Nigeria Circular Economy Week Researchers Profiles

Onwunmelu Wisdom Nnadozie

MSc. Student (Environmental Systems and Climate Change), World Bank Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Onwunmelu, Wisdom Nnadozie is a sustainability and environmental researcher. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Soil Science and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Environmental Systems and Climate Change at the World Bank Centre of Excellence in Agricultural Development and Sustainable Environment (CEADESE), Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria. His current research focuses on the comparative assessment of thermally pre-treated and untreated rice husk for biogas production when co-digested with cattle dung. The research’s goal is to improve understanding of how agricultural waste such as rice husk can be effectively managed and efficiently converted into renewable energy thereby promoting the circular economy practice in Nigeria. Wisdom has led and volunteered in several climate change and environmental sustainability initiatives. Notably, he participated in the Tide Turners Challenge organized by Junior Achievement Africa in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), where he emerged as one of the African champions. He has co-authored one academic publication and three non-academic publications, all aligned with his interests in environmental protection, waste management, and climate action.

Wisdom is passionate about impactful, applied research and is skilled in environmental impact assessment and sustainability reporting. His long-term goal is to contribute to the design of scalable climate and circular economy solutions that support sustainable development in Nigeria and other developing countries.

Mayowa Oke

Civil Servant

Mayowa Bernice Oke is a doctoral researcher in environmental sustainability with an interdisciplinary academic background in microbiology and sustainability studies. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Master of Science in Sustainability Studies with specialization in Environmental Sustainability. This academic foundation informs her systems-based and evidence-driven approach to addressing complex environmental challenges, particularly in the areas of waste governance and pollution management.

Professionally, she has gained practical experience with the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), where she engaged with urban waste management operations and regulatory processes. This exposure has strengthened the applied dimension of her research and deepened her understanding of the institutional and policy dynamics shaping environmental outcomes in Nigeria. Currently at an advanced stage of her PhD programme, Mayowa’s research critically examines the effectiveness of plastic waste management techniques and their implications for environmental sustainability in Nigeria, with comparative analysis of the Federal Capital Territory and Lagos State. Her work integrates empirical data, policy evaluation frameworks, and sustainability assessment tools to interrogate the relationship between policy design, implementation, and environmental performance. Beyond her academic pursuits, she is committed to sustainability advocacy and knowledge dissemination, with plans to develop a digital platform dedicated to waste management awareness to enhance public engagement and policy literacy. In her leisure time, she practices photography, which serves as a complementary medium for visual documentation and environmental storytelling.

Ita Jessica

PhD Student (Development Communication) & Community Manager, JMO BizHub

Jessica Ita is a PhD student in Development Communication at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Founder of JMO BizHub, a multi-sector initiative advancing development communication, media engagement, educational services, sustainability practices, and climate action. Her work focuses on leveraging communication and community-driven approaches to promote environmental sustainability and evidence-based policy engagement.

Aminat Ibrahim

Lecturer, Department of Industrial Design (Textile and Fashion Design Section), Ahmadu Bello University. PhD Candidate, Department of Industrial Design (Textile and Fashion Design Section), Ahmadu Bello University.

Aminat Ibrahim is a Lecturer and researcher in Textile and Fashion Design with a strong passion for sustainability, circular economy, and culturally rooted design innovation. Her work is deeply driven by a commitment to sustainable development and explores the integration of technology into indigenous textile practices, post-consumer textile waste, and contemporary design solutions that generate environmental and social impact. She is currently a PhD candidate, with her doctoral research focused on post-consumer textile waste in Nigeria, and she is particularly interested in developing context-sensitive and scalable circular economy models for the Nigerian textile and fashion industry.

Esther Adewole

Research Assistant at the Chemistry Department, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Esther Adewole is an environmental chemist, researcher, and a change maker committed to advancing sustainability through science. She holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Ibadan in (2025) and a Bachelor of Technology in Industrial Chemistry from the Federal University of Technology, Akure (2021). Her work spans research, advocacy, and consultancy, focusing on waste valorization, sustainable soil fertility, and environmentally safe practices aligned with Responsible Consumption and Production, Industry and Innovation, Zero Hunger, and Life Below Water. Esther is the founder of Chemistry Careers, a professional development platform with over 500 members inspiring the next generation of chemists to lead circular innovation.

She is the recipient of the Leadership in Sustainability Awarded by The Polytechnic Ibadan, in 2024, she has contributed as a stakeholder and speaker at platforms such as the Oyo State Green Sustainability Forum (Eco-Conscious Oyo), engaged with the Ministry of Environment in Oyo State on circular economy policy gaps, and featured on climate-focused radio programs. She is a member of the American Chemical Society (USA), Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), Chemical Society of Nigeria, and a Chartered Chemist under the Institute of Chartered Chemists of Nigeria. Driven by service, collaboration, and impact, Esther remains committed to advancing climate action, empowering 10,000 young people by 2030, and building resilient, eco-friendly communities across Nigeria and beyond.