Vincent Dania is a Programme Coordinator at the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), where he leads the implementation of the Centre’s flagship $1.29 million Ford Foundation BUILD Grant (2021–2025). The initiative strengthens Centre LSD’s institutional capacity and positions it as a prime mover in driving intersectional approaches to natural resource governance and reducing gender-based violence in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
Since assuming the role of Programme Coordinator in January 2022, Vincent has spearheaded high-impact, cross-sectoral initiatives to improve governance, advance policy reforms, and build civic capacity. He has coordinated partnerships with international donors and national stakeholders to align project outcomes with Nigeria’s policy frameworks and led extensive field-level advocacy across all the Niger Delta states, and other states such as Adamawa, Benue, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Kaduna, Kebbi, Kogi, Lagos, and Taraba.
His efforts contributed significantly to the revision of Nigeria’s guidelines for preparing Community Development Agreements (CDAs) in the solid minerals sector, incorporating gender-responsive and socially inclusive provisions.
Vincent’s career at Centre LSD spans over a decade. He began in August 2012 as a mentee to the founding Executive Director, Dr. Otive Igbuzor. From May 2013 to April 2014, he served as Programme and Information Technology Intern. He was later promoted to Programme and Information Technology Officer, a position he held from May 2014 to November 2019, during which he played a pivotal role in integrating digital tools into advocacy and program management. From December 2019 to December 2021, he served as Senior Programme Officer, leading major national projects focused on civic engagement, gender equality, and budget transparency.
Across these roles, Vincent has successfully led the design and execution of donor-funded projects valued at over $2 million, supported by institutions such as UN Women, the Ford Foundation, and Christian Aid.
He holds a Doctor of Management Studies from the Kazian School of Management, Mumbai, India, and a Master’s degree in Information Technology from the University of the People, USA. He is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and holds advanced credentials including Project DPro, Program DPro, MEAL DPro, and a project management license from the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria (CIPMN). He has also completed specialized courses in gender advocacy, nonprofit strategy, social impact, and data analytics to deepen his practice and policy influence.
In addition to his programmatic work, Vincent teaches undergraduate courses in Programming Fundamentals and Communications and Networking as an adjunct instructor at the University of the People. He also lectures at the Centre LSD Leadership School in Abuja, where he facilitates the module on Leadership and Information Technology, mentoring the next generation of tech-driven social impact leaders.
Vincent is a member of the Project Management Institute (PMI), the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria (Chartered), and the Chartered Institute of Project Managers of Nigeria. His work is guided by a deep conviction that every project must deliver value that justifies the resources invested and uplifts the lives of the communities served.
