The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Sam Ogbemi Daibo as its new Executive Director.
This appointment follows the retirement of Mr. Tunji Idowu, who served with distinction and led PIND through a transformative period marked by strategic growth, regional partnerships, and deepened impact. Mr. Daibo’s return ushers in a new era of continuity and renewed ambition for the Foundation’s mission in the Niger Delta.Sam Daibo brings with him a legacy of excellence and over 35 years of experience in development, stakeholder engagement, public policy, and private sector leadership. A development strategist and seasoned engagement expert, he returns to PIND having previously served as Executive Director from 2013 to 2016.
During his first tenure, Sam led PIND through a period of significant growth and strategic positioning. Under his leadership, the Foundation gained strong visibility, institutionalized key platforms such as the Niger Delta Development Forum, and built enduring partnerships with international development agencies including USAID, GIZ, DFID, UNDP, and the Ford Foundation. These alliances played a critical role in scaling PIND’s peacebuilding and economic development initiatives across the Niger Delta, establishing the Foundation as a trusted and results-oriented regional actor.Before rejoining PIND, Sam held several senior leadership positions at Chevron Nigeria Limited, most recently as Director of Government Affairs. In this role, he led strategic engagements with government, traditional institutions, and development agencies. He also played a central role in developing and implementing Chevron’s General Memorandum of Understanding (GMoU) model, which revolutionized community engagement in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. This model later became the foundation for the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, setting a new national benchmark for inclusive and sustainable community development in extractive regions.
In response to his appointment, Mr. Daibo remarked “I am honored to return to PIND at this pivotal time. The Foundation holds a unique position as a convener, catalyst, and partner for inclusive development in the Niger Delta. I look forward to working with our partners and communities to deepen our impact and build lasting peace and prosperity.”PIND’s Board of Trustees welcomed his return, describing Sam as a transformational leader with a deep understanding of the Niger Delta’s development landscape and the confidence of key stakeholders across sectors.
Established in 2010, PIND works to reduce poverty and conflict in the Niger Delta through market-driven economic development, peacebuilding, capacity strengthening, and evidence-based analysis. Over the years, PIND’s initiatives have influenced national policy, supported thousands of livelihoods, improved local capacities, and fostered more inclusive and resilient communities.
Mr. Daibo holds an MBA in Business Administration from the University of Benin and a B.Sc. in Agriculture from the University of Calabar. He is also an alumnus of several top global institutions including the Harvard Business School’s Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program, London Business School, Columbia Business School, and the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
With Sam Ogbemi Daibo at the helm, PIND is poised to deepen its impact, scale systems-level change, and foster a future of peace, equity, and shared prosperity for the people of the Niger Delta.
