- Across various organisations, numerous employees are quietly enduring toxic work environments where submission is valued over dignity
- This troubling pattern was exemplified in recent allegations against Andrew Dunn, the Nigeria Country Director for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
- In an exclusive interview with TheRadar, Adedotun (Dotun) Ajibade, who worked with WCS Nigeria from intern to full staff, opened up about the alleged unfair treatment and psychological abuse he endured under Dunn
In a country where opportunities are scarce and competition is relentless, many workers find themselves trapped in toxic work environments, places where abuse is not only common but often overlooked.
The silence surrounding these issues has remained largely unbroken due to widespread economic hardship and the looming threat of unemployment that compels workers to endure mistreatment to protect their livelihoods.
However, the tide may be turning, as former employees grow bolder in recounting their experiences, prompting a long-overdue conversation about employee rights and workplace ethics and also, seeking not just justice for themselves but a safer future for others in similar roles.
Dotun Ajibade shares struggles of working at WCS
In an exclusive interview with TheRadar, on Tuesday, April 22, Adedotun (Dotun) Ajibade, a former staff member of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) located at Plot 302 Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate, Calabar, Cross River State shared details of a workplace marred by power abuse and psychological manipulation.
Ajibade who was a wildlife photographer, and filmmaker joined WCS Nigeria as an intern in July 2022 to contribute to conservation through photography. With a background in Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics, and a photography career dating back to 2015, he had relocated from Lagos to Cross River State for the opportunity.
“I have a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics. My career as a photographer began in 2015. Before I became freelance, I travelled to take photos for the love of it. I was privileged to work for a few organisations in this niche, but on a full-time basis only with WCS Nigeria,” Ajibade stated.
He added, “I was excited and had high expectations for the job, being an international NGO. It looked great from the outside. I relocated to Cross River, from Lagos. Not qualified enough for the opening (Communications and media officer) I was interested in, I was offered an internship instead. I took it, regardless of my skill and experience.
Ex-WCS photographer discusses challenges with subpar equipment, management neglect
He became WCS Nigeria’s first in-house wildlife photographer and quickly took on demanding field assignments, often relying on his professional-grade equipment.
“I was dedicated to the job and gave it my all. I'm the first photographer to work in the organisation, a wildlife photographer at that. There was a lot to be done and I rose to the challenge.”
“I trusted the management to do the right thing,” he said, after requesting better equipment. Instead, his personal gear sustained damage in the field, and the organisation delayed proper support.
Ajibade acknowledged he was later reimbursed, but recounted that the lengthy process compelled him to rely on subpar equipment, which, according to him, affected the quality of his work.
“I had my personal equipment but approached management for equipment I could work with. The one available was subpar, I required something more professional to match my skill level and for quality output. Though this was inappropriate, I used my personal gear in the interim hoping my request would be granted soonest but the request tarried.
“I kept using my equipment till it got damaged in the field. I regretted it and learnt my lesson. I asked for it to be outrightly replaced because repairs take from the integrity of the gear. Rather, they opted for repairs, the cheaper option.
“This was going to take time: sourcing parts and sending them to a technician in Lagos, from Calabar. Seeing the negligence of the management, I was left to take on the financial responsibility on my own. It took my technician about 4 months to get the part, fix it and send it back. In the interim, I was stuck with amateur cameras for my work. I felt disrespected.”
“I had also saved from my salary to get the necessary lens (Nikkor 200-500mm) I would use for my work. I had to buy a pre-owned unit from an acquaintance who offered me a discount,” Ajibade added.
Ajibade describes country director Dunn’s manipulative tactics
The former staff member, who had initially joined the organisation as an intern, recounted how he was unable to negotiate his salary upon confirmation.
“As a staff, my pay wasn't great enough to conveniently acquire my work tools. After my internship, I wasn't even allowed to negotiate my salary. It was imposed on me. I couldn't make requests for other needs I had, I used mine. At this point, I realised the negligence was on purpose, and it was the country director behind it.”
Ajibade alleged that Dunn, the British-born Country Director, maintained a toxic grip over staff by manipulating their dependence on the organisation.
“Before spending money on my camera repair and lens purchase, a colleague asked me to seek his consent regarding an equipment grant application I was considering since the mgt wasn't forthcoming. Mind you, WCS is a Ngo and has donor funds for almost every facet of the work it's doing including field equipment and cameras.
“When I approached Andrew for consent regarding the small grant application (IdeaWild), he said, "I know the founders". The response didn't make sense to me. Knowledge of his connections shouldn't matter more than fulfilment of his obligations as an employer.
“Now I could sense he was eliciting admiration from me. He wanted me to be wowed by his affiliations. Shows how vain Andrew Dunn is.”
Dunn accused of creating toxic work environment through abuse
In September 2022, a senior staff member reportedly approached Ajibade to tell him that Dunn “liked” him and wanted him to commit to a lifetime career at WCS Nigeria, a suggestion Ajibade found deeply unsettling.
“With my mistreatment, I've not seen any good reason to be in WCS for the rest of my life.”
When he declined, Dunn allegedly summoned him to repeat the request, this time using what Ajibade described as “coercive and intimidating” language.
In April 2023, Ajibade accompanied Dunn and another senior staff member on a work trip to Yankari Game Reserve in Bauchi State. There, he experienced what he described as the “worst abuse.”
During breakfast one morning, Ajibade said Dunn made a lewd and inappropriate comment. “We were alone. He made a comment about my stature and how I needed to fatten up. Next, he leaned in and said "I'll be all over you if you were a woman,” There was a smirk on his face when he said it. He pulled back and walked away like nothing happened.”
Speaking further, Ajibade described alleged frequent public ridicule from Dunn about his appearance and work style.
“He would make jokes, or comment about my physique in a group. Or he will mock me for trying to do my work like a professional, saying "You want to be like those photographers using two cameras" When he fails, he'll say, "I was just joking".”
The former staff member added that his needs for proper photographic equipment were ignored or dismissed. “It became clear that my needs weren’t a priority,” he explained.
Ajibade describes forced role, lack of training
Even when funds became available at the end of the financial year, Dunn allegedly admitted the equipment purchase was only entertained because of unspent donor funds, not because of any recognition of Ajibade’s professional needs.
“I realised that proving myself wasn’t enough. Dunn had created an environment where only loyalty, not merit, was rewarded,” he said.
Ajibade described how Dunn’s control allegedly extended into his personal life. “He began pressuring me to get married,” Ajibade said. “At first, it seemed like concern, then it became persistent. He even asked my colleagues about my relationship status behind my back.”
He claimed this pressure was a strategy to entrap him within the organisation. “If I got married, I’d be more dependent on the job.
“He targeted me like others. Initially, I didn't understand why. I still don't fully understand why. His agenda was to keep me stuck in his organisation, to break, keep me captive. Narcissists keep people like possessions.”
Upon becoming a full-time staff member in January 2023, Ajibade said Dunn added “Monitoring & Evaluation Assistant” to his title without consent, or proper training, a role far outside his skill set. “His explanation was ‘politics,’” Ajibade recalled. “It was another power move.”
This, according to Ajibade, was part of a larger pattern in which Dunn allegedly forced unilateral decisions on staff and cultivated a workplace where dissent was punished. He noted that many staff who were not based in Calabar had already left the organisation due to similar experiences.
He also claimed that his contributions were frequently uncredited or misattributed, even though internal staff confirmed it was a directive from Dunn.
Ajibade recounted an incident in which he was not properly credited for his work, noting that the standard practice was to include credit in the top right corner using only the first name.
“Besides neglecting my work needs, Andrew also deliberately avoided crediting me properly. The graphic designer confirmed it was his directive being followed.”
“Whereas, he is aware of how proper credit works as in the above cases.”
Ajibade discloses ongoing intimidation from WCS Nigeria’s director Dunn
Ajibade resigned from WCS Nigeria on October 31, 2023. However, he claimed that the harassment did not end there. “I was stalked online, contacted by strange numbers, and monitored on social media,” he said. “I blocked him everywhere, but he still found ways to reach out, sometimes by proxy.”
He suspected Dunn was attempting to continue surveillance and intimidation even after his exit. “It’s psychopathic,” he said. “I’ve stopped answering unsaved numbers.”
Following his resignation, the former staff shared his experience with WCS’s HR team, who reportedly confronted Dunn. “He deflected everything,” Ajibade said. “Classic narcissist trying to guilt-trip me with statements like, ‘You’re too sensitive,’ and ‘I gave you exposure.’”
Ajibade said he spoke out to break the silence that allowed such behaviour to persist. “Andrew Dunn thrives because victims are afraid to speak. Evil thrives in silence. I want to break that cycle.”
In his healing process, Ajibade has also written a short ebook titled Narcissistic Abuse Awareness to help others identify and understand similar patterns of workplace abuse.
Ajibade’s account raised serious questions about leadership accountability and organisational culture within WCS Nigeria. While Dunn, who has been working in Africa since 1989, was recognised internationally for his conservation work, Ajibade argued that his alleged misconduct has compromised the very mission the organisation claims to uphold.
“Andrew Dunn is more concerned about preserving his image than treating people well,” Ajibade said. “He’s been enabled for too long by a system that idolises whiteness and ignores abuse.”
Apple faces lawsuit over alleged employee surveillance, speech restrictions
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that Apple was accused of requiring employees to install software on personal devices, granting the company access to sensitive personal data, including emails and health records.
According to the report, the company denied the allegations, stating the claims lacked merit and emphasised its annual training programs on employee rights to discuss workplace issues.