RITA ROBERT OTU
42 Dibue Road.
Ikot Ekpene,
Akwa Ibom State. Nigeria.
+2347062932824
Email: ritarobert@beauhavenfarms.com.ng
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ritaotu
PERSONAL STATEMENT: A highly talented agricultural professional with experience spanning more than ten
years in farm, peace building and conflict resolution. I am a qualified and experienced peace building and
development specialist, capable of providing technical support, oversight, direct assistance, and management of
conflict prevention programs. I am a keen learner willing to adapt to new contexts and work well within multicultural teams. My practical knowledge is in building agricultural programs and services such as marketing services;
and agricultural research operations in support of research and extension services as well as excellent
communication and interpersonal skills.
Key Accomplishments
Selected as a participant for the Advancing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment: Online Training in
Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy, sponsored by UNDP and UNITAR from 54 African countries.
Selected as one of the 17 women participants from 163 applications for the Global Women in Management (GWIM 73)
training in Washington, DC, USA.
Awarded Volunteer of the year awards, 2023 from the University of Manchester, United Kingdom for demonstrating
the greatest effort towards promoting the agriculture community and ending hunger.
Selected as one of the 150 participants from 16,000 applications for the 2023 Academy for Women Entrepreneurs
(AWE) trained by U.S. Mission Nigeria.
Awarded 1000 dollars in 2022 for my work in ending hunger in Nigeria by WWSF Geneva, Switzerland.
Reached 50,000 smallholder farmers through Peace building campaign.
Established Girls Farmers’ Club in 5 secondary schools in Nigeria.
Introduced 500 women farmers to digital agriculture.
Launched the first 50,000 Nutri-gardens in Nigeria.
EDUCATION
Post Graduate Diploma on Peace Building and Conflict Transformation (in view), 2024
Makerere University, Kampala. Uganda
Harvard Online
Food Systems Live! Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies. A Verified Certificate. March, 2023. A course of
study offered by HarvardX, an online learning initiative of Harvard University
Certified Gender Equality Changemaker. September, 2023
Digital Frontiers Institute (DFI), University of Pretoria
Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town,
MSc. International Development: Economics and Management of Rural Development. Sept, 2007.
The University of Manchester. Manchester. United Kingdom.
BSc. Agric. Economics/Extension, June, 2004. University of Calabar – Calabar, Nigeria
Second Class Upper Division (2:1)
PROFESSIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE
People Environment and Sustainability Foundation
Regional Coordinator, 03/2013 till present
Implement a wide range of awareness raising and training activities for representatives from civil society
organizations, ministries and donor agencies in Nigeria.
Engaged in an online discussion to various campaigns and initiatives to support fifty percent of
farmers-herders empowerment in agriculture.
Developed training manuals and undertake community based small arms control and demilitarization
programmes.
Semek Gallus Farms
Program Officer, 1/2012 till 2013, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria
Assist in the organization and facilitation of round-tables and seminars on effective engagement
in fragile local governments.
Develop campaign frameworks and forge lobby agenda collaboratively with multiple stakeholders
and farmer groups.
Led club meetings with three other executive members and recruited members to join the Peace
building hub.
ENENE AKONJOM FOUNDATION (EAF)
Trainer of Women in climate change and food security, 4/2007 – 12/2012, Abuja, Nigeria
Assisted in training women on environment and governance.
Organized guest lectures featuring several prominent researchers in the field of environment and
Climate Change.
Participated in 40 hours of training to develop counseling technique and motivation interviewing
skills for emerging peace makers.
NYSC -Agricultural Officer, 03/2005-03/2006, Ministry of Agriculture Kano, Nigeria
Served as a supervisor and mentor to junior agriculture staff.
Served as a technical resource and advisor, providing analysis of different agricultural methods to local
farmers.
Communicated and collaborated with research mentor to identify challenges faced by farmers and develop
solutions for them.
INTERESTS/AWARDS
Music, Football
Club: Member of Manchester Alumni society.
Volunteer of the Year Award, 2023(VOYA). University of Manchester. Manchester
Food and Land Use (FOLU) Ambassador
Trust conference Changemaker, 2021
Mentorship training by Google Start-up for SDGs, 2020
QS-Wharton Reimagine Education Awards, Finalist, 2019
Sustainable Development Solutions Network(SDSN), UN Winner, 2019
Study UK British Alumni Awards, 2018
Cherie Blair Foundation Mentee Alumni, 2017
FELLOWSHIP
GWIM Fellow organised by Counterpart International.
Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).
Trust Conference Changemaker, 2021 organised by Thomas Reuters Foundation. United Kingdom
PUBLICATIONS
Food systems Working paper(https://www.sdsnyouth.org/files-resources-events/food-systems-workingpaper)
The Cookbook in Support of the United Nations: For People and Planet
(https://www.booktopia.com.au/the-cookbook-in-support-of-the-united-nations-for-people-and-planet-kitchenconnection/book/9781641705844.html)
REFEREES
Available on Request