Rev. David Ugolor Elected Co-Chair of UNCAC Coalition Board
By: Femi Mustapha
The Executive Director of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ, an anti-corruption and human rights activist, Rev. David Ugolor has been elected as the Co-Chair of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption UNCAC Coalition Board, a global network.
This was contained in a statement made available to the media in Kaduna today.
The statement stated that UNCAC Coalition Boar is dedicated to advancing the implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption
The statement added that the election of Rev. Ugolor follows his successful tenure as a two-time Vice Chair of the Coalition’s Board, a position he held since September 2022.
Matthias Huter, Managing Director of the UNCAC Coalition Board who announced Ugolor’s election on Friday, 11 October 2024, congratulated him alongside the newly elected leadership team. “Congratulations to the new board leadership on their election. I look forward to working with them,” Huter stated.
In his announcement, Huter revealed the full leadership lineup, which includes Gillian Dell, who will serve as co-chair alongside Ugolor, Naomi Roht-Arriaza, and Wajdi Balloumi as Vice Chairs, Wana Alamsyah as Treasurer, and Mukhtar Ahmad Ali as Secretary.
Rev. Ugolor brings over two decades of experience in anti-corruption advocacy, making him a valuable asset to the Coalition. As Co-Chair, he will work closely with Gillian Dell, to further the Coalition’s mission of mobilizing civil society to champion transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption globally.
ANEEJ Executive Director, Rev David Ugolor, presenting the MANTRA Model at the UN Global Intersession Meeting on the UN General Assembly Political Declaration on Corruption in Vienna, Austria, September 2022
Rev David Ugolor has over two decades of work experience in anti-corruption and has Master’s Degrees in Agricultural Economics and the Study of Corruption from the Universities of Benin and Suss, ex, respectively.
He has made several presentations on corruption, Illicit Financial Flows, and Sustainable Development at both local and international workshops and seminars.
David Ugolor has participated as a resource person in several UN meetings and also facilitated civil society engagement with the Open Government Partnership. At inception, Ugolor served as the Co-Chair of the Anti-Corruption Working Group of the Open Government Partnership Nigeria. David Ugolor facilitated the Pre-Global Forum on Asset Recovery consultation in Nigeria and participated in the GFAR panel debate held in December 2017 in Washington, DC.
Rev. David Ugolor led the implementation of independent CSO monitoring of $ 322.5 million of the Abacha loot, which was used for conditional cash transfer programs in Nigeria under the MANTRA project.
The Conditional Cash Transfer Programme is one of the key social investment policies of the Federal Government of Nigeria that is targeting poor Nigerians geared toward the attainment of sustainable development goals in Nigeria.
In his acceptance remarks, Rev. Ugolor expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by the Coalition’s members. “I am deeply honored to serve as Co-Chair of the UNCAC Coalition.
This appointment is a reflection of the collective efforts of civil society worldwide to strengthen our fight against corruption. I look forward to working closely with all stakeholders to ensure that the Coalition remains a formidable force in holding governments accountable and ensuring transparency in governance,” Ugolor stated.
“My election as Co-Chair is not just a personal honor but a reflection of the collective strength of civil society in our fight against corruption.
“Together, we are driving the global push for greater transparency and justice, and I am committed to ensuring that our voices remain at the forefront,” Ugolor stated.
The UNCAC Coalition, established in 2006, is a network of over 350 civil society organizations from more than 100 countries, working to promote the ratification, implementation, and monitoring of the UN Convention against Corruption.” He said.
