Dr. Ozonnia Ojielo, a distinguished Nigerian development expert, who currently serves as the United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator in Rwanda. With over 25 years of experience in sustainable development, he has overseen UN programmes spanning multiple continents. Prior to his current role, Dr. Ojielo served as Resident Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan and held senior UN Development Programme (UNDP) positions such as Cluster Director for Governance and Peacebuilding in Africa and Director for Conflict Prevention and Recovery in New York. Before joining the UN, he worked as an attorney, university lecturer, journalist, and advisor to truth, justice, and reconciliation commissions across several African countries. He is the founder and first president of the Institute of Chartered Mediators and Conciliators, the largest body of its kind in Africa, and has led the Centre for Peace in Africa. Dr. Ojielo holds a PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Ibadan, master’s degrees in strategic and project management (Paris Graduate School of Management) and in history (University of Nigeria, Nsukka), as well as bachelor’s degrees in history and law.
