DR. UZODINMA ADIRIEJE'S PROFESSIONAL CITATION

 Dr. Uzodinma Adirieje is a health, evaluation, project management, research, advocacy and development professional, as well as a biodiversity, ecosystem, and climate actions specialist who is also dedicated to ending violence against women and girls; while addressing the plights of the marginalized and vulnerable populations. He is also a Climate Change and Health Activist, Writer, Researcher, Health Economist, Professional Projects Manager, Energy/Environment/Biodiversity Advocate, ‘One-Health’ Champion; CEO and Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA); Chair, Global Consortium of Civil Society and Non-State Actors for Climate Change and Conference of Parties; President, Civil Society Organizations Strategy Group on the SDGs in Nigeria; President, Society for Conservation and Sustainability of Energy and Environment in Nigeria (SOCSEEN); National Chairman, Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development on Nigeria (CSPD); Executive Secretary, Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Actions Network (NUHCAN); and Past National President, Nigerian Association (NAE). 

Through Dr. Adirieje's leadership, Afrihealth Optonet Association (AHOA) has grown to become a global and community-focused CSOs Network and Think-tank of 2,522 organizations in 117 Countries across all continental regions, with 41,000 members in its Google Group, for the promotion of Development Work, Sustainable Development and Health - as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Uzodinma uses partnership/collaboration, advocacy, communication, research/evidence-generation, capacity development, outreaches, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) as strategies; to benefit rural and poor urban dwellers, marginalized, vulnerable and disadvantaged populations of women, children, youth, adolescents, people with disability, orphans and elderly. 

Dr. Adirieje leads the AHOA Network and explores the nexus between Health – UHC, PHC, HIV/AIDS, TB, Malaria, NCDs, Vaccines and COVID-19; Energy and Environment - biodiversity, environment, ecosystems, renewable energy, energy efficiency, conservation and climate change; Nutrition/micronutrients and Food Security; Gender, Democracy, Good Governance and Human Rights. AHOA is in Consultative Status at UN ECOSOC, and an Accredited Observer status at the UNEP/UNEA. Dr. Adirieje is a Certified Evaluation and Projects/Programmes Management Consultant; Conferences and Workshops Organizing Expert; Researcher; Health/Development, Climate Change/Biodiversity and Human Rights Advocate; Facilitator/Trainer; Blogger; and Writer/Columnist. He provides consulting services to numerous and diverse community, local, national and international health and development projects/programmes. His services include but are not limited to evaluation, monitoring and supportive supervision, research and evidence-generation, training/mentoring and capacity development, meeting facilitation, project/programme management, and oversight in health and development and issues related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 

Uzodinma Adirieje is the Global Coordinator for the Coalition on Vaccines, Vitamins and Immunization for All (COVIA); and served as 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; National President of the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) (2019 – 2022); 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. He was the consultant of NACA/World Bank that developed Imo State Multi-sectoral HIV & 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 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. In 2022, Uzodinma advocated multisectoral approaches towards climate-change, chemicals and wastes threats to health, intersection between the planet and health, urging governments/partners to prioritize carbon emissions reduction and mitigate the harmful health effects of climate-change. He approaches climate-change and energy transition through advocacy, research and resourcing to address vulnerability, mitigation, adaptation and low-carbon economy. 

His interests traverse the Paris Agreement, adoption of best practices/climate-resilient actions, mobilizing businesses/industry to invest in renewables to avoid disruptions, increasing resilience to climate-change; developing and strengthening the capacity of youths, rural and poor urban communities and activists in manufacturing/assembly/services/repairs of solar panels, components and devices, mini-grid design, deployment and application of internet-of-things (IOT), and promoting climate-change focal points in schools and communities. Uzodinma strongly advocates progressive investments in climate justice/finance instruments, digital and circular economy, carbon economy, and climate smart agriculture for effective and result-based adaptation and mitigation of the climate crisis.