Micosoft Word
Oiza Nicholson
Senior Executive Leader
Abuja
Summary
Strategist and experienced leader with a proven track record in guiding teams, strategy development and execution , project design, implementation and evaluation management .Adept at resource mobilization , directing bid development nt strategy and teams , has spearheaded initiatives that secured over £40 million in total funding, enhancing organizational capacity and stakeholder engagement. Recognized for driving impactful growth and operational excellence in complex environments, while fostering cross-functional collaboration and achieving high employee engagement.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
Work History
Country Director
Palladium Consulting
11.2017 - Current
- Mobilized over £40 million through securing donor funding, driving sustainable growth, advocacy, capacity building and social development portfolio of programs, expanding operations into new sectors
- As Project Director for selected projects delivered technical , commercial and operational oversight for projects delivered across United Kingdom, West & East Africa and South East Asia
- Led cross-functional senior leadership teams to align organizational and project objectives with broader
country government objectives , ensuring regulatory compliance and impactful project execution. - Developed and implemented a strategic vision and objectives that positioned the organization as a leader in health, green economy, social development and growth sectors.
- In collaboration with executive leadership , improved organizational capacity through the development of policies, systems, and infrastructure improvements. - achieved a 30% reduction in direct costs delivering a lean, high-performing team
- Coordinated multi-disciplinary project teams across continents , departments to achieve shared objectives while promoting cross-functional collaboration.
- Increased project visibility through consistent communication with donors, partners, and beneficiaries via reports, presentations, and events while leveraging professional networks and industry knowledge to strengthen client relationships.
- Spearheaded operational planning and market development strategy approaches to resource allocation and localization .
- Established country strategic objectives and performance metrics and monitored progress to drive continuous improvement across all departments.
- Represented the organization at major conferences and in government and regulatory body negotiations, while enhancing its reputation through thought leadership.
- Spearheaded strategic initiatives to expand the organization’s market footprint and operational reach in Sierra Leone and Liberia
Deputy Chief of Party
Palladium Consulting
06.2016 - 10.2017
- Directed a 25-person team that delivered a national gender equality social movement campaign across four states/counties and 800 participants across the country
- Improved project work-planning and delivery efficiency by streamlining processes and implementing new technology solutions.
- Conducted thorough risk assessments for potential projects or initiatives before moving forward with implementation efforts.
- Provided quality assurance oversight and guidance on high-priority deliverables , ensuring their successful completion within budget and timeline constraints.
- Enhanced team work-planning and evidence generation through regular communication , planning software and cross-functional initiatives.
- Managed budgets, resources, and personnel to ensure optimal allocation of resources in alignment with project results framework
- Directed the impact team with overall responsibility for project theory of change, results framework, and
metrics, resulting in over-achievement across project components - Grew team's project management and planning performance within three months by deploying digitally
enabled planning approaches and centralized systems for efficiency - Improved service quality process for team deliverables, streamlined reporting processes by two weeks
and enhanced project client reporting by deploying standardized frameworks, methodologies,
templates, metrics, and KPIs, resulting in A+ project scoring.
Programme Manager
Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
09.2010 - 05.2016
- Secured UK ministerial approval of four programs worth $65m, within an 18-month timeframe,
spearheading the enactment of the new business case model - Directed contractual, compliance, financial, and operational oversight of a £350M portfolio,delivering FCDO annual ODA commitments within forecasting variance tolerance limits
- Led first country greening strategy development and execution, leading to a reduction in country office carbon emissions and attainment of a FCDO bronze rating
- Successfully influenced the inclusion of climate sensitive programming in country diagnostics leading to
first solar project procurement - Oversaw large grants and contract budgets and developed results frameworks and due diligence reports
that unlocked critical finance for civil society organizations - Played critical role in establishing FCDO Nigeria first humanitarian portfolio in Nigeria over six months, accelerating its responsiveness to the North East Humanitarian crisis through effective coordination, implementing partner, multilateral dialogue, and operational planning
- Delivered the 100% expansion of the DFIDN governance and social development portfolio by executing a comprehensive communication and change management strategy that build implementing partner capacity and compliance delivering value for money .
- Established transparent reporting and risk management frameworks, strengthening contractor accountability and trust.
- Managed cross-functional teams for successful project completion within deadlines and budgets.
- Managed multiple strategic projects and collaborated with business leadership to set priorities based on business needs, resource capacity , succession planning and risk exposure.
- Established strong relationships with key stakeholders in government and private sector , ensuring support for FCDO country results framework and priorities
- Addressed and resolved technical, financial, and operational concerns by working with contractor team members and directors.
Deputy Trade Development Manager
UK Department for Business & Trade
02.2007 - 03.2010
- Generated over 100,000 GBP worth of business and successful market penetration by establishing partnerships with over 20 UK and local SMEs in the food, drink, and education sectors, delivering go-to-market strategies and product launches .
- Curated successful international trade missions and events with Chambers of Commerce and managed executive level engagements on behalf of the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, delivering increased trade relations between the UK and Nigeria
- Delivered comprehensive market research in food, energy and education sectors to identify emerging trends , comparative analysis and competitive insights for UK company market entry
- Supported the development of annual budgets, consistently achieving cost-saving targets without compromising strategic objectives.
- Enhanced business relationships by providing ongoing support, go to market strategies
- Conducted due diligence on potential SMEs analyzing market trends and company fundamentals on behalf of UK companies
- Participated in local and international industry conferences to stay current on market developments and expand professional networks.
Human Resources Officer
UK Department for Business & Trade
02.2005 - 06.2007
- Coordinated onboarding processes for new hires, integrating them seamlessly into the workplace environment.
- Assisted managers and supervisors with employee disputes, disciplinary actions and other workplace issues.
- Coordinated employee placements and administrative details.
- Maintained accurate personnel records, ensuring privacy standards were met in accordance with relevant regulations.
- Supervised job interviews and conducted exit surveys to verify compliance with HR best practices and coordinated new hire onboarding, completing background checks and reference checks to complete screenings.
Education
Certificate - Sustainability Studies
Carbon Finance
Renewable Energy Institute 02.2025 - Current
Certificate - Sustainability Leadership
Imperial College Business School
United Kingdom 06.2023 - 06.2024
Master of Science - Renewable Energy Development
Heriot Watt University Edinburgh
United Kingdom 04.2001 -
Bachelor of Science - Geology & Mining
University of Jos
Nigeria 04.2001 -
Skills
Resource mobilization - Structuring partnership funding and implementation models
Strategic Vision & Leadership - Developing and executing transformative strategies that have driven growth , visibility and impact
Governance & Organizational Development - Establishing robust frameworks, managing regional business units and ensuring operational excellence
Global Partnership & Stakeholder Engagement - Cultivating relationships with government a, donors and industry leaders across diverse geographies
Operational & Risk Management - Overseeing large budgets , ensuring accountability and delivering measurable outcomes in complex environments
Business Development - Directing Bid and proposal development for large tenders within donor organizations (FCDO) and private sector consulting /contracting companies
Affiliations
- Association of Project Managers APG
- Duke of Edinburgh Commonwealth Leaders Alumni (Common Purpose )
- Member 2024 - Date : UN Hosted Nigeria Circular Economy Working Group
- Member 2025 - Date : Nigerian Economic Summit Group Hosted Partnership for Accelerating Nigeria's Energy Transition
Software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Powerpoint
Microsoft Project
Volunteering
- Board Member - Step Up Nigeria - Step Up Nigeria is a creative team building bridges for improved governance to tackle corruption and improve service delivery. https://stepupnigeria.org/
- Co-Founder - Tor Rise Consultancy - UK & Nigeria education consultancy and advisory service .https://www.torriseconsultancy.com/
Timeline
Certificate - Sustainability Studies
Carbon Finance
02.2025 - Current
Certificate - Sustainability Leadership
Imperial College Business School
06.2023 - 06.2024
Country Director
Palladium Consulting
11.2017 - Current
Deputy Chief of Party
Palladium Consulting
06.2016 - 10.2017
Programme Manager
Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office
09.2010 - 05.2016
Deputy Trade Development Manager
UK Department for Business & Trade
02.2007 - 03.2010
Human Resources Officer
UK Department for Business & Trade
02.2005 - 06.2007
Master of Science - Renewable Energy Development
Heriot Watt University Edinburgh
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Science - Geology & Mining
University of Jos
04.2001 -