The Secretariat

Nicholas Ozor, B. Agric. (Nig., First Class Honours); MSc (Nig., Distinction) Ph.D. (Reading, UK & Nigeria), is the Executive Director of the African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) Nairobi, Kenya where he is responsible for direction of affairs and transactions of the organisation; the exercise, discharge and performance of its objectives, functions and duties; and the administration and control of employees. Prior to this appointment, he worked as the Senior Research Officer at the ATPS where he provided leadership in Research, Communication, Training and Outreach for the organization. He was formerly a Senior lecturer in the Department of Agricultural Extension, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He also worked as an Agricultural Extension Agent for many years with the Enugu State Agricultural Development Programme (ADP), Enugu State, Nigeria. Dr Ozor is a Commonwealth Scholar (Split-site Doctoral Programme) and holds the Best PhD Thesis Award in Agriculture in Nigeria, 2006, under the Nigerian Universities Doctoral Theses Award Scheme (NUDTAS) organized by the National Universities Commission. He holds the Wellcome Trust Award for the Best PhD Presenter in 2006 during the Development Studies Association Conference at the University of Reading, United Kingdom. He is also a Teaching Fellow and Mentor, African Climate Change Fellowship Programme (ACCFP), funded by the International global change SysTem for Analysis, Research and Training (START).

Dr Ozor has led and is currently leading many internationally funded research projects bordering on science, technology and innovation (STI) ; natural resource management; innovation systems; climate change; development issues; policy development, analysis and advocacy; technology management and transfer; and private sector engagements. He has good mastery of the computers and its applications to problem solving situations. Dr Ozor is a member of many professional organizations and has published over 75 articles in reputable international journals and as book chapters. He has attended many international conferences/workshops aimed at evolving sustainable best practices for national, regional and international developments. He holds many distinctive prizes and awards for academic excellence and good community leadership. Dr Ozor’s vision is to be at the frontier of learning and in the consequent application of the rich knowledge acquired to make a positive difference to humanity. He is married to Gloria, a literary artiste, and blessed with children.

Dr. Ozor’s Key Skills include:

• Fundraising from multiple donors in areas of STI including agriculture and food systems; environment and climate change; and low carbon energy development; etc.
• Core research, teaching and programme implementation across the STI areas stated above 
• Network building with stakeholders at inpidual and institutional levels aimed at forging effective and efficient partnerships and collaborations to solve complex societal challenges
• Capacity building and training of varied stakeholders in STI including researchers, policymakers, civil society, the private sector and the media among others
• Policy analysis and advocacy across STI issues for empowering policymakers to utilize homegrown research evidence in policymaking processes that enhance development and good governance
• Knowledge valorization across STI issues that aim at bringing technology and innovation to the market place
• Outreach and Communication that aim to increase awareness and understanding of key STI issues among relevant stakeholders for use in development objectives
• Publications: very quick in transforming ideas from research into published outputs to contribute to the knowledge economy
• Leadership and mentorship: providing strategic direction for organizations and teams to achieve their goals as well as grooming the future leaders through informed mentorship and support systems

Ernest Nti Acheampong is a research officer at ATPS. He is responsible for undertaking research, coordinating research capacity building programs, and fundraising activities. He was previously working for the International Water Management Institute, Accra, Ghana, as a research officer.

Ernest holds a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He also holds a double master degree in International Land and Water Management, and Agricultural Systems Research and Development from the Wageningen University and Research Center and Montpellier SupAgro in the Netherlands and France respectively. 

 Ernest has worked with both national and international Non-Governmental Research Organizations who are engaged in multi-disciplinary research. He has engaged in several research projects including the Community Integrated Conservation Project, Climate Steward Programs, Basin Focal Project and Agricultural Water Management Solutions Project.

 Ernest has also gained additional knowledge and experiences through participation in research training and development programs in tropical ecology and biodiversity conservation organized by the Tropical Biology Association in Madagascar, and the Earthwatch Institute in Kenya, and Capacity Building in Agricultural Water Management Strategies using AquaCrop model, jointly organized by Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development (UNW-DPC) and Soil and Water Environmental Research Institute (SWERI), Cairo, Egypt.

Mr. Nyambane holds Master’s degree in Environmental Science (Agro-forestry and Rural Development) and a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences. He is knowledgeable and experienced in community development, agriculture, forestry and climate change adaptation and mitigation projects. He has skills in data collection, compilation and analysis and has also crop modelling experience using Decision Support System for Agro-technology Transfer (DSSAT). He has taught part-time in several universities in Kenya. He worked as a Research Assistant at CIAT in the Soybean Project.  Mr. Nyambane has also done a lot of work on solid waste management, drainage and sanitation as an Assistant Project Officer and as a consultant. He has done consultancy assignments with Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organization (KARLO), Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA), ActionAid International, Pamoja Trust, Lake Victoria Environment Management Project II (LVEMP II), Lake Victoria Basin Commission, among others. He is a registered Lead Expert with NEMA.

Damaris holds an MSc. Agricultural and Applied Economics (with a specialization in Environmental and Natural Resource Economics) and a BSc .Agribusiness Management from the University of Nairobi. She has several awards of academic excellence to her name. She brings on board several years of experience in research with her last assignment being a Field Officer with the Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA).

Mr. William Owande is a holder of Master of Community Health and Development from Great Lakes University of Kisumu. He also holds Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from Maseno University. He graduated from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture.
Mr. Owande has worked in various sectors including Agriculture, Education and Health. He brings to ATPS vast experience gained for the past 20 years. He has been teaching in various universities for the last 8 years and has also gained experience in research and publication. He has presented several
papers in different conferences and has two publications in refereed journals. For several years he has been doing consultancy work to date in water and sanitation (WATSAN), Project Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning (MEAL) and Research in both public and private sectors.
He is currently a PhD student at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology where he studies Community Health and Development.

A result driven, self-motivated and resourceful professional with 4 years’ work experience in Accounting with a demonstrated history of working in the logistics and supply chain industry. Skilled in Microsoft Excel, Corporate Finance, Microsoft Word, Accounting, and Research. A graduate of Kenyatta University and Royal Business School.

Rachel Maluki joined the ATPS fraternity as the Finance & Administrative Officer in October 2019. Rachel holds a B.Com Finance and CPA (K) from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Rachel brings on board wide-ranging experience in finance and accounting having worked for a number of local institutions including the Export Promotion Council, National Bank of Kenya among others.

Mr. Felix Musila is the Communications and Outreach Assistant at the ATPS. He is responsible for writing stories for the website and newsletters, proof reading ATPS publications, writing and distributing press releases, preparing promotional/advocacy materials, updating and maintaining ATPS social media sites and  assisting the team in media outreach and information dissemination activities.

Felix Mutua Musila is a confident, self-driven and a self-starter with a strong sense of urgency who responds positively to challenges and pressure. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Strategic Management from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). He holds a BA degree in Communications and a minor in Marketing from Daystar University. He boasts of extensive general/multi-media, branding and communications experience, having worked with three media houses: Shine FM, Hope FM and GBS TV-Kenya. He is proficient in the  development and implementation of communication/PR strategies and materials, creation of audio- visuals, writing skills, online/digital communications, media coverage/relations, event organization and management, research work among others.

Having worked as an Administration/HR officer at the Machakos County Government, Felix also gained skills and hands-on experience in office administration procedures, report writing, events handling/management human resources, intrapersonal relationships, and administration. He is proficient in computer applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) among other MS Suite packages whilst also being highly creative.

Mr. Musila is a highly qualified and experienced communications and outreach expert having worked in different organs of the industry including research, journalism, media house, training and advocacy among others. He brings his expertise to strengthen the Communications and Outreach Department at the ATPS.

Mr. Mathew Imulia is a highly motivated, strategic thinking & tech-savvy ICT professional with 3+ years of experience in many aspects related to the discipline. A dynamic self-starter with proven abilities in web development & administration, software development & implementation, hardware
installations, network troubleshoots, SEO & content development, to mention but a few. An accomplished full stack developer who possesses a BSc. Degree in Information Science and currently pursuing a Diploma in Information Security & Ethical Hacking.

Jeff is a statistician/data analyst, equipped with mathematical and analytical skills. Trainer of statistical software at Webbs Institute College and Cornerstone College in Nairobi. Currently perusing artificial intelligence and data science, specializing in big data and machine learning.Honours of Nairobi Perl hackerthone and KAPS innovation competitions, discovering the VP35 Ebola computer aided drug candidate (referenced in standard media newspaper http://www.jkuat.ac.ke/jkuat-student-innovators-crowned-at-inaugural-hatchhack-hackathon/).He has worked with Kenya institute of bio informatics in advanced big data genomic analytics, data analyst collaborator with rural humanitarian Initiative (RIHA) and Techman Company.