Earlier in his professional journey, he was Programme Coordinator at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and Secretary of the Citizens’ Forum for Constitutional Reform (CFCR), where he played an active role in advancing participatory constitutional and democratic reforms in Nigeria.
An accomplished scholar and public intellectual, Dr Igbuzor has authored and co-edited numerous influential books and academic works covering democracy, governance, national security, leadership, public administration and development studies. PulseNets learnt that he has 53 academic publications, including 10 books and 16 peer-reviewed journal articles, placing him among Nigeria’s most prolific voices in governance and development scholarship.
His academic training reflects a rare multidisciplinary depth. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, two Master’s degrees in Public Administration and International Relations, and a Doctorate in Public Administration, with specialisation in Policy Analysis, credentials that have shaped his analytical approach to leadership and development.
Beyond academia and government service, Dr Igbuzor remains deeply involved in institutional and social development initiatives. He is the President of the Ejiro & Otive Igbuzor Foundation and sits on the boards of several respected organisations, including Oando Foundation, Police Health Maintenance Ltd (Police HMO), Nigerian Women Trust Fund, Centre for Women’s Health and Information (CEWHIN) and Partnership Opportunities for Women Empowerment Realisation (POWER).
In recognition of his global advocacy for human rights and gender justice, PulseNets learnt that Dr Igbuzor was appointed in 2012 by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon into the Global Network of Men Leaders to End Violence Against Women, a prestigious international platform dedicated to promoting gender equality and safeguarding women’s rights.
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According to the organisers of the OurNigeria News Awards, Dr Igbuzor’s selection for the Leadership and Development Advocacy Award reflects his decades-long commitment to democratic governance, social justice, citizen participation and institutional reform in Nigeria and across Africa.
The award ceremony is expected to be a standout event on Nigeria’s socio-political calendar, celebrating individuals and institutions whose work continues to shape public discourse and advance sustainable development. For Dr Otive Igbuzor, the recognition stands as another affirmation of a lifetime devoted to leadership, service and transformative impact.
