Antonia Simbine

Antonia Taiye Simbine (née Okoosi) is a Nigerian professor of Political science and research administrator. She is the first woman to serve as Director-General of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER), the country's premier publicly funded socio-economic agency.

Early life and education Antonia Taiye Simbine was born in Kaduna State, where she spent much of her early life, and hails from Ayere in Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. She obtained a bachelor's degree in Public Administration from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1984. She later earned her Master's Degree and PhD in Political Science from the University of Ibadan. As part of her doctoral studies, she received a British Council Fellowship to attend the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom.

Career Simbine began her career at NISER as a National Youth Service Corps member in 1984 and rose through the ranks. She became a Research Professor in 2010 and served as Director of the Social and Governance Policy Research Department before her appointment as Director-General. Her research and consulting interests include public sector governance, legislative studies, politics and elections in Nigeria, gender issues (particularly women's education and political participation), international relations, peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and socio-economic development.

She has also participated in international academic programmes and policy work, including serving as a faculty reviewer for the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa Fellowship Programme and working with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) on democracy assessment.

In addition to her research roles, Simbine was a National Commissioner at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), representing the North-Central geopolitical zone, where she oversaw electoral matters for states including the Federal Capital Territory, Kaduna, Plateau, and Niger until 2020.

Director-General of NISER On 20 May 2022, President Muhammadu Buhari appointed Simbine as Director-General of NISER, with her tenure beginning on 1 June 2022. This appointment made her the first female DG in the institute's history. As Director-General, she also headed the Knowledge Management Development Department prior to assuming leadership of the institute.

Professional interests Her published work and policy engagements focus on governance, election administration, gender equality in education and politics, and strategies for socio-economic development in Nigeria.