Dr David Olufemi Awolala is the Country Director for Nigeria at the African Group of Negotiators Experts Support (AGNES), where he leads the coordination and implementation of AGNES programmes and strategic initiatives in Nigeria. He is responsible for advancing research and policy engagement, strengthening institutional partnerships, and expanding AGNES’ collaboration with government, academia, civil society, research institutions, development partners, and the private sector. Through the Nigeria Office, he champions science-based climate solutions that bridge research, policy, and implementation to support inclusive, climate-resilient, and low-emission development.

An accomplished agricultural and climate change economist, researcher, and policy expert, Dr. Awolala brings over 20 years of experience in resource and environmental economics, climate risk management, sustainable development, and evidence-based policymaking. Before he was appointed Country Director, he served as AGNES Director of Technical Services, providing technical leadership to programmes that translated scientific evidence into climate negotiations, national policy processes, and climate investment solutions across Africa.

Dr Awolala began his academic career at the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA), Nigeria, where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics. Throughout his academic career, he has supervised and mentored more than 500 early-career scientists while contributing significantly to research and capacity development in climate change economics and sustainable agriculture.

His expertise spans production economics, climate information services, climate risk preparedness, adaptation finance, agricultural insurance, gender-responsive climate action, resilient food systems, project impact evaluation, agribusiness development, and economic modelling for climate-related investments. He has collaborated extensively with governments, universities, international research organisations, and development partners to develop practical solutions that strengthen resilience and support sustainable development.

Dr Awolala holds a PhD in Climate Change Economics from Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD), Dakar, Senegal, undertaken in collaboration with the Center for Development Research (ZEF), University of Bonn, Germany, under the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) doctoral programme. He is a Fellow of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Climap Africa Programme, the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) supported African Science for Weather Information and Forecasting Techniques (SWIFT) Programme, and the African Climate Change Fellowship Programme (ACCFP).

A prolific researcher, Dr. Awolala has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications covering climate adaptation, environmental governance, production management, econometric modelling, and sustainable development. His work continues to shape evidence-informed policies and investment strategies that strengthen climate resilience across Africa.