David Francis Effiong

With an acceptance rate of 2%, I was chosen from among the 8,000 Nigerians who applied to participate in the leadership training at Michigan State University, Lansing, United States of America. This opportunity is made possible by the United States Department of State courtesy of IREX/Mandela Washington Fellowship.

I am part of the 100 Fellows from across Africa staying back in the United States for the PDE program. My passion for community development, child protection and youth… Show more

With an acceptance rate of 2%, I was chosen from among the 8,000 Nigerians who applied to participate in the leadership training at Michigan State University, Lansing, United States of America. This opportunity is made possible by the United States Department of State courtesy of IREX/Mandela Washington Fellowship.

I am part of the 100 Fellows from across Africa staying back in the United States for the PDE program. My passion for community development, child protection and youth empowerment got me this far...Grace too. Show less

I'm proud to be invited by the @University of Georgia, United States, to be a part of the African Civic Engagement Academy (ACEA)--sponsored by the United States Department of State and hosted by the University of Georgia.

Yes, like more than a thousand others (diverse leaders from civil society and government across Africa), I was chosen for my ability to apply civic engagement concepts to drive inclusion, and locally relevant engagement efforts.

I'm grateful to Dr Brandy Walker,… Show more

I'm proud to be invited by the @University of Georgia, United States, to be a part of the African Civic Engagement Academy (ACEA)--sponsored by the United States Department of State and hosted by the University of Georgia.

Yes, like more than a thousand others (diverse leaders from civil society and government across Africa), I was chosen for my ability to apply civic engagement concepts to drive inclusion, and locally relevant engagement efforts.

I'm grateful to Dr Brandy Walker, ACEA Academic Dir. & Associate Faculty at the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia, USA; Brian Watkins, ACEA Administrative Dir. & Director of International Initiatives in the Office of Global Engagement at University of Georgia and @Lauren Mclennan, ACEA Program Coordinator. Show less

I enjoyed every step of the journey with faculty members (from Flutterwave, MTN, KPMG, Coca-Cola HBC, Microsoft, Shell, Afrinvest, Bank of Industry, Jobberman, etc) who shared real-time experiences and knowledge in:

innovation, design thinking & growth; business systems & processes; business model & transformation; exponential technologies and singularity; new technologies; logistics & supply chain management; law, contracting & globalization; leadership, human capital & project… Show more

I enjoyed every step of the journey with faculty members (from Flutterwave, MTN, KPMG, Coca-Cola HBC, Microsoft, Shell, Afrinvest, Bank of Industry, Jobberman, etc) who shared real-time experiences and knowledge in:

innovation, design thinking & growth; business systems & processes; business model & transformation; exponential technologies and singularity; new technologies; logistics & supply chain management; law, contracting & globalization; leadership, human capital & project management; business communication, design, media & branding; marketing, sales management & business objectives; as well as growth & taxation.

While I feel confident in the new knowledge I have acquired, I must look beyond it to business execution, and driving profitable growth for businesses, companies and organization. Having a gift like Professor Ndubuisi Ekekwe emphasize on the need to stimulate new markets through innovation and perception demand got me thinking deeply. Show less

I thank Melissa Leach, the Director of IDS, and Keetie Roelen, the course convener for making this possible. I'll not also forget to mention: Binta Isah-Ismil, Humanitarian Cash Transfer Operation Specialist for UNICEF, Hina Shaikh, Country Economist, Pakistan Program, International Growth Center (IGC), Soomro Nangar, Social Policy Specialist, Myanmar, UNICEF, and Irede K Ajala, Senior Technical Adviser (Investment, Promotion, Agribusiness, and Donor Funding).

Through them, I was able… Show more

I thank Melissa Leach, the Director of IDS, and Keetie Roelen, the course convener for making this possible. I'll not also forget to mention: Binta Isah-Ismil, Humanitarian Cash Transfer Operation Specialist for UNICEF, Hina Shaikh, Country Economist, Pakistan Program, International Growth Center (IGC), Soomro Nangar, Social Policy Specialist, Myanmar, UNICEF, and Irede K Ajala, Senior Technical Adviser (Investment, Promotion, Agribusiness, and Donor Funding).

Through them, I was able to: a) gain knowledge about the history of social protection thinking; b) understand the remit of social protection policies and programmes; c) learn about the conceptual and organizational approaches to social protection and d) gain insight into differences of how social protection is being implemented across the world.

I also look forward to the contributing my quota to a world where 2.8% of persons are still interested in saying that social protection should decline amidst current debates. Show less

Alongside the management of Moremineral, Portsmouth, UK, I participated in the SBL (Small Business and Leadership) Programme courtesy of the Portsmouth Business School, UK.

During the programme (Cohort 15), I learnt innovation and markets, segmentation, targeting, and position of customers, as well as operational efficiency, action planning and implementation, and financial management.

After many months of studies, assessments, discussion with peers, I am now a graduate of the Philanthropy University - a learning platform for social change that puts practical courses and knowledge-sharing communities together. I got certified after enrolling in the course 'Planning for Monitoring and Evaluation', courtesy of the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (Berkeley Haas).



As a project implementer, I was assisted by PU to do the… Show more

After many months of studies, assessments, discussion with peers, I am now a graduate of the Philanthropy University - a learning platform for social change that puts practical courses and knowledge-sharing communities together. I got certified after enrolling in the course 'Planning for Monitoring and Evaluation', courtesy of the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business (Berkeley Haas).



As a project implementer, I was assisted by PU to do the following:

Link M&E to my project’s design, define the indicators that I will measure, identify Indicators & Targets, choose appropriate data collection methods, and of course assign M&E roles and responsibilities.




As I took part in these M&E courses, I kept being grateful that I had both head knowledge and experience and I will be looking forward to working with organizations who have a need for my skills/experience.



I am thankful really! Show less

At the end of the course, I am able to understand what it means to create a strategic fundraising plan, know the components of a fundraising plan, understanding marketing and communication strategies for fundraising, as well as have better knowledge of fundraising for Non-profit organizations, and fundraising for For-Profit organizations.

It was an exciting journey really learning about best practices for a WASH Enabling Environment support process (agree, access, plan, invest, implement, and monitoring and evaluation).
Ironically, the WASH course also made me understand political leadership to a large extent. It’s the kind of leadership that ought to take care of institutional factors, and governance functions – which includes sector policy/strategy/financing, planning, monitoring and review, as well as capacity development.

The Child Rights course was quite interesting and revealing. In fact, I came to understand that I have been getting it wrong like millions of other persons out there.
Refreshingly, I now know what it means to have a “charity approach” when relating with children (trust me, it’s not the best approach), what it means to be a Rights’ holder, or a duty bearer as well as an in-depth understanding of CEDAW, CRPD, CRC, and Impact Assessments.

Africa records a rather low turn of young people armed with digital skills. From creating content to optimization, to knowing a few tech hacks and earning legitimately through the online space - recording millions of users - I have through this certification been exposed to the world of digital skills. I can teach them to others now. I can earn from them (of course that is what I'm about).

• Completed a 4-year study program with relevant coursework in Philosophy of Mind, Ethics, Philosophy of Science, Cosmology, Logic and Clear Thought, Epistemology, Contemporary Philosophy, Aesthetics and Philosophy of Development.