Samuel Nwaokomah plays a strategic role in advancing gender policy dialogue through a combination of research, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement. He supports the design and facilitation of co-creation workshops and policy dialogues that bring together traditional and religious leaders, policymakers, and civil society actors to foster inclusive approaches to gender equality and social transformation. In addition to leading high-level advocacy efforts, Samuel provides technical support for research design, data collection, and analysis—translating insights into visually compelling dashboards, briefs, and technical reports. His work ensures that community-informed perspectives are integrated into policy processes through evidence-based recommendations and culturally grounded frameworks.

Before joining the Policy Innovation Centre, Samuel Nwaokomah built a solid foundation in research, program coordination, and data systems strengthening across various national and international development projects. As the National Study Consultant with FHI360 on the SMART-HIPs Family Planning project funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, he led nationwide data collection, stakeholder engagement, and performance measurement efforts in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health. He also served as Research Coordinator for the GIZ SKYE Tracer Study, Research Assistant for projects by Population Council, Breakthrough Research, and John Snow Inc., contributing to evaluations on gender-based violence, social behavior change, HIV prevention, and masculinities. Samuel’s leadership of the Independent Rural Literacy Initiative (IRLI) saw the successful establishment of a community walk-in library in Kpegyi, a rural community in Abuja, emphasizing his passion for grassroots impact and digital literacy for the girl child. Additionally, his early work as Data & Training Officer for CS-SUNN helped improve nutrition data systems and capacity across state-level committees. These roles reflect his expertise in monitoring and evaluation, qualitative and quantitative research, advocacy, and community engagement—all of which laid the groundwork for his current contributions to national development policy.

Qualification: Public Health, MBA, Philosophy & Political Science