Our Team

Temitope is the Managing Partner at Sahel Consulting where he is responsible for client engagement, project management and implementation. He is passionate about the agribusiness sector and has worked extensively across a broad range of value chains, with specific expertise on roots and tubers. He is proficient in market analysis, business strategy development, business sustainability, and project management.

Temitope has led several studies on agricultural policies and market entry strategies and implemented consulting projects in a range of priority areas including innovations in seed systems, mechanization, on-farm productivity enhancement and improved market access for agribusiness stakeholders.

Temitope holds an MBA from Lagos Business School, Pan Atlantic University, Nigeria. He also holds a Master of Science (MSc) in Agronomy from the University of Ibadan and received his undergraduate degree in Plant Science from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ife.

Chinedu is a finance and business management expert with over 10 years’ experience in investment banking, business advisory, project financing, and relationship management. He currently serves as a manager at Sahel Consulting where he leads the development and implementation of agriculture projects focused on seed systems, catalyzing inclusive growth, and professionalizing farmer associations and innovative agri-businesses start-ups.

Before joining Sahel, Chinedu worked with agri-businesses and other corporate entities in raising finance from public and private capital markets. He has worked as a relationship manager for a top financial institution where he initiated and participated in successful negotiations with management, union leaders, and diverse stakeholders of private and public organizations. Chinedu has consulted for a family-owned business in Madrid and led sales campaigns that required engaging with multi-stakeholders with different cultural, language, and ethnic backgrounds.

Chinedu holds a Post Graduate degree in Business Management, a Masters’ degree in Advanced Finance from IE Business School, Madrid, and is a Charterholder with Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute in Virginia, USA.

Aisha Hadejia joined Sahel in 2021, bringing a wealth of expertise and passion to our team, focusing on transformative initiatives to strengthen public and private sector institutions in the Nigerian agriculture sector. She is a social development expert with experience working with multi-national teams on conceptualizing and implementing projects in social development, public health, and gender. Aisha’s social development journey began as a Health Communication Coordinator at the Society for Family Health focused on enhancing access to health care and nutrition services for women and children. In 2017, she joined Girl Effect Nigeria where she worked with multiple development organizations to advocate for women’s economic empowerment and improve girl’s access to technology, information, and healthcare.

At Sahel, She brings a unique perspective and understanding of the intricacies of public health and nutrition to address complex challenges related to food security, agricultural sustainability and nutritional well-being. Aisha leads strategic consulting and development initiatives to enhance the capacity of public sector actors to formulate and implement innovative and inclusive policies that will increase the productivity and income of food producers, create job opportunities, and improve the livelihoods for millions of smallholder farmers.

Aisha holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Leeds, UK, a Master’s degree from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and an MBA from the University of Aberdeen, Scotland.

Fisayo is a trained Animal Scientist and an agribusiness consultant who has been working on building sustainable food systems in Africa over the last 7 years. She currently serves as a Senior Manager at Sahel where she leads strategy development, value chain analysis, market research and program implementation.

She currently leads various interventions within the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN), a 5-year program funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. On the ALDDN Program, she manages productivity improvement, training and extension, advocacy and behavioural change and policy advocacy, working with various public and private sector players. She previously worked with the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations under the Eradicating Avian Influenza in Nigeria Project in 2015.

Fisayo holds a bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Bayero University Kano, Nigeria and is currently completing her MBA at IE Business School in Madrid, Spain. Fisayo’s commitment to professional development is evident in her completion of specialized courses including “Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management” from the College of the Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA in 2017, Project Management from HarryBaker Training Institute, Lagos in 2018, “Milking to Potential” from Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands in 2019 and “Executive Team Leadership from Lagos Business School in 2021. She is a COCHRAN Fellow as awarded by the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) in 2022 and a registered member of the Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS).

Richard is a social development expert with more than 10 years of experience in the development sector with international and indigenous NGOs including Mercy Corps, Voluntary Services Overseas, and DevTech Systems Inc. Richard has designed and implemented monitoring and evaluation systems for several donor-funded projects across diverse thematic areas including education, agriculture and nutrition, adolescent and gender programming, sustainable energy, sustainability planning, and public policy.
Richard explores a professional niche in research, monitoring, and evaluation and leverages a well-grounded technical knowledge with a mix of adaptive management tools to support the implementation and delivery of high-impact results for multiple program portfolios at Sahel Consulting.
Richard holds a Master of Development Practice from the University of Ibadan. He is a certified Development Project Manager with the Association of Project Managers Group (APMG-International) and has completed the Quantitative Impact Evaluation certification by the Independent Evaluation Group at the World Bank, the University of Bern, Switzerland and the Center for Evaluation, Germany. Richard maintains active membership status with relevant international and local communities of practice including the Nigerian Association of Evaluators (NAE) and Eval Youth.

Ilesanmi Pupa is a Seed expert at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, where he supports program implementation, provides technical assistance, and stakeholder engagement. Ilesanmi has an interest in agribusiness sector and uplifting the socio-economy livelihood of the smallholder farmers by training, access to advanced cultivation practices, coaching of young farmers, production, and maintenance of improved seeds. He has about 8 years’ experience in seed production, processing, marketing, and livestock feed formulation, he also has expertise on vegetable crops production.

Prior to joining Sahel consulting, Ilesanmi worked with a seed company as a seed production and quality assurance officer, where he recruits farmers for seed multiplication, training of farmers, input distribution, collection of data, direct seed production, consultancy services, seed quality assurance, certification, research, and input loan recovery. He also supervised the company seed production fields in Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Niger, and Kaduna. He has previously worked on various projects including (AGRA) EGS seed production and (LINKS) Catalyzing economic growth for northern Nigeria.

He holds a Higher National Diploma in Agricultural extension and management from Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University Nigeria and has undergone some training and courses with IITA on “principle of maize seed production” in 2017, AfricaRice on “rice seed production technology” in 2018 and “Vegetable production” Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands in 2021 just to mention a few.

Ilesanmi is a member of Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN).

Ismael works as a Consultant at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited where he supports the organization in its strategic efforts in business and value chain development and program implementation for food and agricultural system-related projects.

At Sahel, he works on the monitoring, evaluation, and learning component of the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) program. As part of his work on ALDDN, he coordinates program implementation, conducts field monitoring, stakeholder engagements, and develops standard operating procedures for infrastructure management and other key programmatic activities. He also supports qualitative and quantitative data collection, analyses, and visualization.

Before joining Sahel, Ismael worked with AACE Food Processing and Distribution Limited as an Agri-Food Supply Chain Supervisor where he worked closely with the company’s international development partners to develop and strengthen farmers’ cooperatives, improve farmers productivity, and develop local sourcing supply chain of agri-food commodities across Gombe, Kaduna, Katsina, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, and Sokoto states.

Ismael graduated with a Bachelor of Agriculture (Honours) Agricultural Extension and Rural Development from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, He has also audited a professional course in “Sustainable Food Security” from the Wageningen University and Research, The Netherlands in 2019. He was an active students’ union member at Ife, and passionate about national transformation.

Dorcas Omole works as a consultant at Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, where she supports the organization in its strategic efforts in the market, institutional support, and program implementation for the BASICS-II and PROSSIVA projects.

At Sahel, her work focuses on conducting market and industry research related to proposals and projects, performing quantitative and qualitative data analysis, managing stakeholder engagement, business planning reviews for start-up Early Generation Seed companies in Nigeria, and summarizing recommendations to provide tailored advisory services to clients.

Before joining Sahel, Dorcas worked as a Research Fellow with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture. Dorcas also worked with the Flour Mills of Nigeria, where she gained practical field experience in establishing a sustainable cassava seed unit using Semi-Autotrophic and Hydroponics (SAH) technology. She has worked in various capacities on diverse research projects funded by reputable organizations such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Thought for Food, and BMZ – the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, where she was involved in numerous research spheres ranging from environmental management, food security, food system justice, crop production, nature-based solutions in solving the climate change crisis, plant nutrition and soil fertility management.

In 2019, she was awarded a global membership award with the American Phytopathology Society, earned a Master of Science (MSc) in Agronomy from the University of Ibadan, and received her undergraduate degree from the Federal University of Technology Akure. She also holds a professional certificate course from Michigan State University in “Plant Breeding to Fight Hunger.”

Ibrahim is an expert in livestock with over 8 years of experience. He is an environmental protection enthusiast and a climate-smart agriculture advocate. Currently, he works as a Livestock Productivity Improvement Consultant on the Advancing Local Dairy Development Project (ALDDN) at Sahel Consulting. In his role, he provides support on various fronts, such as social and behavioural change, strategy development, inclusive business models (IBM), stakeholder engagement, program management, and coordination. His primary objective is to drive innovative solutions that will enhance the productivity and livelihoods of smallholder dairy farmers across the country. He is passionate about international development and diplomacy, fragility management, and social cohesion.

Prior to joining Sahel, Ibrahim worked with German Development Cooperation (GIZ), INTERSOS Humanitarian Organization, Neem Foundation, and Jubaili Agrotech LTD. He worked on a number of donor-funded projects in the humanitarian and development sphere, including World Food Programme (WFP), BMGF, European Union (EU), and German Government (BMZ).

Ibrahim is a registered veterinarian with the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN). He has attended a number of professional courses and training, including Cooperation in Complex environment-Management adapted to the specific context with Capacity WORKS – Steering Competence with Lego® Serious Play® in Bonn, Germany, in November 2022.

He holds a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and a Masters of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology from the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University in Zaria.

Saidu is a Senior Program Officer working on the Advancing Local Dairy Development Project, His works involves stakeholder management at the state level. He handles Training and communication for behaviour change, Infrastructure development, Nutrition and Farmers Organization component of the Advancing Local Dairy Development In Nigeria.

Prior to joining Sahel, Saidu has been actively involved in evaluating multi-sector intervention programs in Nigeria. Saidu Abubakar’s professional experience extends to the delivering of nutrition and livelihood projects, supporting health systems strengthening programs (Maternal, Child health and Behavioural Change Communications).

He is a graduate of Geography from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and a trained Remote sensing and Geographic Information System analyst.

Mustapha is currently engaged as a Senior Program Officer working on the Advancing Local Dairy Development project. His work involves stakeholder management at the State level. He is responsible for the efficient implementation of the feed and fodder, Animal Health Intervention, and the Nutrition-Home Garden components of the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria.

Before joining the team, Mustapha had a career in teaching before transitioning to the agricultural sector. As a teacher, his passion for nurturing young minds and fostering a conducive environment and initiatives earned him recognition among students and colleagues. As an agriculturist, transitioning to the agricultural sector was smooth. He was at Thrive Agric Ltd as a Farmer Organization Supervisor, where he quickly distinguished himself through his dedication and leadership. Within a year, he was promoted to the rank of Lead, responsible for overseeing Kano and Jigawa operations. He also had a stint as an intern at Sasakawa Africa Association.

He is a graduate of Bayero University, Kano. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture and has completed several professional certificates, including courses from Havard Business School, YALINETWORK, HIIT, and others.

Buhari Zubairu is a development enthusiast with experience in humanitarian and development project implementation. He is passionate about health, nutrition, and agriculture and has worked on emergency response, health delivery systems, and is currently on dairy value chain development. He currently serves as the senior program officer at Sahel Consulting where his work involves working with stakeholders to coordinate the implementation of the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria program components at the State level through the training and extension, nutrition, infrastructure development, and farmer organization interventions.

Prior to joining Sahel Consulting, Buhari worked at eHealth Systems Africa for 4 years as a Program Field Officer on the vaccination tracking program, Vaccine delivery system development (via LOMIS-Logistic Management Information Systems), He also worked on a nutrition project to improve the adoption of OFSP and improve dietary diversity by coordinating community food demonstrations. He also worked as a Field Operations Coordinator on the Geo-Referenced Infrastructure and Demographic Data for Development (GRID3) program at eHealth Systems Africa. Buhari also supported the Outbreak Response (OBR) programs in the North East hard-to-reach communities.

Buhari holds a Master’s in Development Studies (MDS) from Bayero University, Kano, and an undergraduate degree in Human Physiology from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

Muhammad is a senior analyst at Sahel Consulting where he provides support on program implementation, data management and stakeholder engagement for nutrition and several other projects in the nutrition and agricultural sector.

At Sahel, Muhammad currently works as the Nutrition officer on the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) program where he implements and manages the nutrition interventions, supports strategy development, and develops Information, education, and communication materials to facilitate dietary and hygiene behavior change for smallholder beneficiaries. He also provides support for the collection, management and analysis of data collected during implementation of several projects.

He has been involved in several works around the nutrition landscape, embarking on infant and young child feeding and nutrition policy related research. Prior to joining Sahel, he worked with the International Food Policy Research Institute as a research assistant supporting data collection, stakeholder interviews and workshops. Muhammad is passionate about contributing to the improvement of nutrition for all, in Nigeria.

He holds a master’s degree in Nutrition from the University of Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria.

Jonathan is a development expert with vast experience and demonstrated success in community-level interventions. He is passionate about using an Integrated Social behaviour change approach to solve food systems, livelihood, and nutrition challenges.

At Sahel, Jonathan provides strategic and technical advice to nutrition interventions on the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) programme. He leads the development of strategies that drive behaviour change among smallholder households.

Prior to joining Sahel, Jonathan held technical and advisory roles on various large-scale European Union (EU), CDC/PEPFAR, Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF), and World food programme’s (WFP) funded projects across Nigeria, building experience and expertise which allow him to develop and implement comprehensive solutions and strategies to address socio-economic issues in low-income and vulnerable communities.

Jonathan graduated from Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and has completed several professional certifications including courses from Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI), UNICEF, OXFAM, IFRC, British Council, and Global Health USA.

Helen Okotie is a development enthusiast with over 5 years experience in community development sector. She has implemented projects in social development, education, nutrition and gender equality. At Sahel, Helen is a senior program analyst. She currently works on the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria; where her work involves providing support on strategy development, program implementation and stakeholders engagement to drive innovative solutions that will increase productivity, financial inclusion and improved livelihood for small holder women dairy farmers and the communities in which they live.

Helen is passionate about international development. Prior to Sahel, she worked as a Program Officer at Khan Initiative on ENGINE II Project to advocate for women economic empowerment, gender equality and improved girls access to education. Helen holds a master’s and bachelor degree in Biochemistry from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. She was a Mandela Washington fellow at the Staley School of Leadership, Kansas State University, US.

Emmanuel Ameh is a seasoned technical expert with over 6 years of experience in research and development, with a focus on Genetic Improvement. He is extensively knowledgeable of roots and tubers, and oil palm production and processing. He is passionate about the development of a formal seed system for root and tuber crops.

At Sahel Consulting, Emmanuel supports the implementation of the BASICS-II and PROSSIVA projects, working closely with partners and stakeholders to increase the use of quality seeds of improved varieties in cassava and yam seed systems.

Prior to joining Sahel Consulting, Emmanuel served as a Farm Supervisor at Uzanu Farms Limited, where he successfully managed a 160-hectare oil palm plantation and the processing, storage, and marketing of crude palm oil. With a Master of Science in Environmental Biology (Plant Genetics) from the University of Ibadan and an undergraduate degree in Microbiology from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Emmanuel brings a strong educational background and a deep understanding of plant genetics to his work.

Paschal Adikaibe has over 5 years of industrial experience in the forefront of agribusiness. Holding a First-Class Honors degree in Agricultural Economics and Extension from Imo State University, Nigeria, and a Master’s in Agribusiness with Summa Cum Laude honors from Diponegoro University, Indonesia. Paschal combines academic excellence with a global perspective in agriculture. Further enriching his expertise, he earned industry-based certificates from Wageningen University in the Netherlands, focusing on Food Systems.

In Sahel Consulting, Paschal is primarily supporting Early Generation Seed Companies in Nigeria and Seed Entrepreneurs in the roots and tubers seed system to build and expand their business operation. His diverse interests span seed systems, clean energy for rural development, and advocating for youth and women inclusivity in agriculture. He believes in the transformative power of diversity and equal opportunities. His commitment extends to promoting sustainable agriculture and strategically balancing economic viability with social and environmental responsibility.

Paschal’s journey exemplifies unwavering dedication to excellence and innovation, making him a key player in shaping the future of agriculture in Nigeria and beyond. His unique blend of academic achievements, international exposure, and hands-on experience positions him as a driving force in advancing sustainable agricultural practices.

At Sahel Consulting Agriculture and Nutrition Limited, Edima Etudor works on the Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP). In addition to providing technical assistance and facilitating stakeholder engagement, She supports program implementation through content curation on programme activities and strategic marketing and sales of seeds across digital platforms.

Edima is passionate about using modern mass media tools to educate the public on current digital trends and how they can incorporate them into their businesses. She holds a Media and Communication Studies degree from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria, focusing on public relations, advertising, and digital marketing.

Edima has completed several courses with Google, including the “Digital Skills for Africa Certification” in 2018, which covered building a web presence, using analytics to track web traffic, and best practices in content marketing strategy and the use of ad campaigns. She also obtained the “Google Ads Display Certification” in 2020, which covered campaign strategy, growing business with Google Ads, and messaging strategy for effectiveness.

Zayyad has over 5 years of experience in Management Consulting and Finance. He currently serves as a Senior Programme Analyst at Sahel Consulting where he works on the CSP programme. Zayyad supports the implementation of the Variety Release and Institutional Markets topics of the CSP programme. He conducts research, stakeholder engagement and provides technical support in planning and programme implementation. With a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics (In View) from Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria and a First-Class undergraduate degree in Agricultural Economics and Extension from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi. He is a registered member of Farm Management Association of Nigeria (FAMAN).

Prior to joining Sahel Consulting, Zayyad had previously worked with SCIDaR (Solina Centre for International Development and Research) as a Programme Analyst under the ACTION Plus Up Programme during his National Youth Service. He has also worked with FirstBank Nigeria Limited under the bank’s Branch Operations and Services Group (BOSG) in a number of the bank’s branches in FCT.

Zayyad brings a strong educational background, a deep understanding of agricultural systems and professional experience to drive desired impact.

Abisola is a seasoned Monitoring and Evaluation Analyst, wielding experience and a fervent passion for instigating positive change within the agricultural sector. A graduate with honors in Agricultural Economics from the esteemed Obafemi Awolowo University, coupled with a Master’s degree from Ahmadu Bello University, she is a valuable team member within the Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning Department. Her current focus lies within the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) project, a ground breaking initiative set on catalysing a robust and vibrant dairy sector. Abisola’s expertise lies in her unique ability to transform data into actionable insights, guiding decision-making processes with clarity and precision amidst the complexities of the agricultural landscape.

Her professional tapestry prior to Sahel Consulting, is adorned with significant achievements working with project teams under the auspices of the Mastercard Foundation and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa while working at an indigenous Seed Company. Beyond her analytical acumen, Abisola takes on a pivotal role in co-leading the Sahel Scholars Program. Here, she passionately endeavours to inspire the next generation to perceive agriculture not just as a viable livelihood but as an innovative and rewarding profession. For Abisola, the transformational power of the youth is paramount, propelling her on a mission to bridge generational gaps and cultivate a renewed appreciation for the indispensable role of agriculture in our collective future.

David is a long-term standing humanitarian aid worker who has supported in different emergency responses in the northeastern part of Nigeria and has gradually shifted attention from emergency to early recovery and now a development expert working in the food security and Agriculture sector.

David currently supports the response in project management, in the food and Agricultural food systems and works with the Advancing Local Dairy Development in Nigeria (ALDDN) as senior program officer, in close collaboration with interlocutors both at state, local and community levels with very close interaction with community leaders to ensure system development and capacity strengthening.
Prior to joining Sahel, David worked at INTERSOS Humanitarian Organization, Special Project Programmes Unit (SPPU). He worked with World Food Programme (WFP), UN-OCHA and BMGF funded projects.

David is graduate of Animal Science and master’s degree in Animal Production from former Federal University of Technology, Yola. A registered Animal Scientist with National Institute of for Animal Science (NIAS) and completed several professional courses including food system course from Wageningen Centre for Development Innovation (WCDI).

Joseph Akan is a Finance professional with over seven years of extensive experience in accounting and finance across various sectors, including private, public, and NGO Sectors. He is highly skilled in implementing finance and grant management strategies, practices, and policies to attract and retain projects and contracts of high quality and quantity.

He is currently working as a Program Accountant for the Collaborative Seed Programme (CSP) at Sahel Consulting, where he plays a pivotal role in managing the program’s finances, ensuring smooth operations and optimal resource utilization. He fosters strong relationships with implementing partners and seed companies, facilitating transparent communication channels.

His career journey includes notable roles such as Finance Consultant at RNW Media, Finance Officer at Maryland Global Initiative Corporation (MGIC), and Assistant Production Accountant at “Yellow Sun Ltd” for the film “Half of a Yellow Sun.” He has also contributed his expertise to organizations such as Search for Common Ground and Media Health and Rights Initiative of Nigeria (MHR).

He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Accounting from the University of Benin, Benin City. He is an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Loan and Risk Management of Nigeria (AMCILRM) and a student member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountant (ACCA).