Development Strategy · Programme & Portfolio Leadership · Strategic Partnerships

Leading strategy.
Strengthening programmes.
Building lasting impact.

I am Barnabas Usman, an international development leader with 12+ years of experience leading cross-sector programmes, institutional partnerships and organisational systems across Africa.

Education · Health · Agriculture · Governance · Livelihoods · Arts · Infrastructure

Explore my work

About

Building the conditions for meaningful change.

Barnabas Usman speaking at a professional event

I am an international development and program leader whose career has been shaped by a simple question: how do we build programs and institutions that create meaningful and lasting change?

My journey began close to implementation—working with communities, volunteers and local institutions across education, agriculture, health and governance. That experience gave me a practical understanding of what it takes to move from a good idea to effective delivery.

Over time, my work expanded into multi-sector program leadership, government relations, strategic partnerships, organizational systems, team leadership and pan-African networks.

“Effective program leadership requires more than delivering activities. It requires understanding the system around the program.”

Experience & impact

A career built from delivery to portfolio leadership.

2025—Now

Director, Sector Networks

African Leadership Academy · Pan-African

Provide strategic leadership for programmes and initiatives within Africa Career Networks (ACN) that develop and connect emerging African talent with meaningful career opportunities, industry partnerships, and pathways to professional and leadership development. Lead programme strategy, institutional partnerships, and delivery across seven key industries: Arts, Agribusiness, Education, Governance, Health, Infrastructure, and Finance & Professional Services.

2022—2025

Head of Government Relations, Policy & Partnerships

One Acre Fund · Nigeria

Served on the Nigeria Country Leadership Team, providing strategic leadership and oversight across government relations, policy engagement, institutional partnerships, external communications, and risk management. Contributed to organisational strategy, programme expansion, and strategic partnerships supporting agricultural development programmes for smallholder farmers.

2017—2019

Senior Program Manager

VSO · Nigeria

Provided country-level leadership for the design, management, and delivery of youth development programmes across education, health, livelihoods, and governance. Led programme strategy, institutional partnerships, stakeholder engagement, and initiatives promoting youth participation, volunteerism, community development, and social accountability.

2014—2016

Program Officer

VSO · Nigeria

Supported the implementation and coordination of youth-focused development programmes across education, health, livelihoods, and governance. Worked with volunteers, implementing partners, government institutions, and community stakeholders to strengthen programme delivery, youth engagement, and local development outcomes.

Barnabas Usman addressing an audience — Leadership grounded in implementation, partnership and learning.

Leadership

How I lead.

My approach connects strategy with the people, partnerships and operating systems required to deliver it.

01Start with the problem, not the activity. Good programs begin with clarity about the challenge and the change we are trying to create.

02Build with people, not only for them. Sustainable programs depend on meaningful participation and capable local institutions.

03Strong programs need strong systems. Planning, budgets, risk, data and accountability are part of program quality.

04Partnerships are part of program strategy. Relationships should unlock better delivery, legitimacy, learning and scale.

05Learning should change what we do. Evidence matters most when it shapes decisions and improves implementation.

Education & recognition

Interdisciplinary by design.

Education

MA, Power, Participation & Social ChangeUniversity of Sussex, United Kingdom · 2021–2022

MA, Public Policy & ManagementStrathmore University Business School, Nairobi, Kenya · 2019–2021

Postgraduate Diploma, Public HealthUniversity of Manchester, United Kingdom · 2017–2018

BSc (Hons), MicrobiologyNasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria · 2008–2012

Awards & Recognition

Chevening AwardFCDO · 2021

Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth ScholarshipACU · 2019

Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarship2015

Total E&P Undergraduate Merit Scholarship2010

Working with me

Leadership is also about how people experience the work.

Reflections from colleagues and professionals who have worked with me across programs, partnerships and leadership roles.

“Barnabas amazed me with his problem-solving skills, his knowledge, and his drive to go above and beyond. He is a true development expert and incredibly versatile. His support helped me push myself and take on new challenges, and he played a key role in my professional development and career.”— Corina Pickering · Partnerships & Investment Lead (UK), Transform Trade

“Barnabas has excellent administrative and leadership skills. He is a great mentor and has helped in shaping and developing so many. Barnabas strives to leave a mark anywhere he finds himself.”— Aaron Bawala · Public Health & Health Systems Specialist

“Barnie’s optimistic attitude creates a motivated and energetic working environment. A natural-born leader, he has a gift for identifying hidden talents in people. With the numerous skill sets he possesses, he always gets the job done.”— Tonna Okoye · Product Manager & DPO · Agritech · Insurtech · Social Impact

“Being supervised by Barnabas Usman was a good experience. He was very supportive and motivating. I would definitely accept another opportunity to work with him again.”— Zainab Yunusa · Gender Equality Advocacy, Policy & Programmes · Chevening Alumna

Let’s connect

Programs. Partnerships.
People. Systems.

I am interested in conversations around program leadership, international development, organizational strategy, government relations, partnerships and education across Africa.

Email me directly LinkedIn

barnabas@barnieusman.com

Leading strategy.Strengthening programmes.Building lasting impact.

Building the conditions for meaningful change.

A career built from delivery to portfolio leadership.

Director, Sector Networks

African Leadership Academy · Pan-African

Head of Government Relations, Policy & Partnerships

One Acre Fund · Nigeria

Senior Program Manager

VSO · Nigeria

Program Officer

VSO · Nigeria

How I lead.

Interdisciplinary by design.

Education

Awards & Recognition

Leadership is also about how people experience the work.

Programs. Partnerships.People. Systems.

Leading strategy.
Strengthening programmes.
Building lasting impact.

Programs. Partnerships.
People. Systems.