Ziva Communities is a community development organization dedicated to advancing sustainable livelihoods, environmental stewardship, and inclusive economic growth. Established in 2019, we work with artisans, farmers, women, youth, and local communities to create opportunities that strengthen resilience and improve quality of life.
Our work bridges the gap between communities, government institutions, development partners, and the private sector to ensure that development is inclusive, ethical, and sustainable. Through advocacy, capacity building, research, and strategic partnerships, we empower communities to become active participants in shaping their future.
Since 2019, our work has reached over 7,500 artisanal and small-scale miners, formalized 2,060 miners through 106 cooperatives, implemented eight major projects, and expanded across five states in Nigeria.
Ziva Community Initiative was officially registered on 2nd October 2019.
Ziva Communities was founded on the belief that communities thrive when people have access to opportunities, information, and the resources needed to improve their livelihoods.
Across many mining and agricultural communities, individuals contribute significantly to local economies while facing challenges such as limited access to training, finance, markets, and representation in decision-making processes. Recognizing these gaps, Ziva Communities was established to provide support, promote inclusion, and strengthen community-led development.
Since our inception, we have worked to empower artisans, encourage sustainable practices, support cooperative development, and advocate for policies that promote social and economic progress. Our journey continues to be driven by the vision of creating communities where opportunity, dignity, and sustainability go hand in hand.
A sustainable community where artisans, especially women, are empowered, informed, and included in a fair mining and agricultural ecosystem.
To enhance the contribution of artisans to community development through ethical practices, gender inclusion, financial empowerment, and policy advocacy.
Our impact is reflected in the lives we touch and the communities we serve.
Through cooperative development, community engagement, capacity building, and advocacy initiatives, Ziva Communities has supported individuals and groups in strengthening their livelihoods and improving their economic opportunities. From empowering women-led cooperatives to promoting sustainable practices across mining and agricultural communities, our work continues to create positive and lasting change.
Reaching over 7,500 artisanal and small-scale miners through training, advocacy, and formalization initiatives.
Supporting the establishment of 106 mining cooperatives and formalizing 2,060 artisanal miners.
Delivering 8 major projects across mining and agricultural communities.
Operating across five states in Nigeria while expanding research and advocacy across West Africa.
Reaching over 3.3 million people through public awareness campaigns and radio advocacy.
Receiving two consecutive Mining Indaba Community Voices Awards in 2024 and 2025.
We do what we say and remain accountable to the communities and stakeholders we serve.
We remain dedicated to creating meaningful and sustainable impact.
We believe everyone deserves an opportunity to participate in and benefit from development.
We achieve greater impact by working together with communities, partners, and stakeholders.
We create opportunities that generate lasting social and economic value
Our work is centered on strengthening communities through practical, inclusive, and sustainable development initiatives across mining, agriculture, environmental management, and education.
Promoting ethical, safe, and sustainable mining practices that protect people, strengthen communities, and support long-term economic growth.
Advocating for responsible resource management and ensuring communities have a voice in decisions that affect their environment and future.
Supporting sustainable farming practices that improve food security, increase productivity, and build resilience to climate change.
Creating pathways for economic empowerment through entrepreneurship, skills development, cooperative growth, and financial inclusion.
Generating knowledge, delivering training, and supporting evidence-based solutions that drive informed decision-making and sustainable development.
Emily Anwuli Offodile is a development practitioner and advocate for inclusive and sustainable development with extensive experience in mining governance, gender equality, community development, and natural resource management.
She is the Executive Director and founding leader of the organization. She founded Ziva Community Initiative in 2019 with a vision of empowering artisanal miners and rural communities through partnerships, advocacy, and capacity development.
Under her leadership, Ziva has become a recognized voice in responsible mining, women’s economic empowerment, climate action, and sustainable livelihoods. She has led initiatives that promote community participation, environmental stewardship, and equitable access to opportunities for women and marginalized groups.
Emily has represented Ziva Community Initiative on several national and international platforms and has championed policies and programs that advance responsible mining and inclusive development in Nigeria and across West Africa.
Ziva Communities Initiative is guided by a dedicated team of professionals, development practitioners, and community advocates who share a commitment to empowering communities and creating sustainable impact.
Our leadership team provides strategic direction, operational oversight, and the expertise needed to deliver programs that strengthen livelihoods, promote inclusion, and support long-term development outcomes.
Oluwashola Bukola Adediran is a seasoned finance professional with over seven years of experience in accounting and financial management across the nonprofit and services sectors. A Certified National Accountant and member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN), she brings expertise in financial reporting, grant management, budgeting, and donor compliance.
She is committed to strengthening financial systems, promoting transparency and accountability, and ensuring the effective management of resources to support Ziva Community Initiative’s mission of advancing inclusive and sustainable community development.
Maureen Mwuese Mato is a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) professional and community development practitioner with extensive experience across Nigeria’s artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector.
A certified People-First Impact Method (P-FIM) Facilitator, Maureen has led community dialogues, supported gender-responsive training programmes, and contributed to initiatives improving safety, dignity, inclusion, and sustainable livelihoods within mining communities. Her work brings together local communities, civil society organisations, and industry stakeholders to promote responsible resource development.
She currently serves with Ziva Community Initiative, focusing on community engagement, accountability, and evidence-based programming, and is a strong advocate for amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly women and artisanal miners, in Africa’s mining future.
Patience Ogbode is a Gender and Social Inclusion Officer at Ziva Community Initiative (ZCI), where she contributes to advancing gender equality, community empowerment, and sustainable development within Nigeria’s agriculture and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sectors.
With a background in Mass Communication and experience in project management, stakeholder coordination, research, and advocacy, Patience is passionate about empowering women and other underserved groups to access opportunities, resources, and leadership roles in key sectors. She is an alumna of the ACEP Next Generation Resource Governance Leaders Program and is committed to promoting inclusive development in natural resource governance.
Samuel James Pam is a CMD certified facilitator and development professional with experience in humanitarian intervention, community development and project management. His work advances sustainable natural resource governance, responsible mining and inclusive community development in Nigeria’s extractive sector.
With qualifications in Political Science and Conflict Management and Peace Studies, and as an alumnus of the Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) NextGen Africa Leaders Program, I bring expertise in stakeholder engagement, research and policy advocacy.
I am committed to ensuring that natural resource extraction delivers equitable economic opportunity, environmental sustainability and community resilience.
Mary Nenlamwa John is a Research Assistant and Project Officer at Ziva Community Initiative (ZCI), with a Master’s degree in Sociology and over three years of experience in research, project coordination, and community development.
Her experience includes field research, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, project implementation, report writing, and policy advocacy, with a focus on promoting community participation and sustainable development.
Chisom Chukwujekwu is a Mass Communication graduate with experience in media production, communications, research, and content development. Her background includes television production, media research, report writing, and community engagement, with a strong interest in strategic communication, public relations, and advocacy.
She is passionate about impactful storytelling and public awareness, committed to leveraging effective communication to amplify voices, promote social change, and advance sustainable development.
