Profile of the Head of Service Mr. Elijah Evinemi

Profile of the Head of Service
Mr. Elijah Evinemi, a native of Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, is a highly experienced financial management professional with over twenty years of expertise in internal auditing, treasury operations, public finance, and strategic leadership within the Kogi State Government. His academic path reflects strong dedication to continuous growth. He earned an IJMB A Level Certificate with distinctions from Kogi State Polytechnic, Osara, in 2001, and obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Accounting from the University of Jos in 2005. He later completed a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in Accounting at Kogi State University in 2017. In 2024, he achieved a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Accounting from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, further strengthening his professional and scholarly expertise.
He worked with Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation as Chief Internal Auditor and Head of Audit from 2006 to 2011. He later transferred to the Office of the Accountant General as Assistant Director, Finance and Accounts, and was subsequently promoted to Director, Treasury Operations. In 2021, he was appointed Permanent Secretary, and between March and May 2023, he served as Acting Accountant General. On 27 January 2024, he was appointed Head of Civil Service of Kogi State by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
Throughout his career, Mr. Evinemi has contributed significantly to financial reforms and governance initiatives. His roles include serving as Supervisor of the Computer Unit for the preparation of state financial statements, State Representative for PEMNET Nigeria, Focal Officer for the World Bank–supported SIFMIS Project (2016–2022), Secretary of the TSA Implementation Committee, Member of the State Debt Arrears Clearance Committee under SFTAS, Assistant Secretary of the Interim Management Committee of KGIRS, and Secretary of the State Audit Committee.
He has participated in several local and international trainings, including IPSAS training in Dubai and strategic leadership courses at NIPSS, Kuru. His scholarly contributions include publications on corporate sustainability, firm size and capital structure, and leverage determinants in Nigerian companies.
A Fellow of ICAN and CITN, and a certified member of several other professional bodies, Mr. Evinemi is widely respected for his integrity, analytical depth, leadership capacity, and commitment to excellence. He is married to Phoebe Oiza Elijah, and they are blessed with children.