Adenike Akinsemolu is a passionate renowned Nigerian environmental researcher, educator, female child advocate, a lecturer at the Obafemi Awolowo University (Adeyemi College Campus) in Ondo State, a social entrepreneur, and the founder of the Green Campus Initiative (a campus based environmental advocacy organization in Nigeria).
She is a graduate of Environmental Microbiology from the Babcock University – Ogun State. She also holds a masters and PhD in the same field of study. Her desire to study Environmental Microbiology is borne by the desire to transform her environment and the way of life of people around her or those she comes in contact with.
A former intern at Clinton Foundation, Adenike’s work and enthusiasm for youth and the environment have taken her all over the world. In order to make environmentalism a part of the everyday experience of Nigerians, Adenike started the Green Campus Initiative.
The Green Campus Initiative, started in Nigeria, is mainly focused on tackling the problems of our environment and climate change in the country. They focus on creating or identifying innovative ways of doing things to minimize depositing more substance that would damage the environment.
Her initiative also focuses on educating and training youth and future leaders on the need to becoming more conscious of their environment and enlightening people to live green.
This initiative enabled Adenike attain global recognition with notable organisations in similar field of study. The Green Campus Initiative is also a member of the united nations
She continues to advocate for green education and sustainability in the Nigerian educational curriculum and pioneering Green ambassadors on college campuses across Nigeria.
The Green Campus Initiative is centred on promoting the development of leadership skills in youths, especially students who are focused on driving change in their various campuses in the country.
Adenike Akinsemolu also supports issues concerning the girl child in Nigeria and subsequently founded the Girl Prize, which provides financial support for young Nigerian secondary school girls that are science based. According to her, she is raising the next generation of green leaders or women scientists.
Additionally, Adenike founded the Girl Prize, which provides financial and mentorship support for young Nigerian secondary school girls with an interest in the sciences.
In one of her numerous interviews, she said that her goal is not only to empower young people to be environmentally aware and to adopt green practices but to also become social change makers in their various communities.
In 2015, Her community flower-planting outreach program planted 100 different flowers in the community, procured and distributed numerous recycle bins across various campuses.
In 2016, She successfully trained 5,561 youths on eco-consciousness and social responsibility, established 12 new departments and have planted trees in about 38 schools nationwide.
She is also an advocate for SDG Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 4 (Education). She was a delegate at the Clinton Global Initiative University (CGIU) in 2009 shortly after Hurricane Katrina where she worked together with a team composed of volunteers from different countries.
She is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Commonwealth Society, member of the National Steering Committee of the Sustainable Energy Practitioners Association of Nigeria and a faculty member at Curators University.
