Dr. Adolphe O. Amadi
Founder, Executive Director & Development Strategist — SEDFA | CEO, Dolf Madi International

Biography
Dr. Adolphe O. Amadi is a distinguished Nigerian development strategist, governance expert, and civil society leader with over four decades of experience in sustainable development, institutional capacity building, stakeholder engagement, and democratic governance.
As the Founder and Executive Director of Self-Help Development Facilitators (SEDFA), Dr. Amadi has built the organization from a grassroots initiative into one of Nigeria's most respected development NGOs — one with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and partnerships with leading international development organizations.
Dr. Amadi's development philosophy is rooted in the belief that sustainable development is only possible when all stakeholders — government, private sector, communities, development partners, and citizens — work together in structured, inclusive, and accountable processes. This philosophy gave rise to SEDFA's innovative PPCP (Public-Private-Community-Partners) Framework, which has been applied across dozens of development programs in Nigeria.
Beyond SEDFA, Dr. Amadi serves as CEO of Dolf Madi International, a development consulting firm that provides governance advisory, stakeholder engagement facilitation, and capacity building services to governments and international organizations. His expertise spans anti-corruption, economic development, climate governance, land administration, and multi-stakeholder engagement.
Dr. Amadi is co-founder of SEDFA alongside his partner, Dr. (Mrs.) Rose Amadi, who brings complementary expertise in community development, social empowerment, and women's advancement to the organization's work.
Academic Qualifications
- 🎓Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Development Studies
- 🎓Masters in Public Administration (MPA)
- 🎓Bachelor of Science in Economics
- 🎓Executive Leadership Certificate – Harvard Kennedy School
- 🎓Certificate in Governance and Public Policy
UN ECOSOC Status
Under Dr. Amadi's leadership, SEDFA was granted Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council in 2011 — recognition of SEDFA's international credibility and development excellence.
Professional Experience
Founder & Executive Director
Founded and led SEDFA for over four decades, guiding the organization from a grassroots initiative to a nationally and internationally recognized development institution.
CEO
Leads Dolf Madi International, providing development consulting, stakeholder engagement facilitation, and governance advisory services to governments and international organizations.
Development Consultant
Provided technical assistance and development consulting to UNDP, UNODC, European Union, and other international bodies on governance, capacity building, and development programs in Nigeria.
UN ECOSOC Representative
Represents SEDFA in UN ECOSOC proceedings and contributes to international development policy dialogues through this special consultative status.
Key Development Contributions
PPCP Framework
Developed the innovative Five PPCP (Public-Private-Community-Partners) Governance Stakeholders Engagement Framework, a methodology that has been applied in development programs across Nigeria.
Anti-Corruption Leadership
Championed anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria through partnerships with ICPC, civil society, and international organizations, contributing to Nigeria's governance reform agenda.
Economic Development Innovation
Pioneered the "One Exportable Product Per State" initiative, providing a framework for state-level economic diversification and export promotion across Nigeria's 36 states.
Stakeholder Engagement Expertise
Facilitated major stakeholder engagement processes including Nigeria Mining Stakeholders Engagement Week and numerous governance dialogue platforms at state and national levels.
International Development Advocacy
Represented Nigerian civil society at international forums, contributing to global governance and development debates and connecting Nigerian NGOs with international development networks.
Niger Delta Development
Led significant development interventions in the Niger Delta, addressing post-conflict recovery, community development, and sustainable livelihoods for Delta communities.
Key International & National Engagements
Historical Photo Gallery






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