About Us

About CCSI

The Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI) is a leading Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) organization with expertise in utilising evidence from research to implement effective strategies that address barriers preventing designated audiences from adopting recommended behaviours. Birthed by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (JHCCP), Baltimore, USA and registered in 2001 as a Non-Governmental and Not for Profit Organization with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria, CCSI continues to work towards being the center of excellence in strategic communications in Africa. Driven by values of integrity, passion, care, innovation, and excellence, CCSI focuses on the central role of strategic communication to impact behaviors, build brands, and provide technical leadership in health and social development.

Our Vision

To be the centre of excellence in strategic communications in Africa

Our Mission Statement

To be the leading SBC organisation in Africa,innovatively empowering communities through partnerships and evidence-based strategies.

Who we are at CCSI

Guided by integrity, passion, care, innovation, and excellence, CCSI uses strategic communication to influence behaviors, build brands, and lead in health and social development.

Excellence

We are collaborative, professional, striving to attain the highest quality.

Innovation

We are creative, always learning, versatile and cutting edge.

Integrity

We are disciplined, accountable, transparent, honest and reliable.

Care

We are supportive of one another and respectful. We embrace diversity, promote equity and inclusion.

Passion

We are goal-driven and purposeful. We work as a team.

Board of Trustees

Mr. Ike Osakwe MA (Oxon.) ACA

Hajia Hadiza Babayaro

Chief Mrs. Mojisola Makanjuola

Prof. Ralph Afolabi Akinfeleye, Ph.D., Fnge, Fnipr, Fcids

Adebayo Fayoyin, PhD

Mobolaji Sanni

Mr. Ike Osakwe MA (Oxon.) ACA

Ike Osakwe is a Chartered Accountant and Management Consultant.  A graduate of the University of Oxford, he is also an Associate member of the Institutes of Chartered Accountants both for Nigeria and for England and Wales. Initially trained for four years at KPMG Audit in London, he recently retired from GRID Consulting Ltd. – a specialist Aid consultancy that he established in 1986 and which has been recently acquired by DAI Global LLC, a US-based global development company.

Ike has over 35 years’ experience in financial, strategic and corporate planning, as well as organisational and financial management systems development, both in Nigeria and internationally. He has brought his vast experience in the dynamics of most major industrial sectors to bear in his work on corporate governance.

Ike has held several governments and board appointments and currently serves on the boards of Oando Plc, Leadway Pensure PFA, Notore Chemical Industries Plc., DAI Global LLC., as well as Centre for Communication and Social Impact. He previously served on the boards of Oando Marketing Plc. and Red Star Express Nigeria Ltd; and chaired the Boards of Thomas Wyatt Nig. Plc. and UBA Trustees Ltd.

 

Hajia Hadiza Babayaro

Hadiza is an experienced advocate on women and girl issues, an adviser on Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) Programming, facilitator, instructor and professional in community mobilization. With expertise in voice and accountability programs and specialties in designing programs and activities with particular interest to capture the “hard to reach” and “hard to convince” (HR & HC) social groups. Of significance, Hadiza has facilitated a number of communication, advocacy, research, and mobilization programs.

These have included, Ku Saurara! (KS, Listen Up!) Project, where engagement of radio and home video communication mediums were employed. More specifically, she was involved in script writing of 150 episodes of the KS Radio Program; as well as monitoring of 40 community rallies (road shows) in the twelve targeted states; finally also engaged in the facilitation for the formation of youth clubs for married girls in five northern states.

Possessing a Masters in Education and International Development Health Promotion from the Institute of Education University of London UK as well as subsequent trainings and work in Health Communications, has enabled Hadiza to develop and coordinate strategic communication activities. Her research has also extended into behavioural surveillance (participation in the Northern Clusters, Behavioural Surveillance Survey on HIV/AIDS and Sexuality (1999 conducted for FHI-USAID).

Chief Mrs. Mojisola Makanjuola

Mojisola commenced her career in Journalism with her earliest training at NBC Training School, Lagos, 1977 and NTA TV College, Jos, 1983. Her love for excellence led her to attend further trainings at Voice of America Training School in 1998, the American Heritage University of Southern California, San Bamadino, USA where she obtained a B.A in Media Studies and then the International Institute of Journalism, (IIJ) Abuja and a Master’s Degree. Moji is a prolific cinematographer with several world-class documentaries in her stable and is an ardent advocate of specialization in formal reportage.

She works tirelessly for the uplift of the African woman. Her life mission is to use her field – journalism to contribute to the long-term vision of remaking Nigeria into a model, and to promote an overreaching environment that is capable of shaping National rebirth and character.

She was the first President of the National Association of Women Journalist (NAWOJ) to be returned unopposed and was the first journalist to be given the Award of Excellence by the Nigerian Medical and Dental Council. She has received numerous awards to her honour after that; notably is the Most Grateful Awards 2008 for outstanding Reporting of HIV/AIDS Activities in Nigeria, Meritorious Service Award in recognition of Professional Excellence and Service to Humanity, honorary citizenship of Kansas State, and the First Award of Excellence by the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria -NIBRA.

She is a forefront media advocate and has produced several programs and advocacy programs on Maternal and Child Health, Polio Eradication, Health systems promotion, communicable and non-communicable diseases. In recognition of her passion and dedication to excellence, she was the first African to be awarded the Knight Journalism Fellowship of the Centre for Disease Control for Public Health, Atlanta, USA. Moji Makanjuola is a devout patriot as she continues to produce and present Bridges – a program that has been building bridges towards a sustainable Nigeria (over 200 episodes), and topical issues of health- “Health Reports” on the NTA network. She is also an accomplished author whose book ‘Health Journalism – A journey with Moji Makanjuola’ is on the Abuja Literary Society’s Best seller list.

 

Prof. Ralph Afolabi Akinfeleye, Ph.D., Fnge, Fnipr, Fcids

Prof Ralph Afolabi Akinfeleye, a graduate of the World First School of Journalism at the University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA, is a communication specialist and consultant to UNFPA, UNESCO, UNIFEM, WHO, UNICEF, UNDP to mention a few. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (fnge), Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (fnipr), Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Development Studies (fcids) and Chairman, Management Board, Unilag Radio-103.1FM and Television – the first University Radio Station in Nigeria.

He is the Chair and past Head of the Dept. of Department of Mass Communication University of Lagos, Nigeria as well as the Centre of Excellence in Multimedia and Cinematography/Unilag Radio 103.1fm and Television.

He is a Consultant and one time Member of the Board  of the Nigerian Press Council and Chairman of the Panel of Assessors for the Nigerian Media Merit Award (NMMA), the Golden Pen Media Award in Nigeria, and member of the Editorial Board of many media houses including the AEJMC, Media Education Journal, Communication Review, Journal of Multimedia and Communication Studies, to mention a few. He has more than 55 peer-reviewed articles, journals, books and monographs to his credit.

Professor Akinfeleye is a specialist in Mass Media and National Security, a subject he has been teaching for decades at the University of Lagos, Nigeria as well as Health Communication/Behavior Change Communication BCC.

An advocate of sustainable media law and ethics, Health Communication and Behavior Change Communication (BCC) for the Nigerian media landscape, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye believes that lack of effective horizo-vertical pattern of communication and sustainable media law and ethics  are parts of the world’s undigested past.

An Advocate of Creating Public Relations of Relevance, Professor Akinfeleye continues to add value to the pedagogical purity of the Mass Media in Africa. Recently, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye was elected to the prestigious Council of The World Journalism Education Congress in Paris, France. He is the first African to be so elected to the WJEC. He will represent the entire African for three years from his election.

 

Adebayo Fayoyin, PhD

Dr. Adebayo Fayoyin is a seasoned expert in social and behavior change (SBC), health communication, and advocacy with over 30 years of experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating SBC interventions. He is a Professor at Caleb University, Lagos, Nigeria, and an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Dr. Fayoyin has held senior roles in international development agencies, including USAID, UNICEF, and UNFPA, where he managed strategic communication initiatives across multiple countries. He led the Africa SBC Consortium from 2020 to 2023, coordinating regional consultations on climate and social change, and initiated SBC capacity-building projects across Africa. He currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Health Working Group at IAMCR (2023-2027).

With a robust academic background that includes multiple advanced degrees and specialized certifications, Dr. Fayoyin has also accumulated over 20 years of teaching experience in Nigeria, Malawi, Kenya, and South Africa. He is an accomplished qualitative researcher and a certified trainer, having designed and implemented nearly 100 training programs in public communication and SBC.

Dr. Fayoyin’s extensive experience, combined with his academic rigor and commitment to advancing social change, positions him as a leading voice in health communication and advocacy across Africa and beyond.

Mobolaji Sanni

Mobolaji Sanni is a seasoned Chartered Accountant and financial expert with over 30 years of experience across various industries. Holding an MBA in Marketing from the University of Lagos and a BSc in Accounting from the University of Ado-Ekiti, he is also a Fellow of both the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (FCA) and the Institute of Financial Accountants (IFA UK).

As the Managing Partner of Mobolaji Sanni & Co, he specializes in business planning, restructuring, mergers & acquisitions, and financial strategy implementation. Mobolaji has worked on major projects, including the privatization of Benin and Kaduna DISCOs, and has significant experience in public policy through collaborations with government agencies like the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and National Assembly (NASSD). His background also includes senior finance roles at Airtel Nigeria, Aluko & Oyebode, Pacers Multi-Dynamics Ltd, and Ebinum Onah & Co.

With a commitment to professional development, he has undergone training in forensic auditing, project finance, and strategic debt management. Mobolaji’s expertise, combined with his extensive experience, positions him as a leader in finance and business consulting.

Senior Management Team/HODs

Executive Director

Babafunke Fagbemi
Technical Advisor Programmes

Oluseyi Akintola
HOD Finance

Moses Arome
Human Resources Consultant

Ndifreke Essien
Technical Advisor, Programme

Oluyemi Abodunrin
HOD, Internal Audit

Opeyemi Fayomi (FCA)
HOD RMEL

Abiodun Adegbenro
Media Coordinator

Suzan Ironsi
Creative Manager

Eghosa Wellington

Executive Director

Babafunke Fagbemi

Though trained as a pharmacist, Babafunke has had over 25 years of illustrious career, developing, implementing and managing strategic health communication initiatives in various thematic areas of integrated health and social development.

She is globally acclaimed as one of the leading lights in Africa on Social Behaviour Change Communication and as one of the very few experts, she has dedicated much of the past 10 years in building the next generation of health communicators.

As founding Executive Director, Babafunke is key to the operations of CCSI, providing the much-needed guidance and direction in all thematic areas. She is actively involved in the running of the projects and works as a part of the CCSI team, leading by example.

Babafunke has brought her easy-to-do approach to the annual Leadership in Strategic Communications Workshop which she has facilitated since 2008. The workshop, a cornerstone in CCSI capacity building mission currently draws participants from other parts of Africa and has established itself as a unique opportunity for health and development communication professionals.

Up till 2003, she served as the Program Director, Staywell Foundation. She has worked on key health and development projects in Nigeria including the Johns Hopkin’s Bloomberg Center for Communication Programs SuNMaP project, National Communication Consultant PATHS1, Communication Consultant Netherlands Leprosy Relief, Principal Investigator UNFPA. She has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Liverpool, Masters of Communication Arts from the University of Ibadan and she is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.

Babafunke says: “I feel so blessed to have had the support of such a dynamic team, working with me from inception till now. The wonderful staff are the epitome of what CCSI represents; Excellence, Integrity, Passion, Innovation and Care.

Technical Advisor Programmes

Oluseyi Akintola

Oluseyi brings over 20 years’ experience in community development practice, community system strengthening and other public health and social development issues including Malaria, Nutrition, Reproductive Health, Family Planning, and Governance.  He has technical and management experience in development and participatory methodologies with specific expertise in strategic health communication interventions.

A competent facilitator in Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodologies and group promotion. As the Technical Advisor, he provides oversight to projects currently being implemented by CCSI both at state and national levels, while also providing supportive supervision to ensure projects meet expected deadlines and results.

Oluseyi’s views community activities as a way of giving back to the societies. He is especially happy when CCSI’s interventions make differences in the lives of community members.   As one of the longest-serving staff, he considers the CCSI team as family.

HOD Finance

Moses Arome

Moses is CCSI Senior Finance Officer, overseeing the finance department. In this role, he has brought immense innovation and expertise to bear on our financial process.

He has a first degree in Accounting from the University of Jos and an MBA from Nasarawa State University. He joined CCSI shortly after and for the past 10 years, he has been part of the core team of innovators who witnessed the various stages of development of CCSI.

Moses says: “I love working at CCSI because it has evolved a culture of inclusiveness and mutual respect, creating a conducive atmosphere for career growth and development.”

He is a fan of varied genre of music and loves traveling.

Human Resources Consultant

Ndifreke Essien

Ndi Essien is a seasoned Human Resources professional with over 15 years of progressive leadership experience in developing and implementing HR strategies, particularly within the International Development and Non-profit sectors. As the Human Resources Consultant at the Centre for Communications and Social Impact (CCSI), Ndi brings her deep expertise in fostering a culture of diversity, equity, inclusivity, and social responsibility, aligning HR practices with CCSI’s mission and strategic goals. Ndi has specialized expertise in Organizational Effectiveness and Development, Talent Acquisition, Total Rewards, Employee Relations, and Compliance. She has successfully led initiatives to enhance organizational efficiency, attract and retain top talent, and develop equitable compensation structures, ensuring alignment with best practices and industry standards

Before CCSI, Ndi served as the Human Resources Director at the Malala Fund, she played a pivotal role in enhancing organizational effectiveness by developing comprehensive people strategies and governance models that supported both short-term and long-term objectives. Her global HR operations experience includes overseeing HR functions across multiple countries, managing international HR teams, and leading the registration and setup of country offices in locations such as Pakistan and Nigeria.

Ndi has also held leadership roles at Cambridge Education (Mott MacDonald Group), where she supported HR operations for high-value government-funded projects in various global locations, including Nigeria, Uganda, and She is well-versed in managing complex HR functions in diverse settings, driving strategic initiatives, and ensuring compliance with international labor laws. With a strong focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Ndi has led numerous initiatives to promote inclusive hiring practices, orchestrate comprehensive compensation equity projects, and develop organizational policies through a DEI lens. Her efforts have been instrumental in fostering inclusive cultures that respect and actively incorporate diversity into organizational growth and development strategies.

Ndi holds a Master of Science in International Human Resources Management and is a Chartered member of both the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD UK) and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM Nigeria). She is also a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (DCSHRM, USA).  She holds an HR Professional License from CIPM, Nigeria.  Her professional qualifications, combined with her extensive experience in diverse international settings, make her an invaluable asset to CCSI.

Ndi is committed to supporting CCSI in its mission to drive social change through innovative communication strategies and impactful programs, ensuring that the organization attracts, retains, and develops passionate professionals dedicated to making a difference.

Technical Advisor, Programme

Oluyemi Abodunrin

Oluyemi’s expertise are in the areas of Development Communication, Behaviour Change Communication, Maternal Health, Adolescent and Reproductive Health. For over 15 years, he has deployed these skills to bring positive change in advocacy, media relations, community mobilization, conflict resolution and peace management.

He joined CCSI in 2011 as a Programme Officer in charge of the Urban Reproductive Health Initiatives (NURHI) and has since managed several other projects rising to become a Technical Advisor on all of CCSI major projects.

His leadership skills has seen him leading many of CCSI projects including the Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) where he supervised extensive community mobilisation outreach,  BCC material development, documentary productions etc.

As Technical Advisor, he manages and supervises projects across different thematic areas.

Oluyemi has a degree in Mass Communication and a Master’s Degree in International Relations and Strategic Studies. He is an alumni of the prestigious Leadership in Strategic Health Communication (LSHC) by the John Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health.

He sees CCSI has a learning organization which has given him room to grow in his area of expertise.

In his free time, he likes to hike and photograph nature and landscapes across the globe.

HOD, Internal Audit

Opeyemi Fayomi (FCA)

Opeyemi (a seasoned Chartered Accountant) has offered about twelve (12) years in practical experience in the field of ICT driven audit, forensic accounts, tax administration, amongst others. He has worked with renown companies in the financial sector including Finbank Plc, M&D Holdings Ltd, Fasol Engineering Ltd, and Omolola Iyabode & Co, audit firm and has experience in consulting for Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). All of this wealth of knowledge, he brings to bear on his position as the Internal Auditor at CCSI.

At different point of his work with CCSI, Opeyemi has audited the USAID – Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) Malaria Project Funds for Social Behaviour Change Communication (SBCC) in five Nigerian states, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)’s funds for Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health (NURHI) project in Kaduna state, United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) IPCI training project funds in Maiduguri, Borno State, UNICEF VAC in 5 states of the federation among many others.

Opeyemi is an alumnus of the Strategic and Business Development Workshop by the John Hopkins University Center for Communication Program Baltimore USA and Team Building International as well as HACT (Harmonized Cash Transfer) workshop. He is a graduate of Accounting from University of Ado Ekiti and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria (ICAN).

HOD RMEL

Abiodun Adegbenro

Passionate about tackling global health challenges through innovative solutions, Abiodun brings a decade of diverse experience in public health, research, monitoring, evaluation, and learning to the table. With a proven track record of success in Nigeria and across Africa, Abiodun has partnered with numerous international organizations, including USAID, the World Bank, BMGF, UNICEF, Ford Foundation, Grantham Foundation, and LAD, to implement, supervise, and assess the impact of critical interventions. Abiodun’s expertise spans:

· Project Management: Adept at managing complex projects funded by prestigious donors, ensuring successful implementation and delivery of objectives.

· Monitoring Evaluation & Learning: Skilled in designing and implementing M&E frameworks to track progress, measure impact, and inform adaptive programming.

· Research & Analysis: Proven ability to conduct rigorous research, analyse data, and generate insights to guide decision-making.

· Leadership & Teamwork: Fosters a collaborative environment, builds strong relationships with stakeholders, and leads by example.

Abiodun has a degree in Statistics from Bowen University Iwo, Osun state and a master’s in Medical Statistics from the prestigious University of Ibadan. Abiodun is currently a PhD candidate in Biostatistics, also at the University of Ibadan.

Media Coordinator

Suzan Ironsi

Suzan Ironsi brings over 10 years of expertise in journalism and marketing communications, excelling in intervention comms, media management, and internal communications. Trained in development reporting, including the Ford Foundation-funded Nigerian Investigative Reporting Project (ICIR), she is also a member of the Nigerian Institute for Public Relations and the Institute of Development Administration – IDAN.

With a dedicated focus on gender equity and social inclusion, Suzan’s reporting accomplishments include detailed coverage of Nigeria’s Women’s Affairs, complemented by the production of niche equity-focused inserts. Beyond her journalistic pursuits, she made contributions to notable donor-funded projects and played a pivotal role in supporting organizational communication goals of thriving Small Medium Enterprises.

In her capacity Media Coordinator, she is committed to supporting CCSI’s media communication objectives.

Creative Manager

Eghosa Wellington

Eghosa has well over twelve years experience in 3D architecture design, web development, UI/UX design, brand strategy, branding, and collateral development. As the HOD of the creative department at CCSI, he plays a pivotal role in visually bringing communication messages and campaigns to life.

His influence is evident in the creative repositioning campaigns for NAFDAC, NDIC, the Nigeria Centenary Celebrations, and FIRS. He also played a key role in the success of significant events such as the African Union Heads of State Summit (Abuja + 12), the Nigeria Centenary Grand Finale celebration, Agribiz, Delta State Trade Fair, and the CTO Summit.