Introducing myself and my journal

About Me:
Ajiroba Oladipupo is an emerging young leader gaining more recognition as the day counts. I am a young environmentalist, Climate Change activist and youth advocate with good public speaking abilities. I am a creative, enthusiastic, ambitious and passionate young Nigerian with an unusual passion to make the world a better place. I am an advocate of youth empowerment and a youth development expert. My priced values are innovative mind, critical analysis skills, persistence, humanity service and honesty; I see myself not just as a citizen of my country but rather as a citizen of the world and as such, I seek to make a difference and join other great young citizens of the world, in the quest to continually help in the development of mankind.
At an early stage in life, I was clear about where I wanted to belong to. My interest on environmental issues was born out of a challenge I suffered while growing up, at a very tender age I was diagnosed as a patient of acute bronchitis, which was a serious challenge but rather than be a victim of circumstance, I decided to turn my disability into ability by learning more about how to have pollution free environment which in turn inspired me in my career choice. Though peer influence later on, negatively delayed me. But I strongly believe that though man may not have the opportunity to start anew, but no matter his present position, he can change and give himself a brand new end. So better late than never!
I have huge interest in mentoring young people, youth empowerment and leadership development so as to support them in making right choices and guide them. My position is that young people should go beyond being advocate and campaigners for developmental issues, a position that has earned young people being continually referred to as noise makers but rather get involved in meaningful research to support active participation and earn them a place in policy promulgation.
I have a strong passion for issues of environment as I strongly believe in a quote by Ken Saro Wiwa, the great Nigerian environmentalist whose work satirized on contemporary culture and human rights that “environment is humans first right, without a safe environment, we cannot exist to claim other right be they social, economic or political!
My interest in helping young peoples in their values clarification inspired me in creating The Environment Advocates/Managers (TEAM), a youth led group with active 200 volunteers that comprises of most university Students, where I actively empower young people and engage them on leadership issues and involve them in volunteering initiatives.

I studied Botany at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria and graduated in 2009. I have worked actively in the environmental field for almost four years. My first environmental field experience was in oil/gas during my industrial training at Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 2007 at Mosimi Ogun State, Nigeria. Recently, I had worked more on climate change related issues and helped organize young people who are passionate about issues on environment and development; this was done through facilitating training of young people as Climate Advocates this was done through the project tagged Building youths response to climate change. I organized the first National Youth Service Corps, Oyo State summit on Climate Change on August 12, 2010 in collaboration with Building Nigeria’s Response to Climate Change a consortium of Nigerian Environmental study/Action Team, Canada VSO, Marbek Consultants Canada, to mark world Youth day in Nigeria, at this summit over 200 youths came together to build synergy and work for a safer environment.

Within the short time I started the journey into the corporate world; I have been recipient of few awards to recognize my contributions in helping young people and my various involvements in youth initiatives such as outstanding Volunteer by Center for Peace Building and Disaster Relief, outstanding service by Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team, Chairman’s award of Outstanding National Youth Service Corp in Oyo State, in Nigeria.
I was recently nominated by African Union at Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, as on of the 67 young African professionals to pioneer the African Union Youth Volunteer Corps (AUYVC) scheme, also appointed as the pioneer Chairman of the newly formed youth wing of Nigeria’s oldest NGO; the Nigerian Field Society, a foremost environmental group in Nigeria, Project initiator and Coordinator, Climate Change Awareness Club, NYSC, Oyo State, Nigeria. I have participated on many seminars, workshops and forums on youth matters, sustainable development, peace and conflict resolutions and also facilitated quite a number of trainings/seminars for young people.

I am presently member of Nigerian Environmental Study/Action Team (NEST), member Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC), member Nigeria Conservation Foundation (NCF), member Center for Peace Building and Disaster Relief (CEPADR), member Center for Disaster and Crisis Management (CDCM),Projeckthope International, and ProjectShield.

My Passions:
to see active youth participation in developmental issues

My Challenges:
funds for projects, media etc

My Vision for the Future:
to see a united world, with black and white emanicipation!

My Areas of Expertise:
Environment, youth development, climate change, public analyst