Amaka Ekezie-Joseph
FCT-Abuja,Nigeria
Summary
Accomplished Strategy & Market Entry Consultant, International Trade Advisor, Policy & Growth Specialist with over 8 years of experience designing market entry strategies, conducting due diligence, and driving business growth across Africa. Proven track record advising businesses on expansion strategies, policy navigation, and trade facilitation. Combines cross sector insights with experience in public-private sector stakeholder engagement, trade policy development, and perfomance consulting.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work history
International Market Advisor - West Africa
UK Department for Business and Trade
Abuja
06.2022 - Current
- Designs and implements tailored market entry strategies for nearly 200+ UK businesses so far across FMCG, Healthcare, Infrastructure, Mining, Energy, and FPS sectors
- Delivers strategic advisory resulting in over 300 million GBP in confirmed export wins across West Africa and over 50million GBP in projections over the next quarter
- Conducts commercial due diligence, market analysis, and competitor reviews to validate client assumptions and guide operational entry
- Collaborates with trade policy teams to flag market access barriers, shape UK-Nigeria (and wider West Africa) commercial positions, and feed insights into trade policy documents. So far contributed to the resolution of 5 market access barriers (MABs) across Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal worth 32million GBP
- Leads stakeholder engagement with West African regulators, buyers, and distributors to facilitate smoother entry and scale.
- Facilitates and establish linkages between public and private sector stakeholders to drive UK business interest in West Africa
Trade Negotiator
Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations
Abuja, Nigeria
07.2020 - 06.2022
- Led policy research and supported Nigeria's negotiating position on the AfCFTA, with focus on free movement protocols and market access
- Produced high-impact quarterly reports and trade briefs adopted by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade & Investment
- Advised on WTO-aligned trade policy development, supporting recommendations to enhance regional integration and alignment with the ambitions of the AfCFTA
- Coordinated sensitisation sessions for 500+ SMEs to raise awareness of AfCFTA opportunities and compliance
- Served as editor-in-chief for the office's flagship trade newsletter, tracking trade trends and policy shifts across Africa
Business Strategy Consultant
Accenture Nigeria
Lagos, Nigeria
09.2018 - 03.2019
- Advised 200+ SMEs across West Africa on growth strategy, financial planning, and business model optimisation.
- Delivered customised strategic plans addressing operational inefficiencies and market expansion challenges.
- Supported performance tracking and KPIs to evaluate success of strategy implementations.
- Built sector-specific growth playbooks used to guide regional investment initiatives.
Program Manager
Africa Youth Growth Foundation
Abuja, Nigeria
03.2018 - 09.2018
- Developed and monitored the implementation of social development programs on behalf of the organization whilst leading a team of 35 volunteers across states in Nigeria
- Drafted social change project proposals, explored diverse funding sources and maintained a strong pipeline of partnerships on behalf of the organization
- Monitored and evaluated project outcomes, tracked deliverables and impact assessment programs to justify project spend and other deliverables
- Worked closely with the communications team to develop a project communications strategy that amplified the organisation's work across all media which led to an increase in the donor base by at least 30%
Education
Master of Arts Governance and Regional Integration -
Pan African University
Yaounde, Cameroon 04/2019 - 02/2021
Bachelor of Arts History and International Studies -
University of Calabar
Calabar, Nigeria 01/2012 - 12/2015
Skills
- Communication and Negotiation
- Leadership
- Project Management and Implementation
- Problem-solving
- Strong analytical skills
- Policy development
Languages
French
Beginner
English
Fluent
PUBLICATIONS
Nigeria's Implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons - Challenges and Responses* (International Journal of Research and and Innovation in Social Science, July 2021 Issue).
JULY 2021
African Governments Reliance on Imported Welfare: A Case of COVID-19 (International Journal of Creative Research Thoughts, Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2020).
JULY 2020
COURSES & CERTIFICATIONS
Crossing Thresholds for Young Women Leaders, Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office
MAY 2023 — JUNE 2024
Trade Negotiation Skills Simulation Course, Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations & UK Aid
MAY 2022 — JUNE 2023
E-Commerce for SMEs - An Introduction for Policy Makers, International Trade Center
NOVEMBER 2021
Introduction to the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, International Trade Center
NOVEMBER 2021
Advocacy and Trade Policy Reform, International Trade Center
NOVEMBER 2021
Becoming a Product Manager, LinkedIn Learning
JULY 2021
African Peace-Building Initiatives for Change, Institute for Security Studies, Ethiopia
SEPTEMBER 2017
Young African Leaders Initiative - Civil Society Leadership, U.S Government
MARCH 2016 — NOVEMBER 2016
INTERNSHIPS
Intern, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation
Abuja- Nigeria
May 2020 - July 2020
- Lent support to government programs at the Economic and Bilateral Affairs Office, assisting with the management of key stakeholders and resource mobilization for projects.
- Contributed to daily administrative operations as well as support to both internal and external programs alike
MEMBERSHIPS
Chartered Institute for Export & International Trade, London -UK
- Member, Steering Committee for the Chartered Institute for Export & International Trade
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
International Market Advisor - West Africa
UK Department for Business and Trade
06.2022 - Current
Trade Negotiator
Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations
07.2020 - 06.2022
Business Strategy Consultant
Accenture Nigeria
09.2018 - 03.2019
Program Manager
Africa Youth Growth Foundation
03.2018 - 09.2018
Master of Arts Governance and Regional Integration -
Pan African University
04/2019 - 02/2021
Bachelor of Arts History and International Studies -
University of Calabar
01/2012 - 12/2015
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