IGBOELI , CHIDIMMA FRANCES
Chidimma Frances Igboeli is a Research Fellow at the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre (REPRC) – EfD Nigeria. She holds a PhD in Agricultural Extension with a specialization in Agricultural Communication. Her research focuses on agricultural extension reform, climate resilience, food security, gender, and digital innovation for sustainable development. She has also contributed to projects on sustainable fisheries management, food safety, ecosystem services, Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), effective communication platforms, and climate adaptation.
Dr. Igboeli has received several national and international grants, including the Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) PIRA Grant, TETFund NRF, and TETFund Institutional-Based Research Grant. She is also a recipient of the Vice Chancellor’s Award for Research Excellence. She is an alumna of the African Women in Agricultural Research and Development (AWARD) Leadership Program and the Africa Women School of AI Fellowship.
She has authored peer-reviewed publications and presented her work at national and international conferences and workshops. Her work integrates research, capacity building, and policy engagement to deliver inclusive and innovative solutions for smallholder farmers.
Research Areas
- Agricultural Extension and Communication
- Digital Agriculture and ICT4Ag
- Gender and Inclusive Rural Development
- Climate Resilience and Smart Villages
- Sustainable Fisheries and Natural Resource Management
- Evidence-Informed Policy Systems
Grants
- Part of Early-Career Team, Hewlett Foundation/PEP Grant – Building sustainable Evidence-Informed Policy (EIP) ecosystems in East and West Africa, a project funded by the Hewlett Foundation and implemented by Partnership for Economic Policy (PEP), Nairobi, Kenya.
- Towards the Implementation of Smart Villages in the Rural Communities of Taraba State, Nigeria. –The Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) 2024 Partnerships for Innovative Research in Africa (PIRA) Grant. Alliance for African Partnership :: 2024 PIRA Awardees
- Strengthening the Capacity of Agricultural Extension Lecturers in Teaching Competency-based Undergraduate Curriculum in Nigerian Universities”. Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TetFund) National Research Fund Grant - 2022
- Investigating Food Safety and Hygiene Practices and the Food Safety Status in Nigeria. University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) Research Centre for Global Development (C4Globe) - 2022
- Strengthening Agricultural Extension Training in the MSU-Alliance for African Partnership Consortium –The Alliance for African Partnership (AAP) 2021 Partnerships for Innovative Research in Africa (PIRA) Grant. Alliance for African Partnership :: Strengthening Agricultural Extension Training
Awards
- Winner Vice-Chancellors’ Postgraduate Award, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2021/2022 Session
- Faculty Prize Award for Best Postgraduate Student, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 2021/2022 Session
Policy Engagement and Impact
She has made significant contributions to policy activities and projects in collaboration with policymakers. She is involved in the development of a fisheries management plan for Nigeria, an EfD Nigeria project in partnership with the Nigerian Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and the formulation of Enugu State Government policy on Agriculture. Dr. Igboeli has co-authored training manuals on ICT, communication, and gender & diversity for agricultural extension lecturers.
