Ukeh Michael Obaje, Deputy Country Director, Nigeria
Ukeh Michael Obaje is the deputy country director for the International Foundation for Electoral Systems Nigeria (IFES). Obaje manages IFES Nigeria’s efforts to monitor and evaluate its programming for project management and learning. In this capacity, he manages a diverse collection of monitoring and evaluation initiatives focused on ascertaining the effectiveness of IFES programming in Nigeria, and developing lesson learned to strengthen future programs of support in democracy and governance using research data. He also through IFES programming in Nigeria supports the Electoral Commission (INEC) in its planning and monitoring efforts, ensuring the Commission institutionalize planning and monitoring as a tool for performance and learning.
Throughout his over 12 years working with IFES Nigeria he has held several other positions such as Program Officer and Voter Education Manager which has seen him directly oversee design and implementation of IFES programming and interventions in areas such as access and inclusion of marginalized groups in elections, elections operations, capacity development, civic and voter education, strategic planning and electoral violence prevention and monitoring (EVER). Despite his transition to various positions within IFES, he continues to provide technical support and oversight to the design and implementation of the IFES Nigeria programs till date. Obaje has also had the opportunity to provide voter education support to Liberia in 2011, a post–conflict country and has participated in several USAID conflict/crisis stabilization trainings in Kenya and Nigeria.
He is a citizen of Nigerian, born and raised in the small town of Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria, but now lives in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria. He has a background from social sciences with a degree in Sociology from the Benue State University, Nigeria and currently finalizing his master’s degree in International Relations. Obaje is also an accredited BRIDGE workshop facilitator.
