Comprehensive biography of Oge Onubogu, CSIS Africa Program Director, exploring her career in democracy building, governance, and US-Africa policy expertise.

When I first learned about professionals who dedicate their careers to bridging continents and building peace, Oge Onubogu’s name stood out as someone who truly embodies this mission. She has been recognized as one of the world’s preeminent experts on U.S.-Africa relations, and her journey from growing up in conflict-affected Jos, Nigeria, to shaping American foreign policy toward Africa represents a remarkable story of purpose-driven leadership.

As of August 2025, Oge Onubogu serves as the Senior Fellow and Director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), one of Washington’s most influential think tanks. With nearly two decades of hands-on experience working across the African continent, she has established herself as a trusted voice on democracy, governance, peace-building, and the intricate dynamics that shape Africa’s relationship with the United States. Her expertise isn’t just academic—it’s deeply personal, rooted in her Nigerian heritage and informed by years of working directly with governments, civil society organizations, and communities across the continent.

What makes Onubogu’s perspective particularly valuable is her ability to challenge oversimplified narratives about Africa. As someone who grew up witnessing conflict firsthand and has worked on peacebuilding initiatives for over a decade in Nigeria, she brings an authenticity and depth of understanding that is rare in policy circles. Her recent testimony before the U.S. Congress exemplifies this balanced approach, where she urged American policymakers to look beyond surface-level explanations and address the root causes of instability in Africa’s most populous nation.

Key Details About Oge Onubogu At a Glance

Early Life and Background

Oge Onubogu grew up in Jos, Plateau State in Nigeria’s Middle-Belt region, an area that has been plagued by ethno-religious violence for over two decades. Her upbringing in this complex environment profoundly shaped her understanding of conflict dynamics and the importance of addressing root causes rather than symptoms. Her family has a history in Christian missionary work, which provided her with insight into the role of faith communities in both peacebuilding and, sometimes, in exacerbating tensions.

Growing up in Jos during periods of recurring violence gave young Oge a front-row seat to the devastating impact of governance failures on ordinary communities. She witnessed how identity—whether based on religion, ethnicity, or language—could be weaponized when governments fail to provide security, justice, and opportunity for their citizens. These formative experiences would later inform her nuanced approach to analyzing conflict in Nigeria and across Africa.

The Middle Belt region where Onubogu was raised sits at the intersection of Nigeria’s predominantly Muslim north and Christian south, making it a microcosm of the country’s diversity and its challenges. She visits the region regularly, including in December 2024, just days before a gruesome Christmas weekend attack that killed an estimated 200 villagers and forced tens of thousands to flee. This continued connection to her homeland keeps her work grounded in the lived realities of Africans rather than in abstract policy discussions.

Her background has given her a unique perspective that combines personal experience with professional expertise. Rather than viewing Nigeria’s challenges through a purely external lens, she understands them from within—a perspective that makes her analysis particularly valuable to policymakers seeking to genuinely understand and effectively engage with African countries.

Education and Academic Journey

Onubogu’s academic path reflects a deliberate pursuit of knowledge that would equip her to make a tangible difference in Africa’s development trajectory. She earned an undergraduate degree in International and Area Studies from the University of Oklahoma, where she began developing her understanding of global affairs with a particular focus on Africa.

Recognizing that sustainable development requires more than good intentions, she pursued a master’s degree in International Development from the Heller School at Brandeis University. This program is renowned for its focus on social justice and sustainable development, providing her with both theoretical frameworks and practical tools for addressing complex development challenges. At Brandeis, she would have studied topics ranging from economic development and governance to conflict resolution and civil society strengthening—all areas that would become central to her career.

Understanding that leadership in the 21st century requires continuous learning and adaptation, Onubogu also earned a credential in Public Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School, one of the world’s premier institutions for training public policy leaders. This program, which focuses on developing the skills needed to lead in complex, multi-stakeholder environments, has equipped her to navigate the intricate world of international relations, government engagement, and organizational leadership.

Her educational journey demonstrates a commitment to building expertise that combines academic rigor with practical application. Rather than pursuing education for its own sake, each step in her academic path was clearly aimed at developing the knowledge and skills needed to address real-world challenges facing African nations and their relationships with international partners.

Professional Career Journey and Major Achievements

Early Career: International Rescue Committee

Onubogu’s professional journey began with grassroots work that would ground her understanding of humanitarian challenges. She coordinated refugee resettlement programs in the United States with the International Rescue Committee, working directly with displaced populations to help them rebuild their lives. This experience provided her with firsthand insight into the human cost of conflict and instability—lessons that would inform her later work on conflict prevention and peacebuilding in Africa.

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National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

At the National Endowment for Democracy, Onubogu managed a multi-million dollar grants portfolio to civil society organizations across Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Cameroon. In this role, she was responsible for identifying, supporting, and monitoring democracy-strengthening initiatives across West Africa. This position required her to develop deep knowledge of the political landscapes, civil society ecosystems, and governance challenges in multiple countries simultaneously.

The work at NED was crucial in developing her understanding of how external support can effectively strengthen democratic institutions and civil society when done thoughtfully and in partnership with local actors. She learned to navigate the delicate balance between providing meaningful support and respecting local ownership—a skill that would serve her well throughout her career.

National Democratic Institute (NDI)

As a Program Manager at the National Democratic Institute, Onubogu managed citizen engagement, elections, and political party strengthening programs in Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, and South Africa. This expansive portfolio gave her deep experience across Southern Africa, allowing her to understand both common challenges and context-specific dynamics across different political systems and governance structures.

At NDI, she worked on some of the most critical aspects of democratic development: ensuring citizens can meaningfully participate in political processes, strengthening the integrity of electoral systems, and building the capacity of political parties to represent their constituents effectively. She also oversaw a multi-country program to strengthen women’s political participation in Southern Africa, addressing one of the most persistent barriers to fully representative democracy.

United States Institute of Peace (USIP)

Onubogu’s tenure at USIP marked a significant evolution in her career, as she moved from program management to strategic leadership. She was previously the Director of the West Africa Program at the United States Institute of Peace, where she led the strategic development and expansion of USIP’s portfolio in Nigeria and Coastal West Africa.

In this position, she oversaw the design and implementation of projects to mitigate violent conflict, promote inclusion and strengthen community-oriented security by partnering with African and US policymakers, civic leaders and organizations. Her work at USIP focused particularly on Nigeria, the Lake Chad Basin, and the broader West African region—areas facing complex security challenges from Boko Haram insurgency, farmer-herder conflicts, banditry, and intercommunal violence.

During her time at USIP, Onubogu became a regular commentator and thought leader on Nigerian and West African affairs, contributing analysis to policy debates and public discourse. She testified before U.S. Congressional committees, bringing her expertise to bear on critical policy decisions regarding U.S. engagement with Africa.

Wilson Center (2023-2025)

On January 3, 2023, the Africa Program at the Wilson Center formally welcomed Oge Onubogu as its new Director. At the Wilson Center, one of America’s most prestigious think tanks, she led research and policy engagement on Africa and U.S.-Africa relations. During her tenure, she testified before the US House of Representatives on multiple occasions, including on conflict and persecution in Nigeria and the case for a Country of Particular Concern designation.

During this period, she continued to build the Wilson Center’s reputation as a leading voice on African affairs, organizing convenings, publishing research, and engaging directly with both African and American policymakers. Her work emphasized the need for U.S. policies toward Africa to be based on mutual respect, partnership, and a genuine understanding of African priorities and perspectives.

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) – Current Role

In August 2025, the Center for Strategic and International Studies announced that Oge Onubogu had been named senior fellow and director of the Africa Program. This appointment to one of Washington’s most influential think tanks represents recognition of her standing as a leading expert on Africa and U.S.-Africa relations.

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Upon her appointment, Victor Cha, president of the CSIS Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department, stated that Africa’s geopolitical importance is higher today than it has ever been, noting that CSIS will benefit enormously from Oge’s dynamism, her deep networks across the continent, and her creative approaches to Africa’s future on the international stage.

In her current role, Onubogu is responsible for shaping CSIS’s research agenda and policy recommendations on Africa at a pivotal moment. As she noted upon taking the position, “As the United States reevaluates its foreign policy and engagement with Africa, it is a pivotal time for policymakers to understand the trends that are transforming and shaping the African continent’s future”.

Her recent work has included publishing commentaries on critical issues such as the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the Trump administration’s Africa policy, and the balance between democracy promotion and commercial diplomacy in U.S.-Africa relations.

Consulting and Additional Experience

Beyond her primary positions, Onubogu has consulted on a range of governance, elections, and research programs in Africa with the World Bank, Freedom House, and the Carter Center. This consulting work has allowed her to contribute her expertise to a broader range of initiatives and has kept her connected to diverse perspectives and approaches to African development challenges.

Personal Life and Values

While Onubogu maintains professional discretion about her personal life, her public work reveals someone deeply committed to her Nigerian roots while building bridges across cultures and continents. Her continued regular visits to Jos and the Middle Belt region of Nigeria demonstrate that despite her prominent position in Washington, D.C., she remains connected to the communities where she grew up.

Her family’s background in Christian missionary work has clearly influenced her understanding of the role that faith communities can play in both conflict and peacebuilding. However, rather than adopting a sectarian perspective, she has consistently advocated for engaging with communities of all faiths and supporting moderate religious leaders as part of comprehensive approaches to building peace and stability.

Onubogu’s professional choices reflect someone motivated by a deep sense of purpose rather than personal ambition alone. She has dedicated her career to issues that may not always be in the spotlight but are fundamental to the wellbeing of millions of Africans—good governance, peaceful conflict resolution, democratic development, and equitable partnerships between nations.

Her ability to navigate between different worlds—African and American, academic and practical, grassroots and elite—speaks to someone with exceptional cultural intelligence and adaptability. These qualities, combined with her substantive expertise, make her uniquely positioned to influence policy at the highest levels while remaining grounded in the realities facing ordinary Africans.

Major Contributions to Policy and Society

Shaping U.S. Policy Toward Nigeria

Perhaps Onubogu’s most visible contribution has been her testimony before the U.S. Congress on Nigeria’s security challenges. In November 2025, during a U.S. Congress hearing examining President Donald Trump’s decision to return Nigeria to the Country of Particular Concern list, Onubogu argued that branding Nigeria’s insecurity as Christian persecution oversimplifies a complex situation.

She explained that insecurity in Nigeria stems from layered governance failures, historical grievances, and social tensions rather than a single religious narrative. This nuanced analysis, informed by her personal experience growing up in Jos, challenged simplistic narratives that could lead to counterproductive policy responses.

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She warned that any unilateral US military intervention would likely endanger the very Christians it aims to protect and deepen Nigeria’s religious divisions. Instead, her recommendations included engaging with communities of all faiths, supporting moderate leaders, tying security assistance to governance reforms, and working more closely with state and local authorities, as well as the revival of a bipartisan U.S. Congressional Caucus on Nigeria.

This testimony exemplifies Onubogu’s approach: combining deep contextual knowledge, balanced analysis, and practical policy recommendations that address root causes rather than symptoms. Her willingness to offer perspectives that may challenge prevailing political narratives demonstrates intellectual courage and commitment to evidence-based policy.

Advancing Understanding of African Geopolitics

Through her research, writing, and public engagement, Onubogu has worked to advance American understanding of Africa’s growing geopolitical importance. As CSIS President and CEO John Hamre noted, “By 2050, more than a quarter of the world’s population will be African. Africa’s potential and strategic importance demands sustained engagement and informed leadership”.

Her commentaries on issues ranging from AGOA renewal to the Trump administration’s commercial diplomacy approach have provided policymakers, journalists, and the public with sophisticated analysis of how U.S. policies toward Africa impact both American interests and African development. She has consistently advocated for approaches based on mutual respect, partnership, and recognition of African agency rather than paternalistic models of engagement.

Building Institutional Capacity for Peacebuilding

Throughout her career, Onubogu has worked to build the capacity of institutions—both governmental and non-governmental—to prevent conflict and build sustainable peace. Her work has involved training election monitors, strengthening civil society organizations, supporting dialogue processes between conflicting communities, and helping governments develop more effective and accountable security and governance systems.

This work may not generate headlines, but it represents the patient, long-term investment in human and institutional capacity that is essential for sustainable development and peace. By focusing on strengthening local capacity rather than creating dependency on external actors, Onubogu’s approach embodies best practices in international development and peacebuilding.

Promoting Women’s Political Participation

Through her work at NDI overseeing a multi-country program to strengthen women’s political participation in Southern Africa, Onubogu contributed to efforts to make African democracies more inclusive and representative. Women’s meaningful participation in political processes is not only a matter of rights and representation but also contributes to more effective and sustainable governance.

Elevating African Voices and Perspectives

In all her work, Onubogu has consistently worked to elevate African voices, agency, and perspectives in policy discussions that are too often dominated by external actors. She has organized platforms for African experts, practitioners, and leaders to engage directly with U.S. policymakers and has worked to ensure that U.S. policies toward Africa are informed by African priorities and perspectives rather than being imposed from outside.

I’ve personally found this aspect of her work particularly inspiring. Too often, discussions about Africa in Western capitals proceed as if Africans themselves are not the primary stakeholders in their continent’s future. Onubogu’s approach models a different way—one that centers African knowledge and agency while still engaging constructively with international partners.

Recent Activities and Congressional Testimony (2024-2025)

Onubogu’s profile has risen significantly in recent years, particularly through her testimony before Congress on some of the most contentious issues in U.S.-Africa relations.

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February 2024 Congressional Testimony

In February 2024, Onubogu testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Africa Subcommittee on “The Future of Freedom in Nigeria”. This hearing took place during a period of particular concern about democratic backsliding in Nigeria following the 2023 elections.

March 2025 Congressional Testimony

In March 2025, she testified before the US House of Representatives on conflict and persecution in Nigeria and the case for a Country of Particular Concern designation. In this testimony, delivered during her tenure at the Wilson Center, she provided detailed analysis of the nature and drivers of violence in Nigeria’s Middle Belt and other regions.

November 2025 Congressional Hearing

Most recently, in November 2025, Onubogu testified during one of the most high-profile hearings on Nigeria in recent years. The hearing examined President Trump’s decision to return Nigeria to the Country of Particular Concern list, a designation that carries significant diplomatic and potentially economic consequences.

In this testimony, Onubogu drew on both her professional expertise and personal experience. She recalled her upbringing in Jos and her family’s history in Christian missionary work, lending personal authenticity to her analysis while warning against overly simplistic narratives.

She described Nigeria’s crisis as a mix of religious extremism, banditry, criminality, resource competition, communal conflict, and separatist agitation, emphasizing that addressing these challenges requires comprehensive approaches that go beyond military intervention or sanctions.

Her testimony sparked significant discussion both in the United States and Nigeria, with Nigerian media outlets extensively covering her remarks. Some praised her nuanced analysis, while others debated her characterization of the challenges facing Nigeria. This engagement demonstrates the impact her work is having on policy discussions in both countries.

Thought Leadership and Publications

As director of major Africa programs at leading think tanks, Onubogu has produced significant research and analysis on critical issues affecting Africa and U.S.-Africa relations. Her writing combines academic rigor with accessibility, making complex policy issues understandable to diverse audiences.

Key Commentaries and Research

Recent publications from Onubogu at CSIS include:

“AGOA’s Uncertain Future: What’s at Stake for U.S.-Africa Trade” – In this October 2025 commentary, Onubogu analyzed the implications of the Trump administration’s signal for a one-year extension of the African Growth and Opportunity Act, which expired on September 30, 2025. She has emphasized that AGOA is more than just a trade deal—it represents a framework for U.S.-Africa commercial engagement with unrealized potential.

“Trump’s Africa Policy: Commerce and Domestic Politics Clash” – This analysis examined how the Trump administration’s tariff policies undermined its own stated goal of promoting trade-over-aid in Africa, creating uncertainty for African countries that rely on exports to the United States.

“False Choices: Balancing Democracy and Development in U.S. Africa Policy” – Co-authored with Khasai Makhulo in October 2025, this commentary argued that the shift in U.S. foreign policy to prioritize commercial diplomacy over democracy support presents a false dichotomy, with potential long-term consequences for U.S.-Africa relations.

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“Into Africa” Podcast

Under Onubogu’s leadership, the CSIS Africa Program has produced the “Into Africa” podcast, which aims to challenge dominant narratives about Africa in the United States. The podcast features in-depth interviews with policymakers, journalists, academics, and other trailblazers in African affairs, shining a spotlight on the people and stories shaping cultural, political, and economic trends across the continent.

This platform represents Onubogu’s commitment to elevating diverse African voices and perspectives, moving beyond the often one-dimensional coverage of Africa in Western media to showcase the continent’s complexity, dynamism, and the agency of Africans in shaping their own future.

Awards, Recognition, and Professional Honors

While specific awards are not extensively documented in public records, Onubogu’s career trajectory itself represents a form of recognition. Being selected to lead the Africa programs at three of Washington’s most prestigious institutions—USIP, the Wilson Center, and CSIS—consecutively demonstrates the high regard in which she is held by peers and institutional leaders.

Her recognition as one of the world’s preeminent experts on U.S.-Africa relations by CSIS leadership reflects peer acknowledgment of her expertise and contributions to the field.

Her regular invitations to testify before Congress represent another form of recognition—she has been identified by lawmakers as someone whose expertise and judgment can inform critical policy decisions affecting both the United States and Africa.

Additionally, her education credentials from institutions like Harvard Kennedy School and Brandeis University, and her selection for competitive fellowship and leadership programs, represent forms of professional recognition that have marked her career progression.

Philosophy and Approach to Africa Policy

Several key principles characterize Onubogu’s approach to Africa policy and development:

Focus on Root Causes Over Symptoms

Throughout her work, Onubogu has consistently emphasized the importance of addressing underlying governance failures rather than just responding to their symptoms. Whether discussing farmer-herder conflicts, Boko Haram insurgency, or electoral violence, she returns to the fundamental question of governance—how effectively do governments provide security, justice, and opportunity for their citizens?

This approach requires patience and long-term commitment, as addressing governance challenges is far more complex than responding to immediate security threats. However, it’s also the only approach that can lead to sustainable peace and development.

Rejecting Simplistic Narratives

Onubogu has demonstrated a consistent willingness to challenge oversimplified explanations of complex situations. Her recent Congressional testimony challenging the characterization of Nigeria’s security challenges as primarily religious persecution exemplifies this commitment to nuance and complexity.

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This intellectual honesty, even when it may be politically inconvenient, represents a model for how policy analysis should be conducted—based on evidence and context rather than convenient narratives that fit preexisting political agendas.

Centering African Agency and Perspectives

Rather than viewing Africans as passive recipients of external assistance or victims of circumstances, Onubogu’s work consistently emphasizes African agency, knowledge, and leadership. This approach recognizes that sustainable solutions to African challenges must come primarily from Africans themselves, with international partners playing a supporting rather than leading role.

Emphasizing Partnership Over Paternalism

In her public statements and research, Onubogu has advocated for U.S.-Africa relations based on mutual respect, shared interests, and genuine partnership rather than donor-recipient dynamics or paternalistic approaches. As she stated upon joining the Wilson Center, developing trade relations and meaningful partnerships based on mutual respect and shared values with Africa and its people must be prioritized.

Integrating Personal Experience with Professional Expertise

Onubogu’s willingness to draw on her personal experience growing up in Jos adds authenticity and depth to her professional analysis. This integration of lived experience with academic expertise creates a more complete and compelling form of knowledge than either alone could provide.

Impact on US-Africa Relations

Onubogu’s work has contributed to shaping U.S. policy toward Africa at a critical juncture. As Africa’s geopolitical importance grows—driven by demographics, economic potential, and strategic significance—how the United States engages with the continent will have profound implications for both American interests and African development.

Through her research, testimony, and institutional leadership, Onubogu has worked to ensure that U.S. policies toward Africa are:

1. Informed by accurate, contextual understanding rather than stereotypes or oversimplified narratives
2. Focused on sustainable, long-term engagement rather than short-term, reactive responses
3. Respectful of African agency and priorities rather than imposing external agendas
4. Comprehensive in addressing root causes rather than just managing symptoms
5. Based on genuine partnership rather than paternalistic or purely transactional relationships

Her influence is perhaps most visible in the increasing sophistication of policy discussions about Africa in Washington. The days when Africa policy was an afterthought or when simplistic narratives went unchallenged are increasingly past—in no small part due to the work of experts like Onubogu who have elevated the quality and depth of analysis available to policymakers.

Challenges and Controversies

While Onubogu has largely maintained a reputation for balanced, evidence-based analysis, her recent Congressional testimony challenging the Trump administration’s characterization of Nigeria’s security situation generated some controversy.

Some advocates for religious freedom criticized her testimony as downplaying persecution of Christians in Nigeria. However, Onubogu’s argument was not that Christians are not being killed or persecuted, but rather that framing Nigeria’s security challenges solely through a religious lens oversimplifies a complex situation and could lead to counterproductive policy responses.

This controversy highlights the difficult position that nuanced analysts often find themselves in—caught between advocates pushing for action based on simplified narratives and the reality of complex situations that resist simple solutions. Onubogu’s willingness to maintain her analytical rigor even in politically charged contexts demonstrates professional integrity.

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The challenge facing experts like Onubogu is how to communicate complexity in ways that inform rather than paralyze policy action. She has navigated this by combining her emphasis on complexity with clear, actionable recommendations for policy—showing that acknowledging complexity doesn’t mean being unable to recommend courses of action.

Influence on the Next Generation

Through her leadership of major Africa programs and her public engagement, Onubogu serves as a role model for the next generation of Africa policy experts, particularly for young Africans and African-Americans interested in international affairs careers.

Her career demonstrates that it’s possible to maintain connection to one’s roots while operating at the highest levels of policy influence. She shows that personal experience and identity can be sources of insight and authority rather than barriers to professional advancement—as long as they’re combined with rigorous expertise and professionalism.

For young Africans interested in shaping how their continent is understood and engaged with by powerful external actors, Onubogu’s career provides a roadmap: develop rigorous expertise, build diverse experience across different organizations and contexts, maintain authenticity and connection to communities, and be willing to challenge prevailing narratives with evidence and courage.

Interesting Facts and Lesser-Known Details

1. Deep Nigerian Roots: Despite spending most of her professional career in the United States, Onubogu maintains regular connection to Jos, Nigeria, visiting the region frequently, including as recently as December 2024.
2. Multi-Sector Experience: Her career spans government institutions (USIP), think tanks (Wilson Center, CSIS), civil society organizations (NDI, NED), humanitarian agencies (IRC), and consulting with international organizations (World Bank, Carter Center), providing her with unusually diverse perspectives on development and governance challenges.
3. Election Observation Experience: Beyond her policy and research work, Onubogu has practical experience as an election observer, including with the Carter Center’s observation mission in Ghana.
4. Educational Commitment: Even after reaching senior leadership positions, she pursued additional education at Harvard Kennedy School, demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
5. Bridge-Builder: Her family background in Christian missionary work, combined with her consistent advocacy for engaging with communities of all faiths, positions her as someone who understands religious dynamics from within while advocating for interfaith cooperation.
6. Media Presence: Beyond academic and policy circles, Onubogu serves as a regular commentator on Nigerian and African affairs, helping to inform public understanding through media engagement.
7. Focus on State and Local Governance: While many Africa experts focus primarily on national-level politics, Onubogu has consistently emphasized the importance of engaging with state and local authorities, recognizing that governance happens at multiple levels.
8. Refugee Resettlement Experience: Her early career work with the International Rescue Committee coordinating refugee resettlement provided her with grassroots understanding of displacement and humanitarian challenges that inform her later policy work.

Legacy and Ongoing Impact

While Onubogu’s career is far from over, her impact on the field of Africa policy and U.S.-Africa relations is already significant. She represents a generation of experts who are reshaping how Africa is understood and engaged with in Washington and beyond.

Her legacy includes:

Elevating the quality of analysis on Africa in policy circles by insisting on complexity, context, and evidence-based approaches rather than stereotypes and oversimplified narratives.

Centering African voices and perspectives in policy discussions, working to ensure that Africans themselves are seen as primary stakeholders and knowledge-holders regarding their continent’s challenges and opportunities.

Training and mentoring the next generation of Africa policy experts through her institutional leadership and public example.

Building institutional capacity in both African civil society organizations and American policy institutions to engage more effectively with complex governance and security challenges.

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Challenging counterproductive policy approaches even when politically inconvenient, demonstrating the importance of intellectual honesty and courage in policy analysis.

Bridging communities between Africa and America, between grassroots practitioners and elite policymakers, between different faith communities, and between different perspectives on complex challenges.

The real test of her legacy will be seen in the coming years as U.S.-Africa relations navigate a complex geopolitical landscape. Will American engagement with Africa be characterized by genuine partnership and mutual respect, or by transactional relationships and simplistic narratives? Onubogu’s work is helping to shape the answer to that question.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who is Oge Onubogu?

A: Oge Onubogu is recognized as one of the world’s preeminent experts on U.S.-Africa relations, currently serving as Director and Senior Fellow of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). She has nearly two decades of experience working on democracy, governance, and peace-building across Africa.

Q: What is Oge Onubogu known for?

A: Onubogu is known for her expertise in U.S.-Africa relations, democracy and governance support, conflict mitigation, and her nuanced analysis of Nigeria’s security challenges. She has testified before the U.S. Congress multiple times and has led Africa programs at three major Washington institutions: USIP, the Wilson Center, and CSIS.

Q: Where did Oge Onubogu grow up?

A: Oge Onubogu grew up in Jos, Plateau State in Nigeria’s Middle-Belt region, an area that has experienced significant ethno-religious violence over the past two decades. This background deeply informs her understanding of conflict dynamics in Nigeria.

Q: What is Oge Onubogu’s educational background?

A: Onubogu holds a BA in International and Area Studies from the University of Oklahoma, an MA in International Development from Brandeis University’s Heller School, and a Public Leadership Credential from Harvard Kennedy School.

Q: What positions has Oge Onubogu held?

A: Her career has included positions at the International Rescue Committee, the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute, the United States Institute of Peace (where she was Director of the West Africa Program), the Wilson Center (Director of the Africa Program, 2023-2025), and currently CSIS (Director and Senior Fellow of the Africa Program, 2025-present).