Our Team
Fostering sustainable peace and social cohesion in the
West African sub-region.
Professor Mala Mustapha
Executive Director
Mala Mustapha is a Professor of Peace & Conflict Studies and formerly Chair at the Department of Political Science University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. He is the current Executive Director and co-founder of GACRB. He obtained his MA in International Politics & Security Studies at Bradford University United Kingdom in 2003 and a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) in United Kingdom in 2013.
Read More
Mala Mustapha is a Professor of Peace & Conflict Studies and formerly Chair at the Department of Political Science University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. He is the current Executive Director and co-founder of GACRB. He obtained his MA in International Politics & Security Studies at Bradford University United Kingdom in 2003 and a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLAN) in United Kingdom in 2013. Mala has over 10 years working experience working in the civil society and development and peacebuilding sectors as a Consultant and Research fellow to numerous international organizations including Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), International Alert, UNDP, and British Council (Managing Conflicts in Nigeria) projects and USAID where he conducted numerous research projects on reintegration of child soldiers in the context of Boko Haram insurgency, developing policy framework on reconciliation and reintegration of internally displaced persons across the Lake Chad. He has also published widely in peer-reviewed journals and books including the Review of African Political Economy and CODESRIA. His works covers issues of terrorism and counter-insurgency operations in the Lake Chad, migration and internal displacement and Lead Researcher on conducting wide range of practice and evidenced-based research on Countering Violent Extremism in Northeast Nigeria, strengthening traditional justice system in the Lake Chad.
Steve Amuda
Consultant and Director of Programmes
Mr Steve Amuda, is a Director of Programmes and Consultant for GACRB West Africa, who possesses over ten years of extensive experience in the civil society and development sector. Mr Amuda previously served as the Regional Coordinator for the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) and worked as a Research Assistant at the ECOWAS Commission.
Read More
Currently, Mr Amuda is pursuing a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Throughout his career, he has managed numerous projects across the West African sub-region, with a particular focus on Northeast Nigeria. His work includes involvement in a Japanese-funded project through UNDP Nigeria on transitional justice, as well as initiatives on De-radicalisation, Counterterrorism, and Migration (DCM) in the region.
Additionally, Mr Amuda has contributed to efforts addressing violent extremism in Gwoza Local Government, Borno State, supported by the United States Embassy in Nigeria. He has also been integral to the development of transitional justice frameworks in Northeast Nigeria, with projects funded by the MacArthur Foundation and OSIWA.
His work extends to drafting transitional justice policy legal documents for Northeast Nigeria funded by FCDO and initiated the introduction of a professional Master’s degree in transitional justice, along with the Maiduguri Journal of Transitional Justice at the University of Maiduguri.
Babagana Gubo
Team Lead Communications
A graduate of Computer Engineering with more than 6 years of experience in IT and communication, specializing in networking, Hardware installation and maintenance, Data Analysis and AutoCAD. Gubo’s expertise centered on managing projects and developing strategies to enhance organizational communication at GACRB
Babagana Ferobe Isa
Programs Officer
Babagana Ferobe Isa is a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP), Conflict Management Specialists, Partnerships/ HDP Expert, and a Community Change Maker with over 10 years of progressive experience moving projects toward successes. Ferobe is currently the project manager at GACRB on ATJLF supported transitional justice programs in Northeast of Nigeria.
Barr. Fatima Bello Raji
Program Manager – Transitional Justice and Gender Equality
A Nigerian, with dynamic Legal and Humanitarian Expert with Eighteen (18 )years of experience in policy development, legislative drafting, and program management. Proven leadership in advancing justice reforms, gender equity, and conflict resolution across Nigeria and international platforms (UNHCR, UNFPA, CARE International) etc.
Skilled in fostering public-private partnerships, reducing systemic barriers in criminal justice, and promoting tax compliance.
Recognized for strategic vision, cross-cultural communication (fluent in English, Hausa, Fulfulde), and commitment to inclusive humanitarian action.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Humanitarian Program Design & Implementation
- Legal Advocacy & Policy Reform
- Legislative Drafting
- Gender Mainstreaming,Conflict Resolution – Mediation & ADR (Chartered Mediator)
Barrister Fatima joined GACRB in 2023
Dr. Amina Nur Alkali
Gender Advisor
Dr Amina Nur Alkali is a lawyer, teacher and currently a Gender Advisor to GACRB. Amina has vast experience in community outreach, programme coordination, gender advising, and legal and qualitative research. She is a Mandela Washington Fellow with advanced training in alternative dispute resolution, civic leadership and community organising. She has experience working with national and international organisations in research, training, capacity building, gender mainstreaming, advocacy, relief and community outreach projects.
Amina has conducted qualitative research (KIIs, FGDs & PRAs) for organizations such as the ICRC and UKAid. She has also served as facilitator for training of traditional, religious and community leaders on post-conflict justice and peacebuilding.
In her role as gender expert, she organized capacity building workshops for critical stakeholders on addressing sexual and gender-based violence and training and for women-led organizations on advocacy and access to justice for victims of SGBV.
In her work with EU/UNDP- funded projects, Amina facilitated community dialogue and training stakeholders on reintegration and acceptance of persons associated with insurgents in Borno State.
Among her personal humanitarian gestures are initiating, coordinating & implementing relief programmes including skills acquisition programmes for displaced women living in host communities and identifying/matching educational opportunities for orphans; organising women and children to access relief services in the wake of the Borno crisis and advocating for the rights of internally displaced persons through presentations in conferences and publications.
Amina has published several articles in academic journals and edited volumes. She received her PhD from University of Maiduguri.
Saadatu Auwal
Women’s activist on Gender equity and child rights.
Specialist in climate change and peace-building activities amongst local people. Teacher, mother, and grandmother.
Femi Kogo Gbenga,
Programme Officer for Northwest and Central of Nigeria
A PHD student of International Relations, a Masters holder in International Relations and a graduate of Political Science.
One with wide experience in Conflict, Peace Studies and Humanitarian Issues. And also with a strong knowledge of Peace Building, Community and Grassroots engagement.
Research
Fellows
Haruna Ayuba
Research fellow
Haruna Ayuba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. He is also a Coordinator, Academic Programmes at the Centre for Peace, Diplomatic and Development Studies, University of Maiduguri.
Read More
Haruna Ayuba is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria. He is also a Coordinator, Academic Programmes at the Centre for Peace, Diplomatic and Development Studies, University of Maiduguri. He holds a PhD in Political Science. He is an expert in International Relations and Global affairs. He has authored articles in journals and book chapters at the local, national and international level. Over the years, he has taught and supervised students’ Research Projects, theses, and dissertations at both undergraduate and Post Graduate level. He is a fellow of African Cities Research Consortium, Based in Manchester, United Kingdom. He is a leading researcher in a working Group on a Political Settlement Component – Maiduguri City, a Project of African Cities Research Consortium Coordinated by University of Manchester. He has served as Consultant to several organizations – Search for Common Ground, British Council, Natural Resources Institute of the Greenwich University United Kingdom to mention a few.
Jude Abdulkareem Momodu
Research Fellow
Jude Abdulkareem Momodu is a Professor of Peace and Security Studies and the current Director at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adamawa University, Yola.
Read More
Jude Abdulkareem Momodu is a Professor of Peace and Security Studies and the current Director at the Centre for Peace and Security Studies, Modibbo Adamawa University, Yola. He is a security and peacebuilding specialist and a Council Member and Fellow of the Institute for Criminal Justice and Crime Administration (ICJCA), Member and Second Vice President, Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP), Member, Nigeria Army Resource Centre (NARC) and Member, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC). Momodu is a core peace practitioner with an excellent track record in the management of projects funded by UNICEF, United States Institute of Peace (USIP), British Council under the Managing Conflict in Nigeria, Center for Humanitarian Dialogue, Geneva, North East Regional Initiative (NERI), North East Development Commission (NEDC), World Bank/Multi-Sectorial Crisis Recovery Project (MCRP) – Adamawa State, and MCRP-PROLAC/World Bank. He is also a founding member of the Peace Architecture Dialogue, established by Search for Common Ground in Adamawa State.
Board Members
Our esteemed board members bring a wealth of experience and leadership to guide our mission. Their expertise drives the strategic direction of our organization, ensuring accountability and lasting impact.
Idayat Hassan
Chairperson
Read More
Idayat Hassan is a lawyer and has held fellowships in universities across Europe and the United States. Her interests span democracy, peace and security, transitional justice, information, and communications technology for development in West Africa.
She is a Director of Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD – West Africa), a research and Think tank-based organization that promote core value of democracy across the West Africa subregion. She is an expert on global and regional security, transitional justice, countering fake news and disinformation, election, and promotion of good governance across the globe. Idayat is a prominent voice in the fight against gender-based violence and
an advocate for gender equality and inclusion in political space.
She is the author of several books, articles, and journals. She has participated in several international and national conferences. She is a member of National Peace Committee for 2023 general elections, and frequently appears on international and national media as Analyst and Commentator on governance, conflicts, and election issues.
Isaac Olawale Albert
Board Member
Read More
Isaac Olawale Albert is a Professor of African History, Peace and Conflict Studies and the pioneer Dean, Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Ibadan.
He is specialist in conflict analysis, peace process planning, implementation, and evaluation. He is a member of the National Standing Committee of Nigeria’s Tertiary Education Funds (TETFUND) on Research and Development (R&D); the Editor in Chief of the African Union’s African Journal on Terrorism; a Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters; Fellow, Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators (ICMC), Fellow of the Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) and Fellow, West Africa Peacebuilders (Accra, Ghana).
He is a Full Member of the Chatham House London (113597); was a federal delegate to the 2014 Nigeria’s National Conference in Abuja and a member Presidential Committee on the Review of Nigeria’s Defence Policy (2014/15). His latest book (with Professors Badejo and Yahaya) is titled Mediating for peace in Africa: A Festrichft in honour of General Abdulsalami A. Abubakar (Ibadan: Bookcraft Africa, 2022).
Nahzeem Oluwafemi Mimiko, PhD, mni
Board Member
Read More
Femi Mimiko is a Professor of Political Science (Comparative Political Economy and International Relations) at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria (OAU); where he had earned a PhD in International Relations, in 1992. He did post-doctoral studies at The Thomas J. Watson Jr. Institute for International Studies, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA; and at the Academy of Korean Studies, Seoul, South Korea.
fellow of the SSRC-MacArthur Foundation, and the Korean Foundation, among others, Mimiko was also a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Professor under the Military Scholar Initiatives, at the United States Military Academy (USMA), West Point, NY, USA; where he was conferred with the “USMA Army Commander’s Public Service Award” in June 2004. He also got the University of Texas at Austin Africa Conference Distinguished Public Service Award in March 2011. Mimiko served as the 4th Vice Chancellor of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, in Nigeria, from 2010 to 2015. He was African and African-American Studies Associate, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, in 2016 through 2017. A member of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Nigeria; and Delegate at the 2014 National Conference in Abuja, Professor Mimiko was installed the “Gbóbaníyì of Ondo Kingdom,” in January 2019, by the paramount ruler of his natal community in Ondo State, Nigeria.
A celebrated teacher, and an accomplished Keynote Speaker at international conferences, Mimiko was University Post-graduate Fellow at the former University of Ife, Ile-Ife (1983/84). He has authored more than 100 journal articles and book chapters. One of his most cited books is Globalization: The Politics of Global Economic Relations and International Business, Durham, NC: Carolina Academic Press, 2012. Mimiko is a member of, among others, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Nigeria Political Science Association (NPSA), International Political Science Association (IPSA), and the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC). He was chairman of the Alumni Association of the National Institute Education, Science and Technology Committee (AANI-ESTC), and currently a member of its Policy, Strategy and Innovation Committee. He is a consultant on development issues to a number of local and international agencies; and is on the board of some start-up companies.
M. Sani Umar
BOARD MEMBER
Read More
Sani Umar earned his PhD in History and Literature of Religion in 1997 from Northwestern University, Evanston IL (United States).
He is currently a professor in the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies at University of Abuja. He had taught at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Arizona State University in USA. He has published extensively on religion and violence as well as countering violent extremism. He has also been a consultant to the Federal Government of Nigeria, UNDP, and Centre for Democracy and Development. Prof.Umar was a Fellow at the University of California at Los Angeles and Wissenschaftkolleg zu Berlin.
Abubakar Mu’azu
Board member
Read More
Abubakar Mu’azu is a Professor of Mass Communication and Society at the University of Maiduguri.
He served as the Secretary of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Maiduguri from 1994 – 1998. He is an active member of civil society and continues to participate in struggles for the sustenance of democracy, human rights, women’s empowerment, media development and peacebuilding activities for a better Nigerian society. He is a member of the Borno Coalition for Democracy and Progress (BOCODEP) based in Maiduguri.
He was at one time, a Federal Commissioner and Council Member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and also served as Advisory Board Member of Amnesty International, Nigeria. He is the present Chair of the Board of CLEEN Foundation and the Director of the Centre for Peace, Diplomatic and Development Studies, University of Maiduguri.
Mala Mustapha
BOARD MEMBER & CO-FOUNDER
Read More
Mala Mustapha is a Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies and formerly Chair at the Department of Political Science University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
He obtained his MA in International Politics & Security Studies at Bradford University United Kingdom in 2003 and a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Central Lancashire United Kingdom in 2013. Mala is currently a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD), Abuja, Nigeria. Over the years Mala has been working with CDD team in coordinating the implementation of the Center’s Transitional Justice projects in communities affected by Boko Haram insurgency in northeast Nigeria. He also work on the deradicalization, reconciliation and reintegration (DRR) programs in collaboration with the state governments and local CSOs. Mala is also a Consultant to many international NGOs including International Alert, UNDP and British Council (Managing Conflicts in Nigeria) projects.
He has also published widely in peer-reviewed journals and books including the Review of African Political Economy and CODESRIA and Routledge on emerging Conflict dynamics in Africa, terrorism and counterterrorism and peacebuilding.
Ibrahim M. Ahmed
BOARD MEMBER
Read More
brahim Muhammad Ahmad is Associate Professor of Law, he was called to the Nigerian bar in 2005,and started his pupillage at Peter Adebayo Bello & Co, Maiduguri.
Hater he served as head and principal at Shettima Liberty and Co, Maiduguri. Ahmad is now the principal partner of I. M. Ahmad & Partners. Ahmad served as solicitor to many Public and private institutions as well as private individuals. Such as Chad Basin Development Authority and University of Maiduguri. He appeared and prosecuted cases in Magistrate Court and Sharia Courts, State and Federal High Courts, National Industrial Court as well as Court of Appeal. Ahmad is now an Associate Professor of law and Head of Department at Faculty of Law, University of Maiduguri.
He is the Deputy Coordinator of Quality Assurance Unit, University of Maiduguri. He is a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and Nigerian Association of Law Teachers (NALT).
Usman A. TAR (PhD)
Board member
Read More
Usman A. TAR (PhD) is Endowed Professor of Defence and Security Studies at the Nigerian Defence Academy. Professor Tar was the Dean of the Faculty of Art and Social Sciences, Director of the Centre for Defence Studies and Documentation, and pioneer Head of the Department of Defence and Security Studies in the Academy. He was a Member of the Board of Social Science Research Council’s African Peace building Network (SSRC/APN), New York, USA. He was formerly Associate Research Fellow at John and Elnora Ferguson Centre for Africa Studies (JEFCAS), University of Bradford, UK.
e was also an Assistant Professor at the Department of Politics and International Relations and Director of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Kurdistan-Hewler, Northern Iraq. Prof Tar earned PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom; Master of Education (M.Ed) from Leeds Metropolitan University; Master of Science (MSc) in International Relations from University of Maiduguri; Postgraduate Diploma in Research Methodology from University of Bradford; Postgraduate Certificate in Education from University of Brighton; and Bachelor of Science in Political Science (BSc 1st class) from University of Maiduguri.
Tar has authored many books. Prof Tar was a member Expert and Eminent Persons Group of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) (2014-2015), and Chair of the Governing Board of the African Institute for Border Security, a non-governmental organisation based in Accra, Ghana (2019-present). Professor Tar has consulted or consults for several organisations including the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD, Nigeria), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP, Nigeria) and Konrad Adaneur Stiftung (German Development Fund). He has also served as visiting Professor and external examiner to several institutions of higher learning in Nigeria and overseas.
Abdullahi Liman Tukur
BOARD MEMBER & CO-FOUNDER
Read More
Abdullahi Liman Tukur is a Professor of environmental resource management and peacebuilding. Tukur attended Bayero University Kano (1981-84) for his first degree (B.Sc. Geography) and the University of Maiduguri for a Master of Science degree in Resources and Development (1988). Tukur was at the University of Jos for a Ph.D. in Environmental and Resources Planning (1997).
e was also at Durham University (UK) for a six-month certificate course in Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) in 1993.
Tukur joined the Federal University of Technology Yola (now Modibbo Adama University) as a Graduate Assistant in Geography in October 1986 and rose through the ranks to the position of Professor in 2009. Tukur twice served as Dean of the School of Environmental Sciences and has also served as the Director Centre for Distance Learning. Professor Tukur has co-edited two text books and published several researched papers in National/International Scientific Journals. He is also a member of several national and international professional bodies such as the Association of Nigerian Geographers (ANG), International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS) and International Geographical Union (IGU).
He is also a fellow of the Nigeria Association of Hydrological Sciences (NAHS) and a fellow of Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP). Tukur has served as the Secretary to Adamawa State Government. He also served as Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBED). Professor Tukur is currently the Vice Chancellor of the Modibbo Adama University, Yola and he is committedly involved in several projects and interventions related to sustainable environmental management, peacebuilding and good governance within Nigeria and beyond.