by Gordon Nary
Gordon: Please provide an overview of your education- Please list all schools attended, degrees/certificates earned, or primary subjects studied
Choji: I hold a HND in Accounting and Auditing, Master in International Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid – In-view with the Kalu Institute and a professional member of, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMAN) - Associate Chartered Management Accountant (ACMA) 2010, presently doing my professional certification with Institute of Chartered Accountant of Nigeria, Member, International Institute of Certified Forensic Investigation Practitioners (IICFIP) USA, in December 2022.
Gordon: You have a certificate in Workplace Bullying. Please explain your reason for studying this challenge.
Choji: Workplace bullying is to enable to become a good leader, able to manage my subordinates and also colleagues while working together. Creating and enabling environment for all my team to work effectively.
Gordon: Please tell us about your work as an Accountant, where you worked, and one of your favorite memories when serving as an Accountant.
Choji: While working as an Accountant, the most favorite memory is being able to work closely with both the program and compliance, to ensure that we are doing what is right. Training our local partners on the financial report. Prepare timely financial reports to our donors for review before submission and wonderful teammates I work with, all women with men as the only Man.
Gordon: When and where did you serve as Finance Officer and what were your primary responsibilities?
Choji: I serve as a Finance Officer with the Center for Development and Population Activities (CEDPA), which is bought over by Plan International in 2024, and also serve as Finance and Grant Officer with Plan International Nigeria.
Gordon: Please share with your readers your interest in HIV/AIDS.
Choji: Working in the Non-Governmental Organization gave me the exposure to learn a lot and know about many things, one of such is HIV/AIDS considering that the major funding we got and implemented was for HIV/AIDS. As finance personnel, I do not have direct contact with the beneficiaries but support the implementation of the project to ensure that services and needed support and services reach the targeted beneficiaries. I learned about the various means of transmitting the virus, which are not only related to sex but also through blood transfusion, mother-to-child, Oral sex with an infected person, deep open-mouth kissing, and many more. I have also witnessed cases of people who are infected and with lack of drugs and support, they died.
Gordon: Where did you serve as Grants and Finance Officer
Choji: Plan International Nigeria.
Gordon: Please tell us about your work as National Finance Administrator Jesuit Refugee Service Abuja, Nigeria, and the challenges that you had to address.
Choji: My work in the Jesuit Refugee Service was an interesting experience, as the National Finance Administrator, I oversee the overall finance function of the organization. Relate with the donors, financial reporting, ensuring that the ERP is fully functional, and communicate with the Regional Office and the International Office in Rome to ensure that all intercompany accounts are reconciled and updated on time. Audit exercise for Jesuit Refugee Service Nigeria.
Gordon: Where do you currently work?
Choji: I currently work with Nuru Nigeria, a National Non-governmental organization
Gordon: Thank you for a great interview.