Jiata Ekele is the Executive Director of Ecosystem Sustainability Network (EcoSusNet). Jiata also serves as the Knowledge Management and Extension Assistant at the Climate and Sustainable Development Network of Nigeria (CSDevNet), where she built over three years of experience in climate advocacy, environmental sensitisation, programme management, website publication, and digital activism. Concurrently, Jiata publishes articles as a Script Writer (climate journalist) at the Africa Climate Reports and is registered under the Nigerian Union of Journalists.
Jiata is pursuing a PhD investigating how “climate affects the nutritional qualities of crops” at Liverpool John Moores University through the fully-funded VC Studentship. She completed a master’s in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security at Newcastle University, UK, with a distinction, and this study was aided by the 2022 fully-funded Commonwealth Shared Scholarship – she won. Also, Jiata holds a first-class Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science and Biotechnology from Kogi State University, Nigeria.
Jiata volunteers with the She-Leads-Climate-Action project as the Programmes Lead. Jiata volunteers with the CYCN (Commonwealth Youth Climate Change Network) and is a part of the YOUNGO Pan-African network. Previously, Jiata worked as an administrative research assistant at Akanu-Ibiam Federal Polytechnic Unwana, Ebonyi state, Nigeria, under the Nigeria Youths Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. There, she also volunteered as the Secretary to the Editorial Committee of Environmental Community Development Service (E-CDS). Jiata has interned with Kaduna State Environmental Protection Authority (KEPA) and has three years of experience in professional classroom teaching as a part-time Primary School Teacher.
Jiata Ekele has attended numerous climate, environmental and SDGs-related workshops (national/regional/international), conferences and summer schools with several certifications and awards. She was a part of the first cohort of the Climate Justice Summer School and an awardee of the 2022 ACCER Awards and 2022 Climate Leadership Fellowship. Jiata was a part of the Online Executive Training – Young Women Leadership on Climate Adaptation organised by Ban Ki-Moon Centre for Global Citizens in collaboration with Care Climate Resilience Academy, Diplomatische Akademie, The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), and Norad. She is recognised as one of the 30-under-30 elevating women voices in agriculture champion.
Jiata is passionate about climate change and the SDGs as well as imparting excellent knowledge to the younger generation. She has excellent communication skills in the English language and is physically fit, morally sound, and emotionally balanced. She is also known for her meritorious achievements and skilled leadership qualities.
Mr Monday Abuh is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ecosystem Sustainability Network (EcoSusNet). Abuh is a Climate Advocate with over ten years of work experience in the Civil Society Organisation space while working with the Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet), the designated national platform of the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA).
Within this period, Abuh volunteered as a Programme Advisor tasked with collecting, analysing and interpreting data for managing and tracking project risks, issues and opportunities. Abuh later doubled as the Communication Assistant creating and publishing content, overseeing office activities, brainstorming ideas and developing newsletters and other publications. Later, Abuh served as the Advocacy Officer and Stakeholder Engagement Officer, concurrently supervising the Monitoring and Evaluation unit of CSDevNet. Abuh rose to Programme Manager and, finally, the current National Network Coordinator (NNC) of CSDevNet.
Monday Abuh played critical roles in the successful implementation of the following projects at the national level: Deepening Nigerian civil society engagement in Post-Paris climate change dialogue and response strategies and effective implementation of the NDCs 2018-2020 through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) World Bank funded, 2018-2019.
Currently, Abuh is spearheading the implementation of the following projects in Nigeria: African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ), Galvanizing and Unifying Africa’s Action for Resilient Development in the era of the pandemic (GUARD), and Supporting Needs-Based Advocacy on Adaptation in Africa (NBAA).
Abuh is enthusiastic about tackling climate change and achieving the SDGs. Abuh enjoys educating the next generation with superior information. Abuh is physically healthy, ethically.
Mrs Ojochide Adehi is an exceptional individual whose unwavering dedication to ecosystem sustainability, climate advocacy, and gender equality has positioned her as a prominent figure in the fight for a greener and more equitable world. As a respected member and the Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the Ecosystem Sustainability Network (EcoSusNet), Ojochide’s impact on environmental causes has been profound and far-reaching.
With over five years of experience in climate advocacy, Ojochide’s journey began at the Communicating Development Initiative (CDI) as the Gender Focal Person. In this role, she championed the cause of gender equality, tirelessly monitoring and advocating for greater attention to gender concerns in everyday operations. Her efforts transcended the confines of her workplace as she fearlessly took the stage at conferences, seminars, and outreach programs to call for the integration of gender equality and women’s empowerment in national policies and operations.
Beyond her role as the Gender Focal Person, Ojochide’s passion for creating positive change knew no bounds. As a program assistant, she played a pivotal role in developing and managing critical projects, skillfully navigating between operational units and fostering cohesion within the institution. During the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ojochide’s leadership
and ingenuity truly shone.
In the face of adversity, Ojochide spearheaded the “Waste for Welfare initiative,” a remarkable project that transformed scrap waste metals into handwashing facilities. These facilities were generously donated to hospitals, homes, and public spaces to promote proper hygiene during the pandemic. The commendable innovation earned her well-deserved accolades and stood as a testament to her exceptional leadership skills.
Outside of her professional endeavours, Ojochide is also an Executive Secretary to the esteemed Restored Women group, where she continues to significantly empower women and champion gender equality. Her relentless pursuit of knowledge and personal growth is evident in her ongoing pursuit of a postgraduate diploma in Food Science and Technology from Prince Abubakar Audu University, Nigeria, and her Higher National Diploma in
Hospitality from Federal Polytechnic Idah, Nigeria.
Ojochide’s philanthropic spirit is as remarkable as her professional achievements. She has an impressive record of food donations from the prestigious Edibles Eatery, exemplifying her commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and ensuring no one is left behind.
Fluent in English and possessing outstanding communication abilities, Ojochide has become a compelling advocate for climate change action and the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on gender equality. Her infectious passion for creating a sustainable and equitable world inspires others to join the cause, and she takes immense joy in imparting knowledge to future generations.
Fluent in English and possessing outstanding communication abilities, Ojochide has become a compelling advocate for climate change action and the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a particular focus on gender equality. Her infectious passion for creating a sustainable and equitable world inspires others to join the cause, and she takes immense joy in imparting knowledge to future generations.