Government Advisor, Corporate Director
Nigeria

Ifeyinwa Maureen Okafor Essien-Akpan, a Chartered Accountant and Governance Professional, spent the first fifteen years of her career in banking and financial services. In 2008, she joined International Packaging Industries of Nigeria Plc as Managing Director, broadening her private sector portfolio.

In 2019, Ms. Okafor was invited to join the Imo State Government as a Member of the Financial Advisory Committee, where her prudent management enabled significant reform within the Treasury and streamlined government finances. Her team was responsible for introducing the Treasury Single Account (TSA) to the state.

Ms. Okafor was also tasked with reforming student welfare services at Imo State University and was subsequently appointed to the Visitation Panel of what is now the Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Umuagwo. Through these roles, she spearheaded significant reform within the tertiary institutions.

Ms. Okafor has served in several professional associations including as Treasurer and Member, Governing Council, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators of Nigeria (ICSAN), and Training Coordinator and Member, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Business Women Group (NAWORG).  She was a Commissioner on the Imo State Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Contracts from 2011-2019, tasked with reforming the contract award process and recovery of funds paid for contracts not executed. She has been instrumental in lifting Imo state’s position in the Ease of Doing Business rankings.

Ms. Okafor attended the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom where she graduated with a first-class degree in Law. She is an avid reader, tennis player, competitive swimmer, and mother of three children.

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