In a significant shift for one of Africa's leading civic-tech organizations, The BudgIT Foundation has announced the departure of its long-serving Country Director, Gabriel Okeowo, after eight years of transformative leadership.

Stepping into the role as Acting Country Director is Joseph Idahosa Amenaghawon, a strategic powerhouse within the organization, effective immediately.

The announcement, shared via BudgIT's official X (formerly Twitter) account, highlights Okeowo's enduring impact on the organization's mission to enhance fiscal transparency and citizen engagement across the continent.

"After 8 years of dedicated leadership marked by growth, innovation, and accountability reforms across Africa, we announce that our Country Director, @GabsynGreat, is exiting his role," the statement read. It praised Okeowo's tenure for driving key initiatives that have amplified public scrutiny of government spending and fostered institutional reforms.

Okeowo, who joined BudgIT in 2017 as General Manager of Operations before ascending to Country Director, has been instrumental in scaling the organization's operations. Under his guidance, BudgIT expanded its reach beyond Nigeria into several African countries, leveraging technology to demystify complex budget data for everyday citizens.

His efforts contributed to high-profile advocacy campaigns, including the tracking of constituency projects and partnerships with international bodies like the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

Okeowo, a sociology graduate from the University of Ilorin with advanced certifications in nonprofit management from Lagos Business School, brought over 15 years of experience in social development and NGO leadership to the role.

Succeeding Okeowo is Joseph Amenaghawon, currently BudgIT's Head of Strategy and Growth Analytics and a veteran advisor on the organization's strategic direction. Amenaghawon, who has been with BudgIT since at least 2015 in various capacities—including as a senior program officer at OSIWA—brings deep expertise in policy analysis, impact measurement, and organizational strategy.

He recently spearheaded the unveiling of BudgIT's AI-powered chatbot, Bimi, in January 2025, which provides real-time insights into financial records to boost civic literacy. During a 2024 team retreat, Amenaghawon led sessions on strategy implementation and leadership storytelling, reinforcing his role as a key architect of BudgIT's "Cultivating People Power for Impact" framework (2022–2026).

BudgIT's Global Director, Oluseun Onigbinde, commended both leaders in the announcement.

"Gabriel's vision has been the backbone of our growth, and Joseph's strategic acumen will ensure we continue pushing boundaries in fiscal accountability," Onigbinde stated.

The transition comes at a pivotal time for BudgIT, as the organization continues to innovate amid challenges like shrinking civic space in West Africa, including restrictions on press freedom and digital access.