Top Nigerian female environmentalists
By Nneka Nwogwugwu and Fatima Saka
As the world celebrates the International Women’s Day, NatureNews beams the light on some top female environmentalists in the country.
In no particular order, below are the women who have championed the campaign to make the Nigerian nay global environment space better and devoid of the prevailing challenges.
Jennifer Uchendu
Jennifer Uchendu is an ecofeminist and sustainable development advocate. She is the founder of SustyVibes, a youth-led organisation making sustainability actionable and relatable to young people.
Jennifer’s interests lie at the intersections of youth, women and climate action. She holds a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies.
Adesuwa Obasuyi
Adesuwa is the Climate Change Policy Manager at the British High Commission, Abuja who is passionate about building sustainable climate-friendly environments.
She has a Master’s in Environmental Quality Management from the University of Benin, Nigeria.
Adesuwa uses her experience as an environmentalist and climate change advocate towards wastes and wastes data management in Nigeria. Her work revolves around advocacy and sustainable livelihoods for women and youth.
Adenike Oladosu
Adenike is a climate activist, and founder of I Lead Climate. She advocates for the restoration of the Lake Chad region by highlighting the difficulties that women and youth face and the importance of achieving climate justice with education.
Adenike is a first-class graduate of Agricultural Economics from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.
In 2019, she attended the first United Nations Youth Climate Summit in New York. She has been recognized globally as a young leader taking climate action in the global south.
Priscilla Mbarumun Achakpa
Priscilla Mbarumun Achakpa is a Nigerian environmental activist.
She is the founder and Global President of the Women Environment Programme (WEP) that provides women with sustainable solutions to everyday problems.
Just before that, she was the executive director of WEP.
In Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council, Achakpa holds the position of the national coordinator for Nigeria.
She is the chair of the board of the Abaagu Foundation for youth empowerment.
In the United Nation Environmental Programme, she was elected as a co-facilitator.
Titilope Gbemisola Akosa
Titilope Gbemisola Akosa popularly known as Titilope Akosa, (born in Lagos, Nigeria) is a Nigerian environmentalist, climate justice advocate, lawyer, gender and social inclusive expert, and human rights activist.
She is the founder and executive director for the non-governmental sustainability organisation Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st).
She heads the law firm Titi Akosa & Co Nigeria.
In 2015, she was the spokesperson for women and gender non-governmental organisations at the 2015 Paris Climate Treaty on the topic ‘Towards a Gender Responsive Green climate fund in Africa
Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu
Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu is a Nigerian politician from Kogi State, Nigeria.
She is the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 21, 2019.
Ramatu was previously the National Woman Leader of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) later All Progressive Congress (APC) after the party and other political parties merged (2014 – 2018).
Adenike Adebukola Akinsemolu
Adenike Adebukola Akinsemolu is a Nigerian sustainability advocate, educator, author and a social entrepreneur.
She is a lecturer at Obafemi Awolowo University (Adeyemi College Campus).
She is known as one of the country’s leading experts on environmental sustainability.
Roseline Sonayee Konya
Roseline Sonayee Konya is a Nigerian academic and a politician from Khana, Rivers State. She is a professor of Toxicology and Pharmacology at the University of Port Harcourt.
She served as Commissioner for Environment in the cabinet of Governor Peter Odili and was re-appointed to same office in the cabinet of Governor Ezenwo Nyesom Wike.
She was also the Chairman of Civil Service Commission in 1997.
Ann-Kio Briggs
Ann-Kio Briggs, alternatively spelled Annkio Briggs, is an English-born Nigerian environmentalist and human rights activist.
She is the founder and director of the non-governmental organisation Agape Birthrights.
As of 2011, she was spokesperson of the Ijaw Republican Assembly (IRA) as well as the United Niger Delta Energy Development Security Strategy (UNDEDSS).