Akaninyene Patrick Obot is the recipient of the Africa Evidence Leadership Award 2025 in the Evidence Producer category offered by the Africa Evidence Network. We asked Akaninyene to reflect on his work. 

Beginnings: A Passion for Service

My name is Akaninyene Patrick Obot, and I am an active member of the dynamic Evidence Informed Decision-Making (EIDM) community. My professional journey has been anything but linear, moving from grassroots social services to harnessing research outputs for policy development, stakeholder engagement, and community transformation.

After earning my first Master’s degree in Agricultural Economics from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, I embarked on a varied early career. I have taught in a Private Secondary School and also in a Private Nursery School, served briefly as a temporary outfield staff with Family Health International (FHI), and later became the Program Manager for the Ukana West 2 Community-Based Health Initiative (CBHI) in Nigeria.

Tackling Inequities in Healthcare Access

One of my proudest chapters in the Akwa Ibom State health sector began on August 21, 2014, with the official launch of the Ukana West 2 CBHI Scheme at the Primary Health Centre, Ikot Ideh, Essien Udim LGA, Akwa Ibom State. CBHI was born from a simple but urgent goal: to eliminate the burden of out-of-pocket payments (OOP) that prevented many, especially vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children under five, the physically challenged, the aged, and the indigent, from accessing quality, affordable healthcare.

As a not-for-profit organisation, CBHI embraced risk pooling to protect members against the financial cost of health services. When I assumed my role as Program Manager, I set my sights on something beyond the organisational goals, such as robust data documentation, policy development, and active stakeholder engagement. I believed that with credible, evidence-backed data, advocacy efforts would gain legitimacy and impact. The result? Measurable community participation, more substantial ownership of programs, and improved healthcare service uptake.

Our collective efforts contributed directly to the eventual establishment of the Akwa Ibom State Health Insurance Agency (AKSHIA) in 2021, a significant step toward achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) 2030 in the State.

Rooted in Rural Realities

I grew up in Ikot Uboh village, Ikot Ekpene LGA, Akwa Ibom State, where I saw firsthand how unpredictable weather, soil degradation, and resource scarcity threatened smallholder farmers’ livelihoods. These experiences sparked my lifelong passion for research aimed at improving rural economies and agricultural productivity.

This passion found a stronger platform in 2019, when I joined Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) in Awka, Nigeria, as a lecturer. NAU’s mission to use teaching, research, and public service to solve social problems aligned perfectly with my vision. My academic work integrates research, education, and community engagement, all anchored within the EIDM ecosystem.

Integrating EIDM into Academic Practice

With a strong interdisciplinary background in development studies and public policy, I bridge the gap between academic theory and practical problem-solving. My teaching embeds EIDM principles into curricula, encouraging students to interrogate development challenges through the lens of evidence generation and application.

I firmly believe that Africa’s development must be informed by local evidence. In both agricultural and healthcare research, I prioritise community-informed, context-specific data collection tools. This approach guards against the costly mistake of importing “one-size-fits-all” solutions that fail to reflect local realities.

An eye-opening moment in my EIDM journey came at the 2018 EIDM Summit in Johannesburg, where I learned innovative ways to leverage research outputs to engage policymakers. This inspired new advocacy strategies to secure stronger stakeholder support for the underserved communities.

EIDM Big Wins

Among my significant milestones is the passage of the bill for AKSHIA in 2017 by the Akwa Ibom State legislators and its subsequent establishment in 2021. Before these reforms, rural residents, many of whom lived below the poverty line of $3.00 (₦4,619.30) per person per day, often avoided health facilities due to prohibitive costs.

EIDM principles also helped me secure Global UHC Stakeholders’ grants in 2018 and 2019 under CBHI to mark Universal Health Coverage Day in Nigeria. Evidence-based advocacy earned CBHI an award of excellence from the Senior Executive Course 41 (2019) Study Group 1 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Nigeria.

In 2020, I was honoured with the Social Innovation for Health Initiative (SIHI) Leadership Award, recognising my work in strengthening healthcare delivery through EIDM.

Surviving and Thriving in the EIDM Space

Climbing the ladder in EIDM demands passion, focus, and persistence, often in the face of scarce resources. The journey can be challenging, with many sleepless nights and moments when others doubt your vision. But the key lesson is this: your dream is yours to fight for. Every resource, every ounce of energy invested, is never wasted; it only awaits the right opportunity to create impact.

Current Research and Academic Pursuits

I am currently pursuing my PhD in Agricultural Economics at Kenyatta University, Nairobi, Kenya, under the RUFORUM Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA). My doctoral research, “Assessing the Net Impact of Migration and Remittances on Maize Yield and Farm Productivity Among Nigerian Smallholder Farmers”, investigates how rural-urban migration affects agricultural productivity. While migration often drains labour from farms, remittances may enhance household investment capacity for inputs and technologies, a complex balance I aim to unpack.

Service and Volunteerism

Beyond academia, I remain actively involved in community health initiatives. I serve as a volunteer Focal Person for Ukana West 2 Community-Based Health Initiative (CBHI), fostering community participation in healthcare delivery and engaging stakeholders to strengthen primary healthcare systems. I also volunteer with the Strategy and Innovation for Development Initiative (SI4DEV) as the State Coordinator in Akwa Ibom State, partnering with local changemakers to build capacity, promote good governance, and improve community health.

As a member of the Governing Board for the Nigeria Universal Health Coverage Actions Network (NUHCAN), I use EIDM to engage policymakers and communities toward achieving UHC 2030 in Nigeria.

Closing Thoughts

My journey illustrates how EIDM is more than a technical approach; it’s a philosophy of service. Whether in healthcare, agriculture, or education, evidence-driven decisions can bridge the gap between policy intent and real-world impact.

From my village beginnings to academic halls and policy tables, one truth remains clear: sustainable change begins when communities are not just beneficiaries, but active co-creators of solutions. That is the essence of my work and my life’s mission.

About the author: Akaninyene Patrick Obot is a distinguished researcher in agricultural development and rural community issues in Africa. With a strong academic foundation in Agricultural Economics from the University of Calabar, University of Ibadan, and University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Obot’s high-quality research informs policy decisions and improves agrarian practices. A recipient of the SIHI leadership award and Ruforum GTA scholarship, Obot fosters collaboration and mentors students, researchers, and policymakers to build capacity in African agricultural research and policy. As a member of various professional networks, including the Africa Evidence Network and Association of CyberSecurity Practitioners, Obot promotes evidence-informed decision-making (EIDM) and drives meaningful impact in Africa’s agricultural sector.

Acknowledgements: The author(s) is solely responsible for the content of this article, including all errors or omissions; acknowledgements do not imply endorsement of the content. The author is grateful to Charity Chisoro for her guidance in preparing and finalising this article, as well as her editorial support.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in published blog posts, as well as any errors or omissions, are the sole responsibility of the author/s and do not represent the views of the Africa Evidence Network, its secretariat, advisory or reference groups, or its funders; nor does it imply endorsement by the afore-mentioned parties.

Suggested citation: Obot AP (2025) From Social Services to Shaping Policy: My Journey in the EIDM Ecosystem. Blog posting on 25 August 2025. Available at: https://africaevidencenetwork.org/from-social-services-to-shaping-policy-my-journey-in-the-eidm-ecosystem/2025/08/25/