Short Bio:
OLANIKE OLUGBOJI-DARAMOLA a self-driven and resourceful individual is a multi-award-winning conservationist, climate justice actor, women’s empowerment advocate, citizen journalist, public speaker and writer. Inspired by her care for nature and unique sense of equity, she took a journey into the world of social activism when she founded the Environmental Management and Protection Network (EMPRONET) in 2004. Touched by the realities on ground, which revealed that grassroots women’s rights, roles, responsibilities and efforts are overlooked in the drive for environmental sustainability; her work became centered on engaging grassroots women in natural resource stewarding and peacemaking. In 2009, EMPRONET transited to Women Initiative for Sustainable Environment (WISE), a legally registered nonprofit organization that advances grassroots women’s representation, active participation, and leadership in natural resource governance and peace building. Olanike networks and lobbies individuals, governmental and intergovernmental bodies, NGOs, CBOs and other individuals and corporate organizations to develop environmentally sustainable initiatives that socially and economically empower women. To date, her efforts have directly impacted over 150,000 women at the grassroots, significantly enhancing their roles in natural resource management and sustainable development. In addition to directing WISE, Olanike is WEA’s Nigeria Project Lead. She is also a correspondent for World Pulse, where she speaks on critical issues like climate change. Her writing has been featured in Time Magazine, and she is involved in a number of leadership and global initiatives, like the Inclusive Global Leadership Institute, How Women Lead/ Women Leaders for the World, Empowerment Institute USA, Clean Cooking Alliance etc. Olanike’s work has created refuge for Nigerian women, as well as an opportunity for women leaders to create a livelihood and secure a future for their children and the earth. Her online journal – ‘WEST- Women, Environment and Society Think-tank on World Pulse is dedicated to raising awareness and spurring action about environmental and other societal issues that touch on women’s lives. Among other recognition, in September 2014, she was named one of the top three women among the Voice of Future Correspondents at World Pulse ; and was given opportunity- ‘as a voice for women and climate change’ to participate in the World Pulse 2014 Live Tour in the United States, Social Good Summit in NYC, the Clinton Global Initiative in NY, Emerging Women Conference NY; at the World Trade Center, the City Club, and at KBOO Radio in Portland; and at Twitter, Intel and Water Mark in San Francisco. She is also a recipient of Junior Chambers International’s 2014 Ten Outstanding Young Professionals in Nigeria Award (Voluntary and Humanitarian Services), and one of nine young Nigerians selected by 350.org to build a climate change movement in Nigeria. For her Waste Management business idea, she became one of 1000 entrepreneurs selected for the second cycle of the Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Programme. She is also a 2016 Global Good Fund Fellowship Finalist, 2016 World Pulse Impact Leader and Ambassador, 2016 Empowerment Institute Scholar, recipient of SEA (Sustainability, Environment & Advocacy) AWARDS 2018 Eco-Business Advocacy Award, was appointed as one of five 2022 World Trade Congress on Gender Ambassador and named one of Nigeria’s Top 100 Environmental Professionals by Environment Africa Magazine in 2022. She was also named on the SDG Nugget Hour Honours List 2022. In 2023, she received 5 recognitions including Institute of Leadership and Entrepreneurship Development Kaduna State University, and International Service Delivery Summit Group Excellent Services & Environmental Development Award; Muslim Media Publisher’s Association of Nigeria Award of Excellence as Icon of Business and Women Development in Kaduna State and Global Ambassador of Peace and Humanitarian Development in Nigeria and Women in Africa Laureate; inducted and named Sustainable Development Icon of the Year 2023 by Top 100 Destination Brand promotion. Olanike is a Fellow of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, having received the Award of Fellowship in 2024 in recognition of her contributions to the advancement of solar energy in Nigeria. Her work also explores the effects of climate change on rural women farmers, contributing a chapter entitled ‘Climate-Induced Floods: Reinforced Burdens and the Anguish of Rural Farmers’ in the ‘Anthology of Climate Impact Stories in Africa’. Olanike, is an incisive agency and leadership coach and mentor, community organizer and movement builder, and her experience includes leading high impact projects such as the Emergency Food Relief for COVID-19 and Climate Resilience project implemented by WISE in 2020 and 2021 which supported 2500 households. In her role as Nigeria Project Lead for Women’s Earth Alliance (WEA), she developed and executed a transformative training program for women leaders across Nigeria, focusing on clean cookstoves and eco-entrepreneurship, which has so far raised over 2000 clean cookstove entrepreneurs and advocates, improved access to sustainable energy and fostered economic empowerment. She has contributed to and led research projects, including needs assessments, baseline studies, and Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) processes, with a focus on gender-responsive programming. Olanike sits on the board of a few organizations and companies in Nigeria including WISE Waste Plastic Solution, Greenscape Integrated Global Services Limited, Green Environment Foundation (GEF) and Girl-Child Right Awareness Initiative in Africa. Olanike holds first and second degree in Urban and Regional Planning; and her core areas of expertise include Environmental, Climate, Peace and Gender Development Issues.
