Dr Dauda Garuba, a political scientist and development policy researcher, has built a career spanning more than two decades in democratic governance, natural resource management, public policy and advocacy.
Dr Dauda Garuba became Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) on June 1, 2024, returning to an organisation where he began his career in development research and programme management.
His appointment marked a new chapter for the Abuja based research and advocacy organisation, which works to promote democracy, peace, human rights and sustainable development across West Africa.
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Dr Dauda Garuba holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours in History from the University of Ilorin. He subsequently obtained a master’s degree and a doctorate in Political Science, specialising in International Relations, from the University of Benin, Nigeria.
His academic training has informed his work on governance, political institutions, public policy and the relationship between natural resources and development.
He has also contributed to academic and policy discussions through publications in Nigerian and international research outlets, addressing issues relevant to governance, economic development and accountability.
A Career Spanning Research And Policy Advocacy
Dr Dauda Garuba’s professional journey includes experience in civil society, natural resource governance and public policy research.
He began working with CDD in the early 2000s, serving as a programme officer from 2003 to 2005 and subsequently as a senior programme officer until 2008. During this period, he gained experience in programme development and the organisation’s work on democratic governance and development.
In 2008, he joined the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), where he worked until 2017, coordinating programmes focused on Nigeria.
His work at NRGI centred on natural resource governance, an area concerned with how countries manage resources such as oil and gas, and how revenues from these resources are used and accounted for.
Dr Dauda Garuba later joined the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), serving as a technical adviser and senior consultant from 2017 to 2021.
NEITI promotes transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s extractive industries, including the oil, gas and mining sectors. Garuba’s experience in the field strengthened his engagement with policy reforms, public accountability and resource management.
After leaving NEITI, he continued working as an independent researcher and consultant for development-focused organisations.
Dr Dauda Garuba’s expertise extends beyond natural resource management to several areas of democratic and institutional development.
His work covers development policy research, advocacy, transparency, social accountability, conflict prevention, peacebuilding and security sector reform.
These areas intersect with some of West Africa’s persistent governance challenges, including public-sector accountability, the management of natural resources, political instability and the need for stronger democratic institutions.
His research and policy engagement have also examined the role of citizens and civil society in strengthening governance and promoting accountability.
One of his documented research contributions is Nigeria Oil Sector Reforms: An Agenda for the Buhari Administration, published by NRGI in 2015. The article examined proposed reforms in the oil sector, including measures to improve transparency, strengthen accountability and address weaknesses in the management of petroleum revenues.
His other research interests include regional integration and the relationship between economic pressures, poverty and survival strategies among rural communities.
Dr Dauda Garuba’s appointment as Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) director brought him back to an organisation with which he had previously worked for several years.
Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD West Africa) was established in 1997 and has its headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria. It works across the West African region on democracy, governance, peace, security and human rights through research, policy engagement and advocacy.
As director, Dr Dauda Garuba leads an organisation whose work seeks to connect research findings with policy decisions and practical responses to governance and development challenges.
His experience across CDD, NRGI and NEITI provides a professional background spanning democratic development, resource governance and institutional accountability.
The organisation announced his appointment in June 2024, expressing confidence that his experience would support its mission of providing research and programme assistance towards a more democratic and developed West Africa.
Dr Dauda Garuba’s career has involved engagement with stakeholders at local, national and regional levels. His professional network and experience across research and development institutions have positioned him to work with civil society organisations, policymakers and other development actors.
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