On October 26, 2022, during the organization’s 48th Annual Board of Directors’ Meeting, IFDC presented six staff members, three women and three men, with awards for their outstanding work. Please join us in congratulating this year’s winners of the IFDC Superman and Superwoman staff awards. The commitment, dedication, and talent of these six individuals are an inspiration to us all, and we thank them for their outstanding service.
IFDC Superwoman 2022 — 1st Place
Beatrice Achien’g Omollo
Beatrice “Betty” Omollo joined IFDC in June 2017 and currently serves as the regional finance officer for East and Southern Africa and Asia. In this role, she is responsible for managing, coordinating, and directing the financial activities in these regions. Betty provides coaching and financial backstopping to the national administrative and finance officers and accountants. She assists in creating, updating, and overseeing budgets and forecasting current projects and overhead accounts. She also monitors the spending patterns for the regional director.
Betty is an asset to the organization, especially the global finance team. She is a team player who is always checking on her team members to make sure they are doing well and has been coaching the finance team so that they are able to train and mentor others. Betty contributes to IFDC’s “One Mission, One Team” approach by assisting other departments across the organization and always seeks to build teams. She is known for being organized and efficient in her operations and is always striving to solve problems and provide continuous improvement. She ensures policies and procedures are followed and gives attention to detail. Betty loves people, works hard, and always tries to lift the spirits of those around her with her warm, cheerful attitude.
Betty received an MBA from Moi University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Kenya College of Accountancy University.
IFDC Superman 2022 — 1st Place
Yayra Kofi Bansah
Yayra Bansah joined IFDC in November 2005 and currently serves as the national administrative and finance officer in Ghana. Coworkers refer to Yayra as the father of the IFDC Ghana office because his door is always open and he promotes oneness in the office by organizing team-building activities. He has proven his loyalty and commitment to achieving IFDC’s vision and mission. Yayra is a dedicated, hardworking team player, known to be an effective leader. He has been instrumental in the financial management of projects in Ghana for many years. He will go to great lengths to ensure financials are accurate and to explain processes within IFDC. He is the go-to for most staff when they have issues related to finance or standard operating procedures. Above all, Yayra ensures the IFDC Ghana office operates optimally and cost-efficiently.
Yayra has been and continues to be the heartbeat of the IFDC Ghana office. His approach to work, leadership skills, and ability to resolve conflict are exemplary. He is willing to go the extra mile to ensure partners and vendors alike respect IFDC. His knowledge of IFDC procedures and policies and attention to detail have all been a blessing to the organization.
Yayra received a bachelor’s degree in business administration (accounting) from Central University College in Accra.
IFDC Superwoman 2022 — 2nd Place
Diyana Bawiena-Davis
Diyana Bawiena-Davis joined IFDC in February 2018 and currently serves as the bilingual program administrative finance and grant assistant for North and West Africa. She provides support to the deputy regional director in the administrative, finance, and grant activities for the North and West Africa project portfolio while also serving as the administrative assistant for the Feed the Future Enhancing Growth through Regional Agricultural Input Systems (EnGRAIS) Project for West Africa.
Diyana has an excellent record of professionalism and has much experience in handling issues and providing solutions. She shares her innovative ideas with a calm and logical presence and is a great team leader. Her efficiency is recognized by all who engage with her, both internally and externally. Diyana is a valuable staff member who handles tasks as her life’s mission, not just a job. She adds value to everything she touches.
Diyana is always efficient in planning, executing, and overseeing complex regional activities. She is proactive, anticipating the needs of staff, partners, and customers. Diyana is able to keep track of a multitude of activities and keeps her coworkers informed on the work plan. She has extensive knowledge of IFDC, its teams, and its external partners. Over time, Diyana has become a strong ambassador and contributor to the IFDC mission. She is admired and loved by all.
Diyana earned her baccalaureate diploma in information technology from College Protestant and a postgraduate diploma in management. She received an MBA from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom.
IFDC Superman 2022 — 2nd Place
Moro Gyibrila
Moro Gyibrila began working with IFDC in May 2012 and currently serves as the regional finance officer for North and West Africa. In this role, he is responsible for managing, coordinating, and directing financial activities in the North and West Africa region. Moro provides coaching and financial backstopping to the national administrative and finance officers and accountants. He assists in creating, updating, and overseeing budgets and forecasting current projects and overhead accounts. He also monitors the spending patterns for the regional director.
Moro is smart, eloquent, and goal-oriented. He is an active advocate of IFDC’s global “One Mission, One Team” approach. Moro is known as an internal and external ambassador of IFDC and demonstrates outstanding service that advances our mission. He is known to work with his team to find solutions while maintaining a calm demeanor. He supports his coworkers in their activities and serves as an effective coach and mentor. Moro is a committed and determined staff member who promotes the success of the projects undertaken by IFDC.
Moro’s management style is to be commended, as he leads his team to achieve the established objectives. He is always ready to provide guidance. Moro is very proactive in his work and has been instrumental in the effective implementation of the NetSuite employee center in all country offices in North and West Africa. He teaches the importance of compliance with administrative and financial procedures and timeliness and participates in the search for peace to facilitate the smooth running of activities in the offices. He understands the importance of partnership and maintains good relationships with his colleagues.
Moro received a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting.
IFDC Superwoman 2022 — 3rd Place
Uchechi Blessing Ojukwu-Adah
Blessing Ojukwu-Adah began working for IFDC in 2012 as an intern and currently serves as the administrative officer for several projects in North and West Africa. In this role, she handles the general procurement of goods and services while ensuring compliance with IFDC procurement policies as well as the best value and service delivery. She also handles asset management and the general inventory of equipment.
Blessing is an enthusiastic team player and someone who can work under intense pressure to achieve the set objective. She has good interpersonal relationships with her team and always brings innovative ideas to the table. Blessing ensures the logistics and administrative work is delivered effectively. Her excellent managerial and administrative skills contribute to promoting IFDC’s innovation in Nigeria and the North and West Africa region. Blessing actively promotes the IFDC’s global “One Mission, One Team” approach, both internally and externally. She is a valuable ambassador for IFDC.
Blessing received her degree in agricultural economics and extension technology at the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria.
IFDC Superman 2022 — 3rd Place
Samuel Ali
Samuel Ali joined IFDC in June 2019 and currently serves as a fertilizer market analyst for the AfricaFertilizer.org initiative. In this role, he assists in collecting and processing fertilizer production, trade, and consumption data; facilitates statistics workshops; collects, analyzes, and disseminates relevant fertilizer market information; and reports on fertilizer retail price and market comments.
Samuel is known to actively advocate the IFDC’s global “One Mission, One Team” approach, both internally and externally. He is an ambassador for IFDC, appearing on the local television station to discuss how instrumental IFDC’s work is to Nigeria and to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Samuel fosters relationships with all staff members to encourage and motivate them.
Samuel’s outstanding work serves to advance IFDC’s mission to bring together innovative research, market expertise, and strategic public and private sector partners to identify and scale sustainable solutions for soil and plant nutrition that benefit farmers, entrepreneurs, and the environment. Over the years, he has used the Fertilizer Technical Working Group meetings to convene market experts, public sector actors, researchers, and private sector actors to discuss fertilizer consumption and how that further translates into plant nutrition.
Samuel advocates for the private sector to take on a more participatory role in data development through the Nigeria Private Sector program funding, which has been yielding results. More than $38,000 has been contributed by the private sector to IFDC, with promises from other private sector actors for further contributions in the coming weeks. He also used the Private Sector Business Launch meeting to encourage the various managers present at the event about the need to match donor funding with private sector funding to ensure a more sustainable approach toward development.
Samuel received a degree in agricultural economics and extension from Bayero University, Kano State, Nigeria.
