By Johnbosco Agbakwuru

ABUJA— RELIEF International, a non-profit organization that partners with communities to save lives among others, has appointed Mrs. Awele Okigbo, to the Board of Directors of the organisation..

Mrs. Okigbo is the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of leading strategic and development communications firm, Credo Advisory, with offices in Abuja and Washington DC.

Credo in a statement on Tuesday, explained that Relief International is an international non-profit organization that partners with communities to save lives, build greater resilience and promote long-term health and wellbeing.

The statement said: “With over 25 years of experience, Awele Okigbo has led transformative initiatives for governments, international institutions, and global organizations, including the United Nations, USAID, United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Gates Foundation.

“Her leadership has positioned Credo Advisory as a trusted partner in promoting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through impactful communication campaigns and interventions in Africa.”

Reacting to the appointment, Mrs. Okigbo said: “I am excited to support Relief International’s over 7,000 staff working across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, who help at-risk communities affected by conflict, disaster, and climate change. By contributing to this critical mission, we will amplify the impact of their work and provide sustainable interventions to those in greatest need.”

Relief International provides essential health, nutrition, education, livelihoods, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs.Her exceptional leadership and proven track record in strategic communications and sustainable development will be instrumental as Relief International responds to vulnerable communities.

Craig Redmond, Chief Executive Officer of Relief International hailed the appointment, saying that,“Awele has a deep understanding of the complex contexts Relief International is working in across the world. We are honored to have her expertise, innovative problem-solving skills and vision as we continue our mission to create lasting change in communities affected by crisis. Welcome Awele!”

Credo Advisory is a leading communications firm specialising in strategic, operational, and tactical communications initiatives. We support governments, development partners, and the private sector to raise awareness, build trust, and effect change with communication programmes. Collaborating with our partners, we develop products, initiatives, and campaigns based on research and industry insights.

The statement stressed that “Credo is committed to using communications to advance the global development, with communication responses that promote transparency, good governance, advocacy, and public enlightenment.

“Our mission is to provide technical assistance and programming that enable our partners to build strong relationships with stakeholders, shape attitudes, educate audiences, and influence behaviours to impact society positively. We leverage communications to end poverty, fight inequality, and foster a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable world.”