‘Kemi Okenyodo, Executive Director, Rule of Law Empowerment also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria has over fifteen years’ experience in security and governance issues in both Nigeria and West Africa, NGO management, and litigation practice. She founded the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria) in March 2016 with support from Partners Global and General Electronics. She presently provides strategic and operational leadership for the organization with support from a vibrant Board and Team.

She has expertise in the security governance sector, with special emphasis on police accountability and citizens/security institution engagement. She has also been engaged in several works geared toward the evolution of non-state actors and their contributions to improving public safety and security; policing and gender issues, as well as, election security management. She is also well-experienced in project management, monitoring & evaluation, fundraising, stakeholder management, and networking, as well as team-building and innovative leadership.

From December 2017 till date, she has been the Team Lead for the Nigeria Policing Program. A policing reform program which is being supported by the Her Majesty Government (HMG) through the Conflict Security and Stabilisation Fund (CSSF).

She’s held various positions in the past some of which were from December 2015 till November 2017 she held a consultancy position with the British High Commission, in which capacity she provided support to the Head- West Africa Conflict Security & Stabilization Unit on Transition from Military Operations to a Stabilized Community Policing Approach in the North East. She was the Component Lead for the Component Intervention Program on Police External Accountability on the Justice For All (J4A) Program which was aimed at improving personal security and access to justice for all Nigerians. The program was implemented by the British Council and funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). She has also provided consultancy services for the Open Society Justice Initiative (OSJI).

She worked with CLEEN Foundation a non-governmental organization aimed at promoting public safety and security in Nigeria from August 2002 to July 2015 when she resigned as the Executive Director.

She graduated with an LLB (Hons.) from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria, in September 1997. She also attended the Nigeria Law School Abuja where she graduated as Barrister at Law (LB) in September 1999. In June 2004, she obtained a Master’s Degree in Humanitarian and Refugee Studies from the Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, Nigeria. She further obtained a Certificate in Defence and Security Management in January 2010 from National Defence College, Nigeria. She is a member of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), African Security Sector Network (ASSN), and  Africa Centre for Strategic Studies, Nigeria Chapter respectively.