Ayisha Osori

Ayisha Osori is a Nigerian lawyer, author, international development consultant, journalist and politician known for her work on good governance, gender equality, women’s economic and political participation and ending violence against women in Nigeria. Her book Love Does Not Win Elections gives insight into the Unique Nigerian Politics. She is the former CEO of the Nigerian Women’s Trust Fund. Olufunke Baruwa succeeded her. In addition to holding senior management roles in the private sectors and managing the Nigerian Women Trust Fund - a non-profit organization focused on increasing the quality and quantity of women in decision-making, for three years, Ayisha has consulted for the World Bank, United Nations Development Programme, Department for International Development, UNICEF and the National Democratic Institute.
In 2015 she was chosen to be one of 21 women who met for a conference at Harvard University Kennedy School of Government funded by Hunt Alternatives. The group included Fauzia Nasreen from Pakistan, Judy Thongori from Kenya and Olufunke Baruwa, Esther Ibanga and Hafsat Abiola also from Nigeria. She sits on the board of various organisations in the public and private sector.
In 2018, the Open Society Foundations announced the appointment of Osori as the Executive Director of the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) overseeing the operations of OSIWA in 10 African countries;Benin, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Senegal