Alumni Testimonials
Olumide IDOWU is a climate change activist from Nigeria. He promotes environmental awareness and a balanced approach to the growth and protection of the environment. He is as concerned about development as he is about climate change and environmental protection. His conservation work is spread over a variety of venues. He has been actively involved in climate change activism for the past 12 years and is strategically positioned to engage both younger and older generations through his active engagement in climate change organizations and social media, where he is known as 'Mr. Climate.'
Olumide IDOWU is a co-founder of the International Climate Change Development Initiative, a non-governmental organisation that aims to produce climate-smart generations throughout Africa while also tackling development disparities. He also serves as the UNDP Small Grants Program's Youth Focal Point in Nigeria, as well as the Youth Lead Author of the Global Environmental Outlook (GEO6) and the Executive Coordinator of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change. He is a former Atlas Corps Fellow and an alumnus of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) in the United States.
Olumide Idowu
Lamech Opiyo, is a multi-Award-winning Environmental Conservation champion and Youth Leader, Climate Activist, Rotaractor (Member of a Rotaract Club), Change maker and Humanitarian from Kenya. Lamech is a recent graduate of Kenyatta University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies and Community Development. He been actively involved in championing for Environmental conservation projects and initiatives, in different parts of the country for the last 4 years. Currently, Lamech is the chairperson of the green Rotaract Concept District 9212, A movement within Rotaract clubs in District 9212 that champions for Environmental Conservation in Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan, and Eritrea.
He is experienced in working on climate change advocacy with evidence-based advocacy actions and sensitization. He was recently recognized as the Regreening Hero of Africa, Conservationist of the Year, Guardian of the forest, Award of Excellence in Championing for climate Action , youth leadership and humanitarian projects and a change maker leader of the year He is very keen at working with young people, and has been driving the #GenerationRestoration narrative .Having worked with more than 25 primary schools this year carrying Environmental Education ,tree planting and growing projects, urban farming . setting up of tree nurseries and mentorship oat various primary, secondary, and even tertiary institutions. Lamech is a proud Alumni of the Nairobi Summer school on Climate justice cohort II where he says he got more inspiration for the work that he continues to do in climate advocacy and environmental conservation space.
Lamech Opiyo
Simpilo Syabwata, is a citizen of the Republic of Zambia. He is alumnus of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice cohort II, where he studied the impact of climate change on indigenous communities. Mr. Simpilo, a dedicated climate activist, is from indigenous community in Zambia and has always been passionate about climate change and its impact on vulnerable communities.
Currently, he is a PhD student at the University of Zambia, where he is conducting research on the adaptation of rural communities to climate change. His work has been published in various academic journals and presented his findings at numerous international conferences.
Apart from his academic pursuits, Mr. Simpilo is also a climate change educator and has been actively involved in raising awareness about the effects of climate change in Zambia. In addition to climate activism, he is a young negotiator in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) processes and have participated in several international negotiations, advocating for the rights of indigenous communities and vulnerable populations.
Simpilo Syabwata
Jiata Ekele, an alumnus of the Nairobi Summer school on Climate Justice Cohort I, is a citizen of the republic of Nigeria. She serves as a Knowledge Management and Extension Assistant at the Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet) where she builds over two-years’ experience in climate advocacy, environmental sensitization, programme management, website publication and digital activism.
One of her notable activities was her involvement with Pakit Foundation School through the Climate Leadership Fellowship programme 2022. There, she taught 104 students about climate change with innovative toolkits and built a community of young climate actors by establishing an environmental club.
Concurrently, she publishes articles as a script writer (Climate journalist) at the Africa Climate reports. Additionally, she is a MSc student of sustainable Agriculture and food Security at Newcastle University, UK, and holds a first-class Bachelors degree in plant Science and Biotechnology from Kogi state University, Nigeria.
Her core idea of her work is cantered on advocacy activities such as campaigns, community programme intervention and sensitisation projects that shape public discourse on the climate crisis in a responsible future they want.
Jiata Ekele
Dr Wafa MISRAR, a proud alumnus of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate justice Cohort II, is a Moroccan from Marrakech, with expertise in wastewater treatment using membrane technologies, specifically to address the impact of climate change-induced drought in Morrocco. Prior to her participation in the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice, her focus has mainly been on academic and scientific research, including laboratory work and publishing articles in impacted journals. However, this experience opened a new world of knowledge in climate justice, loss and damage, climate finance, adaptation, mitigation, inspiring her to join civil society in Morrocco (AESVT representing PACJA in Morrocco) and established a network of experts and young activists dedicated to climate justice.
As a result of her experience, Wafa have had the opportunity to participate in the “climate justice torch” campaign in Gabon during the “Africa Climate Week” in August 2022, mobilizing communities affected by climate change to hold leaders accountable for climate justice at Cop27 in Egypt. She also attended Cop27 with the support of PACJA, participating in several side events, that allowed her later to be elected not only as the youth focal point of PACJA in Morocco, but also as the youngest member of AESVT Maroc’s National Council and at the local bureau in Marrakech.
Dr. Wafa Misrar
Lucky Abeng is an enthusiastic sustainable development practitioner, environment, and climate justice campaigner, with over 3 years’ experience working in the environment and development sector. Currently, Lucky works as a Research Officer, with keen interest on youth inclusion, amplifying indigenous knowledge in climate action. Lucky is adept in working on Climate Change advocacy and Sensitization geared towards policy influence and meaningful youth engagement with evidence-based advocacy, actions that foster partnership to advance a people-centered, right-based, just, and inclusive approach to address climate and environmental challenges facing humanity and the planet. In addition, positively influencing public laws, policies, and practices in the context of climate justice, poverty reduction and addressing developmental issues in Nigeria and on the Africa continent.
Lucky Abeng currently Volunteer with the Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network CYCN where he serves as the Chairperson, Grassroot Engagement and Participation with the passion for meaningful youth engagement in the UNFCCC processes. He also coordinates a youth led organization in Nigeria the SDGs-Thursday, creating awareness and sensitization on the UN Agenda 2030.
Lucky is a proud alumnus of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice (NSSCJ), where the foundations of his climate justice expertise started. As an alumnus of the NSSCJ, Lucky has represented young people with support from commonwealth as a youth delegate to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change Conference of Parties in 2021 and 2022 in Scotland and Egypt respectively and has received awards both nationally and globally for his work in providing leadership in youth climate change participation including the prestigious Commonwealth Duke of Edinburgh Study conference Scholarship. Lucky alongside young expert from Nigeria have just developed the first youth climate change manifesto in Africa. He holds a Degree in Genetics and Biotechnology from the University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Lucky Abeng
AYENAN SALEM MIHINDEOU is Alumnus of Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice – Cohort II, an initiative of Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA). Current Africa Regional Focal Point of the Children and Youth Major Group of the United Nations Environment Program (CYMG UNEP), he organized for the first time the African Youth Environment Assembly in February 2022 with the support of UNEP. This Assembly brought together +1,000 young people from the continent, and 146 Civil Society Organizations for four days. Indeed, Salem is passionate about the protection of nature, and very early launched into activism by organizing sessions of sanitation, collection of plastic waste and reforestation. For two years, Salem has specialized in climate education, targeting children and youth. He initiated the ECOL’ECOLO project, which consists of educating learners on climate action in the capital city of Benin. Delegated by the Youth Constituency to the UNFCCC (YOUNGO), he is one of the eight young African members of the Focus Discussion Group - UNESCO on Climate Education. After participating in the consultation of nearly 17,500 young people around the world, he presented the results of the work at COP27 in Egypt during a ministerial session. He continues to advocate for the official launch of the UNESCO Greening Curriculum at COP28 this year. Ambassador of the Nature Positive Universities Alliance (NPU Alliance, an initiative of UNEP, University of Oxford, and United Nations Decade for Ecosystems Restoration), he created the very first NPU Nature and Climate Clubs in Beninese Universities where he mobilized hundreds of young students to make their universities “Nature Positive.” Salem is an Alumni of several youth programs included: International Youth Forum Berlin (organized by the BMZ and its Youth Advisory Council), FXB Climate Advocates Program Fall Cohort (organized by FXB International in cooperation with Harvard University), MTE Climate Ambassadors Program (organized by Global Youth Climate Network with Youth to Youth of World Bank Group).
Salem Ayenan
Pius Agaji OKO is an alumnus of the Nairobi Summer School on Climate Justice Cohort II, a Climate Policy, and Development Specialist from Nigeria. Currently, He is co-founder of Lift Humanity Foundation (LHF) and a Volunteer Project Country Lead for the African Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA) Nigeria Project under the auspices of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA), Kenya. Pius OKO is a PhD student and lecturer in Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation with the University of Calabar, Nigeria.
With over seven years’ experience in the development sector, Pius education, teaching, research, and advocacy have enabled him build a career, adept in climate and biodiversity conservation policy development, climate justice advocacy; mainstreaming nature-based solutions and green growth into initiatives developed in programs, plan and strategy for people, planet, and prosperity.
Notable achievements include mentorship of over 135 global south youths from Asia and Africa through the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) toolkits, Kaya platforms from 2021 -2022, as well as co-create and design knowledge modules on understanding climate action and climate justice; strengthening climate justice communication and engagement.