Cohort XI

Anthony Ndirangu is an accomplished environmental scientist with a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science from Masinde Muliro university of Science and Technology. Currently, he works at the County Government of Nyeri in Kenya as a Climate Change Officer, where he uses his expertise to help communities cope with the impacts of climate change. Anthony is passionate about building resilience at the local level by promoting sustainable development and implementing nature-based solutions. He has gained extensive experience working in the field of climate change and has a deep understanding of the challenges facing communities in Kenya and around the world. Prior to joining the County Government of Nyeri, Anthony worked at the Institute of Climate Change at the University of Nairobi. While there, he assisted in research on nature-based solutions on climate change and led hundreds of students in climate action. He is an expert in climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies and has played a crucial role in the implementation of various projects aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change. Anthony is committed to making a positive impact in his community and beyond. He has been recognized for his exceptional work in the field of climate change, and his contributions have been instrumental in promoting sustainable development and building resilience in communities.

Damilola Aishat Oladipo is a skilled public health practitioner who graduated from the Federal University of Technology Akure in Ondo State, Nigeria, with a B.Tech in Agricultural and Resource Economics. She also earned certification in Environmental Development from ALISON (Advance Learning Interactive Systems Online). Damilola has a strong enthusiasm for preserving the environment and advancing sustainability. Her advocacy work is focused on preserving the environment and ensuring a sustainable future. She is a devoted volunteer for healthy habitats and has volunteered for numerous NGOs. Through her volunteer work, Damilola has had the chance to hone her skills in overseeing community development and health. She has actively participated in Ploggas Nigeria, where she received in-depth training on climate change, environmental sustainability, and the SDGs. In addition to her work on the environment, Damilola is a steadfast supporter of women's rights, children's rights, and equal opportunity for women.

Mr. AWOLALA, Ayodele Theophilus is an astute Environmental Economist Professional with hands – on experience in management, environmental economics, resource management and advocacy. He has a B. Agric Tech. in Agricultural Economics and Extension and M. Agric Tech. in Agricultural Economics, In Federal University of Technology, Akure. A serial volunteer for several NGOs, he is currently the Principal Agricultural Officer for Ondo State Agricultural Inputs Supply Agency and Zonal Officer for Central Zone of Ondo State in Nigeria where he had educated hundreds of farmers on Climate Change, environmental sustainability and the SDGs. Mr. Awolala is Zonal Officer, Ondo State Agricultural Inputs Supply Agency where he currently works. A Climate Reality Leader trained by experts in Climate Change at the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, the Federal University of Technology, Akure and experiences gained with interactions with local farmers. He is an ardent advocate for Climate Change, Climate Smart Agriculture and environmental sustainability.

Dodji Komlan Aziandeke is an Agronomist. He holds a Bachelor degree in Agronomic Sciences and a Master’s degree in Agroressources Sciences and Environmental Engineering from the University of Lomé (Togo). He is currently a PhD Student in Climate Change and Agriculture within the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) programme. His researches focus on Soil Organic Carbon dynamics and Soil Organic Carbon sequestration. He served as Agronomist in a local NGO specializing in the field of Waste Management and as Program Manager in a local NGO in the field of Sustainable Development. Dodji Komlan Aziandeke is an active member of UN1FY (United Nations International Federation of Youth for Water and Climate), the official youth constituency of the Water and Climate Coalition (WCC) and a member of the International Biochar Initiative (IBI).

Babalwa is a youth energy enthusiast, her curiosity for problem solving and unquestioned policy have lead her to step outside of her comfort zone. She has developed her curiosity through engaging in approaches regarding sustainability, the circular economy, energy systems and climate change mitigation strategies that affect Africa and the world at large. With Pursuing a Bachelor of Social Sciences, the lens of power relations, has contributed to her Vision of redefining systems of development. As a Climate Governance, Diplomacy and Negotiations leadership Fellow (AGNES), she envisions an Africa, that is empowered, revolutionised and filled with Authentic, African relevant Innovations. In the past She has collaborated with Like minded Youth to create youth centred programmes. "I believe the Youth to be Essential mobilizers of change!”. As the Founder of UTANDO, Babalwa, grows a research ecosystem that aims to bridge the gap between energy security and food security using waste management.

Dr. Vincent N. Ojeh received his B.Sc (Hons) and M.Sc degrees in Geography and Regional Planning from Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria in 2004 and 2011 respectively with specialization in Climatology under the Federal and Delta State Government Scholarships. He holds the best graduating student award in geography in 2004. He bagged a PhD in Meteorology and Climate Science from the School of Earth and Mineral Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Nigeria in collaboration with Augsburg University, Germany under Germany’s BMBF full Scholarship. His research interest cut across all aspects of urban climatology, Agro-meteorology, Biometeorology, Environmental Resource Management and Gender/Media and climate communication/education interface.  Dr Ojeh is a Research fellow at the Africa Research and Impact Network (ARIN) and the current Alumni President of WASCAL in West Africa as well as the current president of the Nigeria branch of the alumni. Dr Ojeh is a lecturer in the Department of Geography, Taraba State University, Jalingo, Nigeria, and an adjunct lecturer at the WASCAL Climate change and Education PhD Program at the University of the Gambia. He is married with children.

Mr. Benjamin G. Musungu is an Agricultural Economist and youth who is passionate about the intersectionalities between Climate Change, Agriculture and Policy Spheres. Benjamin is a 2022 Food Systems Fellow under the Center for African Leaders in Agriculture (CALA)-a prestigious Advanced Masters Leadership Program for Top-80 Food Systems Leaders in Africa. He holds MSc.in International Relations from KALU Institute (Spain),MSc.in Agriculture Economics from Kenyatta University (Kenya) and BSc.in Agribusiness Management from Egerton University (Kenya).His postgraduate qualifications includes: Postgraduate Certificate in Entrepreneurship from Harvard University (USA),Postgraduate Certificate in Climate Change from DANIDA fellowship Center (Denmark),Postgraduate Certificate in Qualitative Impact Assessment Protocols from Bath University (UK) and Postgraduate Specialization Certificate in AfCFTA offered by UNDP-Africa. Benjamin has rich volunteership experience and is currently serving as the East African President of the African Union Youth in Livestock, Fisheries and Aquaculture Incubation Network (AYL-FAIN),and as an Advisory Board member of UCESCO-Africa. He has a 360-degree blend of 8-years’ experience, having worked in the Government (As a food security advisor to the Council of Governors-Kenya),Private Sector (As the Public-Private Dialogue Lead at Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA)),NGO (As the Business Development Lead at Dorcas Aid Int’l) and International Relations (Where he currently works as the Northern Africa Partnerships Coordinator at Africa Union-Africa CDC, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Besides his professional titles, Benjamin is the CEO& founder of FOODCIRCLE-A start-up based in Nairobi, Kenya that focused on redistributing excess food to those who need it the most, at a fraction of the ambient prices.

Antony is a highly skilled and experienced practitioner in Research, Evaluation, Accountability, Learning and Monitoring (REALM). With more than ten years of REALM experience, he is adept with leading national evaluations, setting-up monitoring and evaluation systems for regional, national and community programs, provision of technical support to a number of international non-governmental organizations, compliance with multi-donor reporting, proposal writing, and capacity building of programme staff on emerging monitoring and evaluation practices. The ultimate goal of the function of Antony is to ensure that interventions have evidence-based knowledge to inform adaptive programming by paying special attention to the positive and negative impact that interventions have in marginalized communities. Antony has a PhD in Business Sciences (University of the Witwatersrand), Master of Philosophy in Monitoring and Evaluation (Stellenbosch University), Master of Business Administration (Zimbabwe Open University) and Master of Philosophy in HIV/AIDS Management (Stellenbosch University).

Benson Mwileli is a passionate Economist currently working as Manager – Market Supervision in the Directorate of Market Supervision and Development at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zambia. He is passionate about facilitating for finance to support the fight against climate change and its effects. He has close to a decade of experience working in the Zambian financial markets with involvement in banking and capital markets. He has been and continues to be part of numerous initiatives aimed at mainstreaming green finance in the financial sector. This includes being part of the green finance mainstreaming working group, a working group set up by financial sector regulators to green the Zambian financial sector. This working group has been engaged in numerous initiatives including the development of bond and green loans markets in Zambia, promotion of ESG reporting, supporting the development of mechanisms to map and track climate and biodiversity related financial flows and others. Benson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from the University of Zambia and a Master of Science Degree in Finance and Investment from the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom. He also holds an Advanced Diploma in Management Accounting with the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) and is a certified expert in Sustainable Finance with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management.

Emmanuel Kofi Adu is an Assistant Program Officer Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana. He has a B.A. in Geography and Resource Development and an M.Sc. in Climate Change and Sustainable Development, all from the University of Ghana, Legon. A serial volunteer for several NGOs such as Teach on the Beach and IT for Children. Emmanuel is the Team Lead for Wetlands at EPA Area Office, Konongo where he currently works. He has a research interest in using Ecosystem-Based Adaption to tackle climate change. He also has a research interest in food security and climate change.

Bradley Masaba Miheso is a graduate of Bachelor of science in Environmental science with information technology at Maseno university. He also specialized in CPA programming (C++),cyber security and networking essentials at Cisco networking academy. Bradley Masaba Miheso has also done other courses in sustainable development,climate change,gender based violence, sovereignty risk,water sanitation project management and is a well knowledgeable and equiped individual who works with passion and commitment. 

Erick Ooko is an accomplished Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist with cumulative experience spanning 12 years in sound conception of research design, and deployment of monitoring and evaluation systems for multi-country Food Security and Resilience, Health system strengthening, Health economics, Water & sanitation programs, Agri-value chain development programs with gender and youth inclusion lense. Erick holds a bachelor’s degree with Mathematics major from Maseno University and MA in Project Planning and Management from University of Nairobi. He is currently the Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Advisor for Climate Resilience Program at SNV Netherlands where he has established a monitoring and evaluation system while integrating result-based management. A certified professional in monitoring and evaluation and an enthusiast of capacity building.