Patrick’s current role is as the Director of Oxfordshire Equality and Human Rights Council, where he is working towards greater equality and justice for all and promoting good relations between different ethnic groups through partnerships. He has led the development of our work on equality, diversity and human rights as well as strengthening the communities. Patrick has brought nearly 20 years post graduation experience into this role.

Prior to this, Patrick worked under the Capacity Building Support Programme of the UNDP as the Principal Advisor for Trade and Commerce in the Directorate for Commerce, Ministry of Development, Government of Timor-Leste. Within this role, Patrick provided capacity building assistance to government departments in a post-conflict development phase. In addition, Patrick has also worked as Legal Advisor (Internship) at the Secretariat of the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) in Brussels, where he had a stint with economic partnership agreement negotiations at the highest level.  In addition, Patrick has also assisted his country, Nigeria, as an external consultant to the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission.Patrick holds three master degrees in Law (International Economic Law) with a distinction and best graduating student award; Industrial and Labour Relations; and Public Administration (Specializing in Policy Studies).

He undertook a course at the University of Cambridge – Postgraduate Certificate in Cross-Sector Partnerships. He was enrolled as a Barrister and Solicitor with the Supreme Court of Nigeria 18 years ago and he is working on his transfer to the Law Society of England and Wales. Patrick lives locally in Oxford and he is the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau. He pastors a parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (Christ’s Love Assembly) based in Barton, Oxford. He is a member of the Advisory Board of the Pastors’ Forum in Oxford. Patrick is also a member of the College Council of Ruskin College in Oxford. Regionally, Patrick is the Vice Chair for UNI Network – a regional black minority ethnic (BME) network representing the geographical areas in the South East. He is currently the Chair of the Steering Committee for the management of UNI’s Big Lottery Funded StepUp Project. He also served on the Equalities and Diversity Advisory Group of RAISE (Regional Action and Involvement South East). Patrick is currently undergoing a training programme organized by the National Council for Voluntary Organizations (NCVO) in London with a view to becoming a “BME Strategy Champion”.