About Judith

Judith Ifunanya Ani, PhD, is a sociologist with extensive expertise in health, gerontology, development, environmental issues, and gender studies. She currently holds a postdoctoral position at Walter Sisulu University, South Africa. In her role as Chief Operations Officer and Director of Research at Inspire World International Foundation in Abuja, Nigeria, she leads impactful projects targeting vulnerable populations. Additionally, she leads Partnerships and Programs at DePECOS Institutions and Development Research Centre, Ota, Nigeria. Dr. Ani’s portfolio includes a formative WASH project sponsored by Partners for Development in cooperation with the EU/UNICEF, which assessed WASH services in rural Nigerian communities. Through this project, she contributed strategic insights for improving sanitation practices and access to clean water in rural Nigeria. Her role involved conducting baseline evaluations, community-based assessments, and stakeholder engagement, which yielded practical recommendations to strengthen WASH systems in low-resource settings.

Her research career includes notable achievements such as receiving the 2024 MRI CODESRIA Grant and the 2023 AGNES Grant, supported by the BMZ and the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. With a solid academic foundation, Dr. Ani earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Anthropology from the University of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, and completed her PhD in Sociology with a specialization in Demography and Population Studies at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She has also contributed to Ford Foundation-funded projects on HIV/AIDS advocacy. Her previous role as a lecturer and Research Manager at LAPO Institute in Nigeria further highlights her commitment to education, research and social change.

Judith is also the founder of Education and Research for Sustainable Development (ERSD), an initiative dedicated to empowering vulnerable grassroots communities through initiatives such as health outreaches, educational programs and community development projects. Her organization has received funding from the International Vaccine Access Centre (IVAC), in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Direct Consulting Limited (DCL), Abuja, Nigeria, to enhance HPV vaccine demand and uptake in Nigeria. Dr. Ani is a member of the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), Gerontological Society of America, Western Decision Science Institute and the Nigerian Anthropological and Sociological Association, among others. Driven by a passion for evidence-based research, she seeks to address Africa’s social and health challenges, for sustainable development at the grassroots level.