Alex Rose-Innes
VERY few women across the world, let alone on the African continent’s voice carries so much as weight with regards to sustainability issues as that of Dr Adenika Akinsemolu, Founder of The Green Institute, a leading and multiple award-winning research institute in Nigeria.
As a writer and Senior Fellow of Environment and Sustainable Development at the Institute for Oil, Gas, Energy, Environment, and Sustainable Development at Afe Babalola University, Nigeria, she also boasts a postgraduate diploma in Education and of course, a doctorate in Environmental Microbiology. Her book, The Principles of Green and Sustainability Science, which was published this year, is the first textbook of its kind dealing with African ecological issues and providing well-researched solutions to sustain not only the continent, but empower the people of Africa and eradicate poverty. And because this lady knows the challenges of rural life, she has the ability to identify with these problems and train others to follow her research towards a better future for all.
As a teacher and youth motivator, Dr Akinsemolu realised that if change had to come to her country and to the continent in its entirety, it had to start with her. The earth was in trouble and time was running out. As lecturer of some of the brightest young people in Nigeria, her vision had been to raise a new generation of “green thinkers” in order to save the planet.
Ad that is exactly why the Green Institute is known for – an organisation whose mission it is to raise the next generation of sustainability leaders through advocacy, education and innovation. She realised that if people knew better, the earth benefitted and so would humanity and to this day, the Institute had trained 25 000 young people to care for and sustain what Africa offers.
A special Ambassador programme had seen young leaders trained at the Institute grow into proponents of sustainability and green practises and on a global scale share their knowledge with others. While the effect of her realised dreams and vision is changing the environment and her work had become known globally, Dr Akinsemolu still believes that much is left to be done. Some of her students had already become renowned and specialist individuals across a world that is finally beginning to understand that radical change is needed if the planet is to survive and this generation is to leave a legacy.
She believes the African continent’s Sustainability Development Goals and the similar concepts supported by the United Nations would eventually transform the way people regard the Earth’s natural resources. In her personal capacity she continues to ensure the global vision of a transformed planet finds its way to Africa’s rural communities.
She had already been widely quoted as seeing a continuous and growing vision of environmental awareness becoming reality. The name of Dr Akinsemolu and her work to empower the African people, drive sustainable innovation and build strong communities would live on, long after naysayers regarding the future of the planet had been proved wrong.
The Green Institute provides internships to the youth of Nigeria and Africa as a whole.
