Celestine O. Okanya
Celestine O. Okanya is the Director General and CEO of the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS), a position he has held since October 2016. With over 10 years of professional experience in quality infrastructure and conformity assessment, he is widely regarded as a transformative figure in Nigeria’s accreditation landscape and a leading voice for quality infrastructure across Africa.
As DG, he oversees the day-to-day management and administration, legal compliance, international policy conformance, staff development, and the long-term sustainability and implementation of the strategic plan of NiNAS. He is a Registered Clinical Pharmacist, An Academician, An Administrator and Non-profit Organisation Management Expert. He is an alumnus of University of Jos, Nigeria; Hamline University, St Paul Minnesota, USA and Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
Dr. Lawrena Okoro
Dr. Lawrena Chinyere Okoro is a medical microbiologist and public health expert with over 30 years of experience across academia, public service, and international development. As Director of Accreditation, she spearheads assessment planning, ISO/IEC 17011 compliance, and risk management.
Highly qualified, she holds a Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology and an M.Sc. in Total Quality Management, with ongoing studies for an MBA and a Ph.D. in Business Innovation. A Fellow of the West African Postgraduate College, Dr. Okoro integrates deep technical expertise with strategic leadership to drive organizational improvement and excellence in the accreditation process.
Engr. Okechukwu Iheozor Ejiofor
Engr. Okechukwu Iheozor Ejiofor is the Quality Manager at NiNAS and a National Conformity Assessment Expert with over 27 years of experience in legal metrology and quality management systems. Since 2018, he has served as a Lead Assessor and Trainer, guiding organizations toward international accreditation (ISO/IEC). A University of Jos alumnus with an MSc in Physics, Okechukwu is a certified expert in process management and QMS auditing. In his spare time, he enjoys creative writing for television and radio and staying informed on the latest business developments
Engr. Joshua Tunde Jegede
Joshua Tunde Jegede is an Engineer and ICT Consultant currently serving as the Head of Business Development at the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS). He leads the ICT, Marketing, and Communications units, specializing in digital transformation and process automation.
Joshua joined NiNAS in 2019 after working as a National Expert for the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), where he supported the EU-funded Nigeria Quality Infrastructure Project (NQIP). His career also spans extensive experience within the private sector and international NGOs.
He holds an MBA from the University of Nicosia, Cyprus, and a B.Eng. from UNIMAID, with professional certifications in Data Science, AI, Machine Learning, and Project Management.
Okolo Rosemary Onyinyechukwu
Okolo Rosemary Onyinyechukwu is the Senior Manager for Certification at NiNAS and a National Conformity Assessment Expert with over seven years of experience. As a Lead Assessor and Trainer, she guides organizations toward ISO/IEC accreditation. Leveraging her scientific background and QMS auditing certification, she strengthens Nigeria’s quality infrastructure, ensuring global credibility and competence for accredited bodies through international best practices.
Andrew Kosisochukwu Ugwu
Andrew Kosisochukwu Ugwu is a Program Manager at the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS) with over seven years of experience in quality infrastructure. He leads ISO/IEC 17020 and 17029 programs, coordinating technical assessments for inspection and certification bodies nationwide.
His background includes leadership roles at NiNAS and Nigerian Breweries, specializing in stakeholder engagement. Andrew holds a B.Sc. in Physics and Astronomy and is currently an M.Sc. candidate. A PMP-certified professional, his diverse expertise spans Trade Policy, Industry 4.0, and numerical modelling.
Patience Bassey Nkanu
Patience Bassey Nkanu is a graduate of Library and Information Science from the University of Calabar. She serves as the Document Control Officer at NiNAS, where she is responsible for managing organizational documents, ensuring proper version control, maintaining records, and supporting compliance with relevant standards and accreditation requirements.
Emmanuel Nonso Nicholas
Emmanuel Nonso Nicholas is a highly skilled Quality Management professional and a Registered Health Practitioner with a unique interdisciplinary background in Nursing Sciences and Quality Infrastructure. Serving as the Deputy Quality Manager at the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS), Emmanuel plays a pivotal role in maintaining the integrity and international compliance of Nigeria’s primary accreditation body.
With deep expertise in ISO/IEC 17011, he is central to ensuring that NiNAS management systems meet the rigorous requirements of global regional bodies like AFRAC and international organizations such as ILAC and IAF
Nelson Farouk Habu
Nelson Farouk Habu is the Manager, Testing Laboratories Accreditation Programme at the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS), where he oversees the end-to-end accreditation process for testing laboratories, ensuring compliance with international standards and best practices.
He plays a key role in stakeholder engagement, assessment coordination, and quality assurance, contributing to the credibility and effectiveness of conformity assessment in Nigeria. Nelson holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from the University of Maiduguri. With a strong background in ICT, data analysis, and accreditation systems.
Samir Hussaini
Metrology and accreditation professional with over 7 years of technical experience in satellite installation, alignment, and RF measurement, applying principles of Applied (Industrial) Metrology to ensure accurate signal positioning, system optimization, and reliable telecommunications performance.
Samir Hussaini Holds Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from AFUSTA, National Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Civil engineering technology from federal polytechnic Birnin Kebbi (WUFBK). Professional diploma in cybersecurity and Blockchain technology.
He currently serves as a Programme Manager in charge of calibration laboratories, Halal Accreditation at the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS).
Joy Ajodoh
Joy Enechojo Ajodoh is a graduate of Medical Laboratory Science from the University of Jos and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health (MPH). She serves as the program manager of Medical Laboratories
She is committed to promoting quality, competence, and continuous improvement in laboratory services and strengthening healthcare standards to ensure reliable and internationally recognized results.
Peggy ThankGod
A Marketing graduate from the University of Calabar, Peggy ThankGod serves as the Head of Finance, where she manages the organization’s fiscal operations with precision. Beyond her financial leadership, she plays a key role in supporting the certification department. Her cross-functional expertise ensures a seamless integration of marketing principles, financial accountability, and rigorous certification processes to drive the agency’s strategic goals.
Elizabeth Enenche
Elizabeth Enenche is a graduate of Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi. She currently serves as the Head of Administration, where she coordinates administrative activities and ensures implementation of administrative strategies of NiNAS.
Sophie Garba
Sophie Garba holds a Bsc in geography and environmental management from the Ahmadu bello university zaria. She currently serves as the accreditation officer in Ninas. Where she’s responsible for reviewing application documents, maintaining accreditation records, and monitoring of application progress.
Ashley Zumji
Ashley Zumji is a graduate of Criminology and Security Studies from the University of Jos. She currently serves as a Compliance Officer, supporting the development and implementation of regulatory and accreditation frameworks within the organization. In her role, she is responsible for monitoring compliance with national and international standards, identifying gaps and risks.
Dioka Ejionueme
Dioka Ejionueme is an IT Specialist and Business Development Assistant at the Nigeria National Accreditation System (NiNAS). He manages the organization’s core ICT infrastructure, web performance optimizations, and digital communication strategies. His work supports key operational workflows, including stakeholder engagement campaigns, international recognition events, and strategic administrative frameworks.
With a strong foundation in full-stack web development, system automation, and international digital accessibility standards, Dioka specializes in modernizing digital platforms and driving efficiency. Passionate about leveraging technology for institutional growth, he combines technical expertise with process automation to enhance NiNAS’s online presence, user accessibility, and overall operational productivity.
