Barnabas Usman was born and raised in Central Nigeria. Trained as a microbiologist, he pivoted from sciences to social impact, completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health at the University of Manchester and Master’s degrees in Public Policy & Management (Strathmore Business School, Kenya) and Power, Participation & Social Change (University of Sussex, UK) through prestigious scholarships.
He has held senior roles in youth programming and development, most notably with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO), where he led initiatives in governance, health, agribusiness, and education. His work expanded civic engagement programs, trained youth volunteers nationwide, and created opportunities for young Nigerians to shape social change. He later advanced into government relations and partnerships, strengthening external engagement and policy efforts in Nigeria’s food systems.
Barnabas is passionate about leadership, youth empowerment, and building platforms where young Africans can thrive.
