Transforming Governance in Nigeria: Harnessing the Power of Strategic Foresight and Futures Thinking for Long-term National Planning

Cat Tully
Founder SOIF

Cat Tully is founder of the School of International Futures. She consults, teaches and advises on emergent strategy and strategic foresight internationally, including at Moscow’s Presidential Academy for Public Administration and the UN advisory group for SDG16. Previously, she was Strategy Project Director at the UK FCO and Policy Adviser in the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit.

Dr Jakkie Cilliers
Founder ISS

Dr Jakkie Cilliers is the ISS's founder and former executive director. He currently serves as chair of the ISS Board of Trustees and head of the African Futures and Innovation (AFI) programme at the Pretoria office of the Institute. His 2017 best-seller Fate of the Nation addresses South Africa’s futures from political, economic and social perspectives. His three most recent books, Africa First! Igniting a Growth Revolution (March 2020), The Future of Africa: Challenges and Opportunities (April 2021), and Africa Tomorrow: Pathways to Prosperity (June 2022) take a rigorous look at the continent as a whole.

Themba Kalua
Director, Pact for the Future Implementation, EOSG

With over 20 years of experience in sustainable development and international cooperation, he has held senior roles across the UN system globally. He previously served as UN Resident Coordinator in the Pacific and as UN Women’s Country Representative in Papua New Guinea, leading efforts on gender equality, the SDGs, and regional development strategies. He also supported UN coordination across Africa and held leadership roles at UN Women, UNEP, UNDP, and WFP. He holds an Executive MBA (Cape Town), a Master’s in Strategic Management (Derby), a BSc in Environmental Science (Malawi), and is pursuing a PhD in systems leadership. 

Honourable Jabiru Salisu Abdullahi Tsauri (Ph.D., FCAI)
National Coordinator and CEO, AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria

Honourable Jabiru Salisu Abdullahi Tsauri (Ph.D., FCAI) is the National Coordinator and CEO of AUDA-NEPAD Nigeria. With over 30 years in public service, he is a seasoned policy strategist and governance expert. He has served as Chief of Staff to the Katsina State Governor and as Special Assistant to several senators, including the Senate President of the 6th and 7th Assemblies. Dr. Tsauri leads strategic development initiatives aligned with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and is a recipient of the Thomas Sankara Pan-African Prize for Excellence. He champions inclusive growth, regional integration, and sustainable development across Africa.

Dr Julia Bello-Schünemann
GGA Nigeria

Dr Julia Bello-Schünemann is a Senior Associate at Good Governance Africa (GGA Nigeria). Her interests include forecasting and trend analysis on governance and socio-economic development. Between 2013 and 2016, Julia was a Senior Researcher at the African Futures and Innovation programme at the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) and thereafter has been working as a consultant for the ISS in Nigeria. Julia holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the Universidad Complutense in Madrid, Spain and an MA in Communication, Political Science and Economics from Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich in Germany.

Professor Ayo Omotayo
Director General, NIPSS

Professor Ayo Omotayo is the Director General of the National Institute, Kuru-Jos, and a Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Lagos State University. With academic roots at the University of Ibadan, he has held several leadership roles including Dean of Social Sciences and Director of Planning. He also founded the LASU-MBA Programme. Prof. Omotayo has international experience as a scholar in the U.S., where he worked in IT and education, including developing an online university program at Wilberforce University. A Fellow of multiple professional bodies, his expertise spans fluvial geomorphology, hydrology, and sustainable development.

Dr Olusegun Omisakin
Chief Economist and Director of Research & Development, NESG

Dr Olusegun Omisakin is the Chief Economist and Director of Research & Development at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), with over 20 years of experience in macroeconomic policy, public finance, and private sector development. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Ibadan and is an alumnus of Harvard Kennedy School. Renowned for his expertise in economic and trade modelling, Dr. Omisakin has led key initiatives such as the AfCFTA Impact Assessment and Agenda 2050, driving evidence-based policymaking and fostering public-private collaboration for Africa’s economic transformation.

Muhammad Sani Abdullahi (TBC)
Deputy Governor (Economic Policy), CBN

UNICEF (TBC)

Elisabeth Agbiti-Douglas
Executive Director, NYFF

Kolawole Owodunni
Executive Director/ Chief Investment Officer, NSIA

Kolawole Owodunni, CFA, is Executive Director and Chief Investment Officer at the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), where he manages over $4.3 billion across Nigeria’s sovereign wealth funds, including the Future Generations Fund. With over 20 years of global experience in investment banking, risk management, and asset management, he has held senior roles at Credit Suisse, Merrill Lynch, and Goldman Sachs. Kolawole holds an MBA from INSEAD and a Master’s in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College London. A CFA charterholder, he is known for his technical depth, global perspective, and commitment to sustainable investing in Africa.

Zainab Yunusa 
Senior Special Assistant to the President, Climate Change (OVP) / Co-lead AGFC Programme 

Zainab Yunusa is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change (Office of the Vice President), with a background in sustainability, climate action, and economic policy. She previously worked in consulting at PwC and EY, advising clients on complex environmental and governance issues. Zainab holds a Master of Global Affairs and a Bachelor's in Environmental Studies and Environmental Ethics from the University of Toronto, along with certifications in ESG, Project Management and Futures Literacy.

Mohammed Ahmed
Special Assistant to the President, Special Duties, National Emergency Management (OVP) / Co-lead AGFC Programme

Mohammed is the Special Assistant to the President, Special Duties (National Emergency Management) in the Office of the Vice President, where he advises on emergencies, disaster, and resilience. A former naval officer with a strong background in logistics and crisis management, he has worked across maritime, oil & gas, and crisis and security risk consulting. Mohammed holds a MSc International Trade and Logistics from the KEDGE Business School in Marseilles, France and a BSc Transport and Logistics Management from Huddersfield University, United Kingdom, along with several certifications in security as well as Disaster Risk Management, and more recently, Futures Literacy.