Nigeria Green Academy 2026

Hafsat Omotayo Abdulrasaq is a development practitioner and programme officer advancing gender justice, safeguarding, and adolescent mental health. At the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, Hafsat coordinates programmes on SGBV prevention, feminist leadership, and policy advocacy, and serves as Lead Case Manager, delivering trauma-informed support. She is driven by a commitment to empowering marginalized communities and advancing inclusive, sustainable social change.

Angel Akinro is a legal practitioner and researcher focused on protecting marine and coastal ecosystems. Her research explores how law shapes ecological safeguards amid growing pressures from extraction and exploitation. Angel is passionate about legal frameworks that meaningfully strengthen the protection of marine and coastal ecosystems for generations to come.

Blessing Ekwere is a social entrepreneur and sustainability advocate working in Nigeria's circular economy. At Looped Innovation, she has overseen the production of over 20,000 sustainable packaging products, pioneering innovative packaging made from agricultural waste as an alternative to single-use plastics and helping businesses transition away from them. With over seven years leading community recycling and environmental awareness programmes, Blessing is committed to solutions that cut environmental pollution while creating economic opportunities for young people and local communities.

Janefrances Chibundu is a special correspondent at TheCable online newspaper, covering climate change, biodiversity, energy, and environmental accountability. Named TheCable's 2025 Journalist of the Year, her work has earned national and international recognition. Janefrances has reported from major global platforms, producing investigative and feature stories on plastic pollution, renewable energy, and wildlife conservation that spotlight the human cost of climate impacts.

Daniel Linus is a development professional at Future Forward Development Initiative (FFDI), leading programmes that advance youth empowerment, civic engagement, and climate action. He is passionate about strengthening youth participation in governance, inclusive development and community change.

Dinee-Laago Zorbari is a creative systems innovator, ceramic artist, and environmental advocate working at the intersection of sustainability, mental wellbeing, and community development. At DinizArts Centre, Dinee-Laago uses raw clay and eco-conscious creative education to build resilience and restore community. She is developing the Zero-Waste Integrated Creative Arts Therapy Model (ZW-ICAT), merging circular economy principles with creative arts therapy to advance environmental stewardship and empower youth.

Eden Benibo is a multi-award-winning investigative journalist and editor of Hello ICON Magazine, where she leads evidence-based investigations into socio-economic injustice and systemic failures affecting vulnerable populations. Eden’s reporting spans forced migration, climate change, environmental stress, mental health, labour rights, and social inclusion. Rooted in solutions journalism, her work is driven by a commitment to building a more just, inclusive, and enabling Nigeria for all.

Fahad Aliyu Muhammed is an emerging research scholar and youth development advocate working at the intersection of public policy, education, AI governance, gender equity, and the future of work. As a Research and Policy Analyst at the Effective Governance Research Institute, Fahad convenes experts and stakeholders to inform better policy and shape conversations on skills development and youth employment across Africa.

Grace O. Ojo is a program and membership coordinator at the Nigeria Network of NGOs (NNNGO), where she drives stakeholder engagement and strategic communications to advance civil society initiatives across Nigeria. Grace has orchestrated high-level dialogues, capacity-building, and advocacy programmes that foster resilience and accountability in civic space. She is passionate about strengthening Nigeria's civil society ecosystem.

Habibat Muhammad Sani is a photographer, poet, journalist, and humanitarian whose work bridges storytelling and social impact. Her literary and journalistic writing has appeared in numerous national and international publications, earning her the Dove Foundation for Global Change Poetry Prize and recognition as Editor of the Year under Youth Digest. She is a Fellow of the Women Leading Change Fellowship and a Brooklyn Poets Winter–Spring 2025 Fellow, reflecting her growing voice across literature and journalism.

Ifechi Rosemary Aleke is a legal practitioner and human rights advocate committed to advancing access to justice, gender equality, and human rights protection. As a Legal Officer at Lawyers Alert, Ifechi provides free legal services on human rights, SRHR, and gender-based violence, while driving policy advocacy and strategic impact litigation, and delivering legal clinics and rights-awareness campaigns to underserved communities.

Ismail Gwarzo Saleh is a development practitioner and community development advocate committed to advancing locally led solutions for peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable communities. At Resilient Bridge Foundation, he leads initiatives on peacebuilding, youth empowerment, civic participation, and women's leadership. Ismail has supported programmes addressing drug abuse and social cohesion. He is passionate about using research, data, and local knowledge to inform advocacy and strengthen community-led solutions.

Johnable Chima Amagwula (MNITP, RTP) is a town planner, urban development and environmental management professional with over seven years of experience shaping sustainable communities across Nigeria. As a development advocate, he delivers innovative solutions in urban design, land-use planning, and environmental impact assessment. Passionate about affordable housing and inclusive urban planning, Johnable is committed to advancing sustainable development practices with lasting impact.

Maiwan Petshal Hoomsuk is a lawyer passionate about education advocacy, promoting human-centred AI governance, protecting digital and fundamental rights. Through Maiwan’s work with Policy Lab Nigeria and the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Initiative Nigeria, she advances legal and policy frameworks ensuring emerging technologies are developed and governed responsibly. She has also coordinated education outreach, impacting over

100 children.

Mohammed Abdulmalik Muntari is an economist and development-oriented professional advancing good health, responsible consumption, and sustainable development in Nigeria. Abdulmalik supports community health programmes that improve health outcomes. Drawing on experience across finance and entrepreneurship, he is passionate about innovative, inclusive policies that create economic opportunities and social wellbeing.

Moyosore Morenike Salami is a journalist with The Guardian Nigeria News, reporting on human interest and development issues with a focus on accountability, transparency, and public service delivery. Her storytelling amplifies underreported gaps in infrastructure and environmental protection while advocating for stronger policy implementation. Moyosore’s coverage of Nigeria's energy transition and its social impact earned her recognition at the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence, underscoring her commitment to journalism that drives meaningful change.

Dr. Taiwo Fatola is a medical doctor, health policy researcher, and journalist working at the intersection of healthcare, public policy, and evidence-based storytelling. He examines systemic challenges and emerging solutions in health systems. Taiwo interns as a journalist at New York Amsterdam News. His work builds on multiple campus journalism awards, and he is committed to advancing sustainable, people-centred health systems through research, reporting, and policy advocacy.

Tufayl Adelakun is a researcher and global affairs professional specializing in international development, public policy, and diplomacy. As a Researcher at Future Perspectives, he advances SDG 16 through evidence-based policy advocacy. He has demonstrated diplomatic leadership across multiple Model UN and Model OIC platforms, representing several nations in committee roles.

Wahab Opeyemi Badmus is a researcher, programmer, and advocate for African and Global South inclusion in AI governance and ethics. Wahab leads Africa & Global Power, a research platform on African geopolitics and AI policy, and has built problem-solving tools-Decidr and FocusMate- that support decision-making and productivity. He is driven by the conviction that Africa must be a policymaker, not a policy taker.

Wisdom Katnap Sunday is an education and policy advocate committed to advancing equitable opportunities for underserved children and young people. As an Education Coach, Wisdom supports underserved communities, has trained teachers in four public schools, and has led initiatives to enroll children out of school. He also champions a national campaign for regular teacher professional development and engages in policy dialogue.

Zainab Gambo Adam is a social entrepreneur driving Nigeria's transition to a circular economy. At EcoValue Recyclers Hub, she converts plastic and agricultural waste into renewable eco-briquette fuel while empowering collectors, predominantly women and youth. Zainab has mobilised over 300 volunteers, forged strategic partnerships with agribusinesses, and deployed a digital waste-tracking system across two collection sites. She is passionate about building sustainable, locally rooted solutions to Nigeria's environmental and economic challenges.

Zainab Muhammad Nasir is a MEAL/MERL professional and community development practitioner working at the intersection of civic accountability, public health, and women's economic empowerment across Northern Nigeria. She coordinates peacebuilding programmes, building evidence-driven systems that connect grassroots realities to institutional accountability and drive sustainable, inclusive change.