CATALYZE

Emmanuel Niyoyabikoze is a youth climate activist from Burundi. He is the designer and director of the Greening Burundi Project, which aims to plant millions of trees. The goal is to fight against climate change and its impacts. He considers himself an eco-warrior and dedicates his work and energy to make our world a better place to live.

Gladys Njiru is an undergraduate student at Kenyatta University, Kenya. She is an environmental resource conservationist and a sustainability enthusiast. She was a 2018 finalist for the #mylittlebigthing SDGs innovation challenge and is also passionate about food security and youth empowerment.

Laura Agesa is a student from Kenya. She recently completed high school and is very passionate on saving our environment from pollution. She believes that to achieve change, there has to be teamwork and she chooses to work with everyone interested in collaboration for environmental change.

Steven Makumba is from Malawi and an advocate with passion for the environment. His environmental stewardship made him a founder of NatureKit.org. NatureKit.org started in 2016 for a purpose of facilitating environmental stewardship in the areas of climate change, waste management, afforestation, youth and environment, community outreach, environment conservation and biodiversity.

Adetomi Adekoya holds a M.Sc. degree in Environmental Biology with particular reference to Biodiversity Conservation and Management. She is currently a Ph.D. student in University of Ibadan and works part-time as a Teaching and Research Assistant under the Postgraduate college. She nurtures a keen interest in Artificial intelligence using big data platforms such as R and Python which she developed whilst working as Vegetation Assistant in Environmental Impact Assessment studies. She is an Environmental enthusiast and believes in working together to achieve environmental sustainability.

Adesuwa Obasuyi is a seasoned Social Development Expert, she holds a Master’s Degree in Environmental Quality Management. She runs a Non-Governmental Organization which is focused on building sustainable African cities and communities. She is passionate about informing, encouraging and influencing leaders to raise the ambition of their commitments on environmental protection and be held accountable, she regularly gets involved in civic engagements by participating in conferences, dialogues, workshops, campaigns, etc. She also trains and mentors other young people in community organizing and advocacy and also helps them in employing these skills to alter power relations and create meaningful institutional change in their various communities.

Alex Akhigbe is the Chief Environmental Officer of African Clean Up Initiative (ACI). An environmental non-governmental organization registered with Corporate Affairs Commission with a commitment to environmental sustainability and protection, environmental advocacy and education and community development in Africa. Alex is also a recipient of the Africa Peace Prize Award held in Ghana and the author of the fast selling inspirational masterpiece – book (DARE TO LIVE YOUR PASSION), teaching principles for LIVING A PASSIONATE LIFESTYLE, based on true life experiences. Alex is the Convener of RecyclesPay Educational Project that is currently being featured on BBC, Aljazeerah, Pulse TV and other International Media. It's a project that allows parents to pay the school fees of their children using plastic bottles and pure water sachets.

Simileoluwa Kafaru is an aspiring environmental scientist from Nigeria with several research projects completed in progress. He is passionate about conservation and environmental education and has previously worked as a research intern at the Green Institute, an environmental research institute.

Muhammad Shamsuddin Ibrahim is from Zaria Nigeria and is a student of Color Chemistry at Ahmadu Bello University. He is a Sustainable Development Goals advocate with an emphasis on climate action.

Priscilla Offiong holds a bachelor degree in History and International Studies, and has been an administrator and environmentalist with over six years of research, evaluation and monitoring experience. She is the Programmes Manager with Climate Change Network Nigeria (CCN-Nigeria) – the largest civil society coalition on climate change in Nigeria, focusing on communications, advocacy, and teaching on climate change and sustainable development-focused work. She is also the regional coordinator for Citizens Climate Lobby Africa – CCL Africa- (Niger Delta Region-Nigeria Coordinator). Priscilla is the President of Achievers Innovative Advocates (AIA International Foundation), a youth based Education and action focused international NGO on implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from the grassroots. She is also a team member of One Billion Trees for Africa Project, Team 54 International Project, and we Don’t Have Time project focused on SDG13- Climate Action. She is a member of Climate & Sustainable Development Network Nigeria and Young African Leader She is also Country Manager for Climate Scorecard Nigeria. Priscilla looks forward to enhancing societies, transforming lives for better livelihoods, using innovative perspectives, creating action plans, and building good personal and professional networks.

Greg Bakunzi is a conservationist focusing and collaborating to enhance sustainable tourism development in Rwanda. He's a leader at the Red Rocks Initiatives for Sustainable Development, an African non-profit organization that supports sustainable development in Africa by engaging in sustainable tourism and community driven environmental conservation initiatives that are meant to benefit local communities.

Nakabuye Hilda Flavia is a Ugandan climate activist and nature lover. Every Friday Nakabuye skips classes to strike for a safe environment. She is a student at Kampala International University, pursuing a bachelor's degree in procurement and supply chain management. She has taken several learning courses in agriculture, climate change and entrepreneurship at the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network. She also is a student leader with the post of Vice president of the UN Association of Uganda Kampala International University chapter.

Natukunda Irene Kananura is from Uganda and is a female climate activist and striker at Fridays for Future Uganda. Her niche is "striking for environmental protection and conservation.” She is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences at Kampala International University Uganda and is passionate about protecting the environment around her community.

Nirere Sadrach is from Uganda and passionate about the environment and has studied sustainable business and international trade. He's a coordinator for Fridays for Future Uganda and a connoisseur level learner at World Bank Group Open Learning Campus.