Nigerian environmentalist Dr. Adenike Akinsemolu has been chosen as a Fellow for the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation’s 2024 Residency Programme. This year, the program will address the theme “Power and Knowledge – Confronting Global Imbalances in Our Knowledge Systems,” bringing together scholars, activists, and researchers from around the world.

Dr. Akinsemolu is known for her work on environmental sustainability and gender advocacy. Her project for the Residency Programme focuses on the intersection of climate change impacts and gender dynamics in coastal Nigeria, with a specific emphasis on the Ilaje community in Ondo State.

She argues that effectively addressing climate change requires an understanding of local knowledge systems and the gender-specific challenges faced by communities. Dr. Akinsemolu’s research uses participatory methods that involve and empower local women, viewing them not just as victims of climate change but as key players in building resilience and adapting to environmental changes.

“Climate change is closely linked with social and gender issues, especially in communities like Ilaje,” said Dr. Akinsemolu. “My work seeks to promote solutions that are inclusive and equitable, ensuring that local knowledge and gender perspectives are part of the conversation on climate action.”

Her focus on the social aspects of climate change and her call for solutions that address power imbalances are expected to contribute significantly to the discussions at the Residency Programme.
The Residency Programme involves eleven participants from various fields and regions. Supported by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office and in cooperation with the Cultural Foundation Schloss Wiepersdorf, the program aims to encourage dialogue across disciplines and generate insights that can influence policy and practice in science and society.

The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation is known for its support of global research collaboration. Every year, the Foundation enables over 2,000 researchers from around the world to conduct research in Germany. It maintains a vast interdisciplinary network of more than 30,000 alumni, known as Humboldtians, in over 140 countries, including 61 Nobel Prize winners.

Dr. Akinsemolu’s selection as a Fellow highlights her significant contributions to environmental and gender studies and brings an important African perspective to global discussions on climate change and sustainability.