Professional Background
Dr. Lawal is a development leader, soil geographer and sustainability expert with over 15 years of experience driving impact across Africa and the Middle East. He holds a deep academic background in soil geography and a PhD in Sustainable Development, with research focused on land degradation, soil remediation and food security, and is passionate about aligning project delivery with Qatar National Vision 2030.
As Chief Executive Officer, he drives Milestones’ strategy, client relations, and joint-venture partnerships to deliver MOECC-compliant remediation solutions for Qatar. His approach combines rigorous academic research with practical, on-the-ground solutions for governments, the private sector, and development partners. It is the same combination that makes him the point of accountability for every commitment the company makes to a client, a regulator, or a technology partner.
Focus Areas
- Company strategy and MOECC-compliant service delivery
- Client relationships and site assessment scoping calls
- Joint-venture structuring with international technology partners
- Alignment of project delivery with Qatar National Vision 2030
- Strategic interface between United Nations agencies and national government bodies
Areas of Expertise
Drought Policy & National Advisory
Member of the Nigerian Drought Policy Review, contributing to national-level frameworks for drought preparedness and land degradation response across the country’s most climate-vulnerable regions.
Subnational Climate Policy
Member of the Technical Committee on Kano and Yobe States Climate Change Policy Development. In 2024, he facilitated the creation of the Yobe State Council for Climate Change, Yobe State’s drought restoration framework and climate change policy, and Kano State’s climate change policy, shaping how two frontline states along Nigeria’s northern Sahel ecological belt respond to climate risk.
Drought Information Systems & Baseline Assessment
Led development of Nigeria’s Drought Information Management System, an initiative of the country’s UNCCD focal office. This built directly on his technical coordination of a 10-year baseline assessment for the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), spanning 11 frontline states and roughly 43% of Nigeria’s land area, work recognised with an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Sustainable Development, Soil Restoration, and Climate Governance.
United Nations & Government Partnership Building
For 15 years, Dr. Ahmad has served as a strategic interface between United Nations agencies and programmes and national and sub-national government agencies in Nigeria, coordinating multi-stakeholder projects, policy dialogues, and technical interventions that link global development frameworks to local implementation on the ground.
Institutional Leadership
Dr. Ahmad began his executive career in Nigeria as Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Milestones Centre for Sustainable Development, Food Security and Climate Action, built as an interface between Nigerian federal agencies, subnational governments, and international programmes including UN REDD+, UNCCD, and the Great Green Wall initiative. Under his leadership, the Centre became a key technical partner on projects related to soil health, food security, and climate action, linking land restoration, climate resilience and institutional capacity building. It’s the same evidence-led approach now underpinning Milestones Centre for Soil Restoration’s work in Qatar.
Contact Us!
+974 7134 8818
E-mail Us!
lawal@milestonesqatar.com
Our Location!
Doha, Qatar
Role
Chief Executive Officer
Where Dr. Lawal Ahmad Fits In
Sourced directly from how the Milestones team divides work across a live project. These are the stages Dr. Lawal Ahmad is directly involved in.
Client Call
Government Approval
