The Federal Government has nominated two distinguished Nigerians for election into the African Union (AU) Panel of Eminent Personalities of the African Peer Review Mechanism, reinforcing Nigeria’s growing influence in continental governance and diplomacy.
Leading the nomination list is Professor Aminu Gusau, a respected governance expert and visiting professor at the University of Kansas in the United States. He is followed by Professor Oluwakemi Obayelu, an agricultural economist at the University of Ibadan and Nigeria’s female nominee.
Professor Gusau is widely regarded as a seasoned technocrat with extensive experience across academia, public administration, leadership development, and anti-corruption reform. His nomination places him ahead of other candidates as African Union (AU) leaders prepare for elections into the panel scheduled for next week.
Originally from Gusau Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Gusau holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Kansas, a Master’s degree in Management from Baker University, and a PhD in International Business from Northcentral University in Arizona. He is also a Member of the National Institute after completing the Senior Executive Course at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies in Jos.
He has attended executive leadership programmes at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, and Kansas State University, focusing on public sector performance and leadership effectiveness.
Professionally, Gusau has served as Director of Administration and Human Resources at the Nigerian Railway Corporation and later held senior roles at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, where he became the first civilian to serve substantively as Director of Organisational Support.
Currently, he lectures as a visiting professor at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership and Development Studies at the University of Abuja and chairs the board of the Abuja Urban Mass Transport Company Limited. He also runs ANHI Consultants International Limited, which delivers leadership, governance, and anti-corruption programmes across Nigeria.
The second nominee, Professor Oluwakemi Adeola Obayelu, is a renowned development economist and Professor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Ibadan. She is recognised for her work in food security, agricultural policy, rural development, and sustainable livelihoods, with extensive contributions to national and international policy frameworks.
The African Union (AU) Panel of Eminent Personalities serves as the highest oversight body of the African Peer Review Mechanism. It provides strategic direction, safeguards the credibility of governance reviews, and ensures independence in assessing governance standards across member states.
If elected at the African Union Assembly scheduled for February 14 and 15, 2026, in Addis Ababa, the nominees will serve a four-year term, contributing to democratic governance, economic reform, and accountability across Africa.
