Governance & Economic Diplomacy Expertv
Valkamiya Ahmadu is a political and economic development professional with more than a decade of experience across diplomacy, governance, security, and international development in Nigeria. She currently serves as Senior Political and Economic Advisor at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Nigeria, where she supports business investment, promotes bilateral trade, and advances strategic partnerships between Nigeria and the Netherlands through an integrated aid-and-trade approach.
Previously, Ahmadu served as Policy Officer for Political and Economic Affairs at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Abuja, supporting diplomatic engagement and policy coordination on governance, political affairs, and economic development.
Before joining the diplomatic service, Ahmadu was a Programme Manager and Consultant at Partners West Africa Nigeria (PWAN). In this role, she designed and implemented complex programmes focused on preventing and countering violent extremism, citizens’ participation, security sector reform, and women’s inclusion in peace and security processes. Her work included leading initiatives on conflict transition in North East Nigeria, promoting informed dialogue on governance and security, advancing women’s participation in electoral and peace processes, and supporting the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security.
Earlier in her career, Ahmadu served as Senior Programme Officer at the CLEEN Foundation, where she led donor-funded projects on countering violent extremism, policing, human rights, and governance. These initiatives were supported by the United States Institute of Peace, the Ford Foundation, and the British High Commission, and focused on youth radicalisation, women preventing extremist violence, and strengthening accountability within the security sector. She also contributed thought leadership through publications on law enforcement and human rights and served as a liaison with national security institutions and international partners.
Ahmadu holds an MSc in International Security and Terrorism from the University of Nottingham and a BSc in International Relations from Covenant University. She brings strong expertise in convening, matchmaking, and business development, and is fluent in English and Hausa, with working knowledge of French.