Essien Nyong is a dynamic Programme Officer at the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), where he currently supports the implementation of the Ford Foundation-supported Side-by-Side Scale-up Project (2024–2025). His work focuses on mobilizing faith and traditional leaders as champions of gender justice and forging partnerships with global advocacy networks, national governments, interfaith coalitions, and cultural institutions to embed gender justice within policies, religious teachings, and grassroots initiatives.
Under his leadership, the project has achieved transformative milestones, including facilitating Benue State’s onboarding onto Nigeria’s Sexual Offenders Database. He also contributed to a landmark achievement by NAPTIP, which recorded the conviction of over 19 sexual and gender-based violence offenders within just four months in the North-West Zonal Command, Kano State.
Essien’s professional journey at Centre LSD began in 2018 as an IT intern. Rising through the ranks, he has played key roles in delivering high-impact initiatives such as the Community-Led Collective Action for Girl Child Education (C-CAGE), Open Government Partnership Project, Ogoni Clean-up Project, and the Young Ambassadors for Development Program. He led the close out of the National Assembly (NASS) Reformers Project – Mobilizing reformers to defeat anti-people bills, the Christian Aid-supported Side-by-Side Movement Project in 2023, and the Young Ambassador for Development – Centre LSD’s youth flagship program.
In addition to his programme leadership, Essien has served as Assistant Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, delivering data-driven insights across several initiatives.
He holds a Bachelor of Science in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution from the National Open University of Nigeria and is a chartered member of the Institute of Strategic Management. His ongoing professional development includes certifications in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning, and leadership training through Centre LSD’s Leadership School and Masterclass. He is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution.
