IORWA APERA,
COUNTRY DIRECTOR, FHI 360 OF NIGERIA
Iorwa Apera is the Country Director, FHI360 Nigeria. Apera has over 30 years of cognitive diverse experiences ranging from the World Bank, USAID, CDC, FCDO, Norwegian Government, and the private sector.
In his immediate past role, Apera managed the $822M World Bank funded social safety net program in Nigeria, where he led the development of a fully digitalized cash transfer mechanism to over 12 million poor and vulnerable households. He also led the development of the first shock responsive social protection, targeting framework in Nigeria using satellite imagery and bug data. As National Program Manager for the FCDO funded (GBP 60 million) Child Development Grants Project (CDGP) through Save the Children International, Apera led the first nutrition sensitive cash transfer program for pregnant women and lactating mothers in Nigeria.
As Country Representative for Accordia Global Health Initiative (now merged with Africare) and Country Director for West African Infectious Diseases Institute (WAIDI) in Nigeria, Apera supported 14 universities in Nigeria to develop research capacity in infectious diseases. He also led WAIDI’s collaboration with the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) to develop the first curriculum for the training of front-line health workers to respond to epidemics from dangerous pathogens. As Country Director for the United Nations Foundation, Apera led the development of e-health framework for health in Nigeria.
He also led advocacy efforts at the 2016 National Council on Health, where the e-health framework was approved for national deployment. Under his leadership, the body of evidence from WAIDI’s research team led to policy change that informed the use of rapid diagnostic testing for malaria by patent medicines vendors (PMV) in Nigeria. He also worked for Population Council on the pioneer CDC funded Men’s Health Network, Nigeria’s first HIV/AIDS intervention for sexual minorities. Interestingly, Apera is also an FHI 360 Boomerang, where he previously served as Senior Finance and Administration Officer.
He a graduate of Actuarial Science from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Master of Business Administration from Benue State University, Makurdi. He also holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Leadership and Management from the University of Plymouth, UK, and currently pursuing a PhD in Social Marketing from the Benue State University. He has several publications to his credit.