Bios, photographs and the speaker one sheet

Ishaya Inuwa Durkwa is an African development practitioner, author, counsellor, and civic leader whose work joins nation-building, leadership formation, peacebuilding, and family life. He is a PhD candidate in Global Development at William Carey International University, where he also teaches Economics of Development.

As Executive Director of the International Organization for Peace Building and Social Justice (PSJ), he, in partnership with CONAECDA, championed the S3RP project, a community-designed model for securing, rebuilding, and restoring rural communities displaced by violence. For about two decades he has partnered with 23 denominations across northern Nigeria to train young people to use sport to transform communities, and he now leads Sports Friends International’s expansion across West Africa. He is the founder of Emerging Leaders Community Initiatives.

A certified relationship and life coach trained in theology, psychology and biblical counselling, he counsels couples, young people and pastors. He is the author of Love Nigeria, Transformative Leadership and The Good Samaritan.