Announcement – Interim Executive Director

We at The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) are pleased to announce Remi Makinde(She/they) as our interim Executive Director. Remi Makinde is a feminist, an activist and a human rights lawyer with keen interest in sexual rights, grassroot LGBTQI+ movement building and inclusive advocacy. She has worked to promote and protect the rights of sexual minorities including women and queer persons in the country through engagements with state institutions, stakeholders, and international bodies while tactfully navigating cultural and religious differences.

Remi has over ten years experience spanning human resources, management consulting, project management and advocacy sectors. As the Director of Human Rights and Advocacy in TIERs since July 2020, she has been a formidable strategist in that role, leading the delivery of several front line projects on behalf of the organization, including the ongoing EDGE Fund aimed at alleviating the legal, social and medical needs of displaced queer Nigerians, while passionately working with the community in accessing justice.

In July 2021, Remi was selected to participate in the International Visitor’s Leadership Program (IVLP), in the United States as a current and emerging leader for LGBTQI+ rights in Nigeria. She also won a scholarship to attend a Strategic Advocacy and Litigation Workshop for LGBT Human Rights Defenders in Africa from Center for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. Remi holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Babcock University, and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012.

Remi Makinde is replacing Omolara Oriye who has had a long history of working with TIERs in numerous capacities including Director of Human Rights and Advocacy, Acting Executive Director and the Executive Director. As Lara leaves, The Board and Staff sincerely thank her for her drive, quality leadership and growth in her time with us. We wish her the best of luck and opportunities in her future endeavours.

The combination of Remi’s experience, culture and drive as well as leadership qualities make her an ideal fit for TIERs. We strongly believe she’d help achieve our objectives including the creation of a society where human rights are guaranteed regardless of status, identity, orientation and affiliation pending the selection of a permanent Executive Director by the Board.

Please join us in welcoming Remi to this new and exciting chapter at TIERs. Thank you.