Christian Aid has appointed its first director based outside the UK. 

The international development charity said it has recruited Nigeria-based Ojobo Ode Atuluku to be its international programmes director. 

Atuluku will join at the end of July from ActionAid Nigeria, for which she has worked for the past six years, latterly as head of country support (regional director), Africa. 

The appointment is understood to be part of Christian Aid’s strategy to move more of its decision-making power to the global south. 

Christian Aid said Atuluku, who will be based in Abuja, had 30 years’ professional experience in the public, private and charitable sectors and specialist knowledge in social development and democratic governance. 

It said she had wide experience in areas including human rights, women’s and children’s rights, and humanitarian issues including conflicts and emergencies and education. 

She is a solicitor and advocate of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and holds other roles including being a member of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, and an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. 

Atuluku said: “I feel honoured and excited, not only because I am joining Christian Aid as the director of international programmes, but also that I am joining a global group of committed and passionate people who believe, like me, that extreme poverty can be eradicated.

“These are unprecedented times and the gains against poverty and injustice have witnessed some erosion in the past year because of the impact of Covid-19. 

“However, the pillars of poverty, power and prophetic voice remain relevant as we try to interpret, understand and act to contribute to the change that is inevitable if we are to avoid self-destruction as a human race.”

Amanda Khozi Mukwashi, chief executive of Christian Aid, said Atuluku would bring a huge amount of expertise to the charity’s leadership team. 

“Ojobo’s appointment strengthens our vision of being one Christian Aid with a truly global strategy and a prophetic voice to expose and rid the world of extreme poverty,” she said.

Source: www.thirdsector.co.uk