About Us
Zukahari Services Limited is a research consultancy company that proposes quality evidence-based research to inform development decisions.
The company, based at Independence Layout, Enugu was founded in 2022 in response to failed policies arising from inadequate data on economic, social and environmental development issues which have persistently threatened Africa and indeed the developing world.
Zukahari Services Limited has been incorporated by the Corporate Affairs Commission under the Company and Allied Matters Act 2020 as a private company limited by shares, with Company Registration No. 1879356.
Our company aims to provide accurate data through systematic investigation; to improve performance through training and logistics; and to contribute through its activities towards launching the developing world on the path of effective and sustainable development.
Our Team
Our team is the engine that drives our mission of advancing knowledge and development. We bring together two key groups:
- Internal Systems Team: This dedicated group develops and maintains the tools and infrastructure that keep our organization running smoothly, ensuring seamless communication and efficient workflows.
- Core Team: This diverse group of university-based professionals brings a wealth of expertise across various fields, including science, arts, social sciences, and business. They share a common passion for knowledge advancement, fueled by their in-depth academic backgrounds and practical experience.
Dr Azubike Achike
Dr. Azubike Achike is a distinguished development economist with degrees in Economics, Business Administration, and Accountancy. His extensive career includes roles as Deputy Director in the public sector, Special Assistant to the Head of Service of Anambra State government, Accountant and Facilitator with the Central Bank of Nigeria-sponsored Entrepreneurial Development Centre at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He has also served as a part-time lecturer and Associate Researcher at the Resource and Environmental Policy Centre and the Gender and Development Policy Centre at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Dr Denis Nfor Yuni
Denis Yuni is a distinguished development economist specializing in economic development, policy analysis, and sustainable growth. With a deep understanding of macroeconomic and microeconomic principles, he focuses on the challenges of developing economies and advocates for inclusive and sustainable policies.
Denis holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Yaounde II, Soa, an MSc in Economics from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, and a PhD in Development Economics from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. His research and teaching experience includes positions at the Centre for Demographic and Allied Research, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the Africa Climate Change Adaptation Initiative, and the African Heritage Institution. He is currently a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the National University of Lesotho, following his tenure as a lecturer at Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike and Evangel University.
Research Interests
Denis's research interests include development finance, international economics, and environmental economics.
Publications and Contributions
He has published over 40 peer-reviewed journal articles, with many indexed in Thomson Reuters and Scopus, and has presented more than 20 conference papers. Additionally, he has authored over 10 working papers and technical reports.
Consultancy and Skills
Denis has consulted for various organizations, including the UNDP, World Bank, and African Economic Research Consortium. He is proficient in econometric software such as STATA, R, E-views, Gretl, and SPSS, and is skilled in data collection and analysis.
Additional Roles
He has served as Deputy Director at the Center for Internationalization and Advancement (AEFUNA) and is the Research Pillar Coordinator for the National University of Lesotho – WTO research chair. Denis has extensive international work experience in countries including Cameroon, Nigeria, South Africa, and Switzerland.
Dr Chukwuma Ume
Chukwuma Ume is a distinguished researcher and educator known for his groundbreaking work in agroecology, rural food sovereignty strategies, environmental sustainability, and gender empowerment for smallholder farmers. His research integrates interdisciplinary perspectives to address the complex challenges facing agricultural communities.
Education and Experience
Chukwuma holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy, and Sustainable Food Systems from Justus Liebig University in Germany, and a second PhD in Agribusiness and Marketing. As a Commonwealth and Chevening scholar, he earned a Master's degree in Environment and Development from the University of Leeds in the UK, which broadened his understanding of the relationships between environmental dynamics, socioeconomic factors, and sustainable development strategies. He is also a pioneer member of the Collective of Agrarian Scholar-Activists from the South.
Academic and Grassroots Engagement
As a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Chukwuma imparts knowledge and mentors students in the Department of Agricultural Economics, inspiring the next generation of scholars. His research extends beyond academia, directly impacting smallholder farmers and marginalized communities.
Gender Empowerment
A key aspect of Chukwuma's work is promoting gender empowerment within agricultural contexts. Recognizing the crucial role of women in food production and household well-being, he integrates gender perspectives into his research and advocacy efforts, striving to enhance women's participation, decision-making power, and access to resources within smallholder farming communities.
Contributions and Impact
Chukwuma's contributions to agroecology, rural food sovereignty, environmental sustainability, and gender empowerment exemplify his commitment to creating a more equitable and sustainable world. Through his scholarly endeavors and collaborative initiatives, he continues to inspire positive change and empower communities to build resilient and inclusive food systems.
Dr. Emmanuel Onyeabor
Emmanuel Onyeabor specializes in environmental law and management, providing expert consultancy on legal and regulatory frameworks for environmental protection and sustainable practices. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of International & Comparative Law at the University of Nigeria.
Education and Experience
Emmanuel holds degrees in Geography (B.Ed.), Development Planning (M.Sc.), Environmental Management (M.Sc.), and Law (LLB, LLM in Human Rights, and PhD in Environmental Law and Policy). He teaches Environmental and Planning Law at the undergraduate level, and International Environmental Law and Climate Change Law & Policy at the postgraduate level.
Academic Engagement
He has cross-appointments with the Centre for Environmental Management and Control (CEMAC) and the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre at the University of Nigeria. Emmanuel is the Faculty of Law Representative on the Board of College of Postgraduate Studies, Coordinator of Postgraduate Programmes in the Faculty of Law, and a member of the Gender Centre (Gen-Cen) Research Group.
Consultancy and Publications
Emmanuel has consulted for various national and international organizations, including the National Legislative, African Law Foundation, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). He has published numerous articles in reputable journals on topics such as climate change impacts, environmental governance, pollution control, and legal responses to environmental challenges. His book, "Fundamentals of Planning Law in Nigeria," is a notable contribution to the field.
Professor Anthonia Achike
Anthonia Achike is a leading expert in agricultural finance, providing invaluable insights and analysis for agricultural projects and financial management. She is a Professor of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Senior Research Fellow in Environment for Development (EfD)-Nigeria, and an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Trade Policy Training Centre in Africa (Trapca), Arusha-Tanzania.
Education and Training
Professor Achike holds a PhD in Agricultural Economics, specializing in Agricultural Finance and Project Analysis. She has undergone extensive training in quantitative and qualitative data analysis, gender, poverty, policy, time management, leadership, and other development issues from various institutions. She is a two-time Gender Institute Laureate at CODESRIA and the Social Science Academy of Nigeria. Additionally, she received training in Time Series Econometrics, Game Theory, and Poverty Mapping from renowned organizations.
Professional Roles and Contributions
Professor Achike is currently the Director of the Gender and Development Policy Centre (GEN-CENT) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She leads Nigeria’s Community-Based Poverty Monitoring System (CBMS-Nigeria) and serves as the UNN Focal Point for the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) and the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM). She coordinates the Agribusiness Development Program of the African Network for Agriculture, Agroforestry, and Natural Resources Education (ANAFE).
Consultancy and Publications
Anthonia has served as a consultant and trainer in numerous gender evaluations, mainstreaming, and training activities both nationally and internationally. She has conducted many baseline evaluations, benchmarking, and impact studies for various organizations. She regularly attends the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). She has over eighty publications, including journal articles, conference proceedings, and technical reports, and is a Fellow of the African Institute for Applied Economics.
Leadership and Awards
She has held various leadership roles, including Director of the African Climate Change Adaptation Initiative (ACCAI-UNN), Coordinator of TreccAfrica, and Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She is also the former President of the University Women’s Association at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Professor Achike has won numerous research grants and completed over twenty international research and consultancy projects.
Professor Nnaemeka Chukwuone
Professor Chukwuone is a renowned expert in Agricultural Economics, specializing in Resource and Environmental Economics. He holds a PhD in Resource and Environmental Economics, an MSc in Agricultural Finance and Project Analysis, and a B.Agric in Crop Science. He also earned a Certificate in Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) and Modeling with GAMS from the University of Laval, Canada.
Professional Roles and Training
Professor Chukwuone is the Director of the Environment for Development (EfD) Nigeria Centre and leads several professional research groups. He has participated in various training programs, including Risk and Environmental Sustainability with Simulation Models, Advanced CGE Modelling with GAMS, Damage and Loss Assessment, and Policy Impact Evaluation Research. He has attended intensive training courses on Project Monitoring and Evaluation, Poverty Dynamics, and Environmental Economics for Development Policy.
Experience and Leadership
He was a visiting scholar at Cornell University under the Food and Nutrition Policy Programme, funded by the African Economic Research Consortium. His experience includes serving as the Enugu State Commissioner of the Ministry of Environment and Mineral Resources from 2013 to 2015 and as Managing Director/Overseer of the University of Nigeria Press Limited. He also worked as a Programme/Research Officer for the Bio-resources Development and Conservation Programme (BDCP) in Nsukka and Abuja.
Achievements and Memberships
Professor Chukwuone is the President of the African Association of Environmental Economists and a member of several professional associations. He has secured over fifty competitive research grants and has more than one hundred scientific publications in reputed impact factor journals.
Dr. Scholar Ukwoma
Dr. Ukwoma specializes in library science, offering consultancy on information management, digital libraries, and knowledge dissemination. She is a Reader and Deputy University Librarian at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, heading the Digital Library Services Division and lecturing in the Department of Library and Information Science.
Education and Experience
Dr. Ukwoma completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of South Africa, where she taught, organized seminars for postgraduate students, and conducted research. Following the fellowship, she was offered a three-year Research Associate position. She has worked in various sections of the library and attended numerous professional programs, including Research4Life training, e-resources licensing, and Greenstone digitization software.
Awards and Memberships
Dr. Ukwoma has received several awards and fellowships, such as Fellow Open Repositories 2018, CPD Carnegie Fellowship 2014, Commonwealth Professional Fellowship 2012, and IFLA ARL Essay Contest Award 2009. She is a Chartered Librarian and a member of the Nigerian Library Association, American Library Association, and IFLA Continuing Professional Development and Workplace Learning Section with the New Professionals Special Interest Group.
Publications
She has published widely in reputable journals both locally and internationally, with 56 publications to her credit.
Professor Raymond Adibe
Professor Raymond Adibe is a renowned political scientist specializing in environmental politics and gender analysis. With a distinguished career at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he has significantly contributed to academia and policy development through extensive research and numerous publications.
Education and Roles
Professor Adibe holds a doctorate in Political Science and lectures in the Department of Political Science at the University of Nigeria. He is also a Research Fellow at the Gender and Development Policy Centre of the university.
Contributions and Collaborations
He participated in a collaboration between the Gender and Development Policy Centre and the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation, developing critical policies such as the Safeguarding Policy for Women and Girls (2020), Sexual Misconduct Policy (2021), and Gender Policy (2022).
Expertise and Impact
Professor Adibe's expertise includes Political Science, Environmental Politics, Gender Analysis, Policy Development, Research Publication, and Academic Mentorship. He continues to be a leading figure in his fields, contributing to knowledge advancement and policies promoting gender equality and environmental sustainability. His dedication to research, teaching, and policy advocacy underscores his commitment to a just and equitable society.
Support Staff
Afam Ozoagu – Data Entry Operator and Data Analysis
Skilled in data management and analysis, ensuring accuracy and efficiency in data handling.
Blessing Onyishi – Administrative Officer
Providing essential administrative support to ensure the smooth operation of the organization.
Michael Epundu – Farm Technologist
Expertise in farm technology, offering innovative solutions for modern agricultural practices and farm management.