(interviewed in 2024)

Dagmar Möbius

Dr. Adedoyin Adeleke studied mechanical engineering and energy economics in Nigeria. After attending the CIPSEM course, he had a plan. But it didn't work in his home country. He told Kontakt-online about his current concerns and how he managed to get a street renamed "Green Growth Avenue".

Please tell us about your professional career.

Generally, my career path is at the interplay and interphase between science, policy, and practice. My bachelor’s degree was in mechanical engineering at the Obafemi Awolowo University and my interest in contributing to the energy crisis in Nigeria despite the abundant renewable energy potential in the country spurred me to undertake a multidisciplinary master’s degree programme in Energy Studies with specialisation in renewable energy at the University of Ibadan, both in Nigeria. The opportunity to participate at the 69^th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB International Short Course in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at the Centre for International Postgraduate Studies of Environmental Management (CIPSEM) in Dresden, Germany.

At the end of the short course, each participant was required to present an Action Plan for impact after the course. I shared my intention to develop courses to build human capital on renewable energy development in Africa. Up on my return, my initial effort could not work, so I improved on the idea and that’s what we have today as the Mentoring for Research Programme. The Mentoring for Research Programme establishes technical and thematic mentoring relationships between experts from across the globe and graduate students in African Universities. The Experts (mentors) supports the students (mentees) on their research projects on green growth topics in any fields. The programme became Green Growth Africa’s flagship initiative in 2017 and has thus far supported close to 200 graduate students in 55 universities across 22 African countries. Established as the International Support Network for African Development (ISNAD-Africa) and rebranded into Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network (Green Growth Africa); the organisation has since initiated and operates, in more than 20 African countries, diverse other initiatives on green growth including climate, biodiversity, sustainable energy among other topical issues covering capacity building, policy advocacy and development, among others.

On policy, I have contributed to diverse global reports, which includes serving as a Lead Country Contributor to the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21^st Century’s (REN21) four consecutive annual reports, “Global Status Report” on renewable energy for years 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. Also, I served as a Country Contributor to the second edition of UNEP’s 1 Gigaton Report on renewable energy and energy efficiency in 2018. In 2023, I am one of the 33 scientists from around the world that prepared the 2023 Climate Technology Progress Report published by UNEP Copenhagen Climate Centre , UN Climate Change 's United Nations Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) and UN Climate Change Technology Executive Committee. I am also a Contributing Author to the Global Environment Outlook – 7 (GEO-7) report that will be published by UNEP. Moreover, I served as a Reviewer to UNESCO’s Country Profile for Nigeria on Climate Communication and Education. In addition, I have participated in various public policy discourse on various policy issues in the media reported in more than 80 newspaper stories and other media outlets within and outside Africa. Such policy discourse covers green growth, green economy, just and green transition, climate change, biodiversity, sustainable energy, plastic pollution, among others.

In the past three years, I have also pioneered two new digital initiatives that would revolutionise policy development for green growth and compacting environmental problems in Africa. All things being equal the two initiatives will be launched this year (2024). Also, this year, we will be commissioning a green building, Green Growth Hub – a building from waste plastic bottles and powered by solar energy – powered by Green Growth Africa. I should mention that I also led Green Growth Africa – in engagement with the community stakeholders and the government – to name the street on which the building is located named “Green Growth Avenue” .

On knowledge generation, I conduct research on the nexus of energy access and the SDGs which I began with my PhD and now with a focus on green economy. I am a Fellow within the UNESCO Chair in Energy for Sustainable Development at the Department of Energy, Politecnico di Milano in Milan, Italy. In this capacity, I participate in several research and projects on various subject within the energy-development nexus, some of which are funded by the European Commission including Ambassadors for sustainable transition (AMBITION), Long-Term Joint Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy (LEAP RE) between the European Union and the African Union, among others.

In recognition of my work and contributions, I have been honoured with diverse awards, scholarships, fellowships including invitations to major global platforms. This includes my emergence as the first African to be named in the „30 Under 30 Gamechangers” in Environmental Education, a global award initiative funded by the U.S. and Taiwanese governments, „40 Under 40 in Changemakers” in Solar Energy by Renewable Energy World (then-owned by Pennwell Corporation, USA), Top 100 Shakers and Movers in Corporate e-learning, among others. I have also being invited to showcase my work at National Conference on Development Cooperation with Prime Minister of Italy, heads of African countries, Commissioners of the European Commission, Ministers of Italian government, among others. I also honoured an invitation from the U.S. Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, to participate at President Joe Biden’s U.S. – Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC in December 2022.  

Which CIPSEM course did you attend? How did you find out about it?

69^th UNEP/UNESCO/BMUB International Short Course in Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in 2016. The course provided a great deal of understanding on renewable energy and energy efficiency which contribute to defining my path and work today.

What exactly do you do today and what are your tasks?

As stated earlier, my work is within the interplay and interphase of science, policy, and practice.  Leveraging the three dimensions of my work, I innovate new solutions, literally inventing and re-inventing on the go and forge partnerships. I lead our team at Green Growth Africa and contribute to research and development projects as a Fellow within the UNESCO Chair in Energy for Sustainable Development at Politecnico di Milano, Italy. I also contribute to global development frameworks and policies including policy dialogues and debates.  

What is your favorite memory of your time in Dresden?

Dresden was the first non-African city that I stayed for up to a month. My greatest memories of the city is again with CIPSEM team. Meeting with a diverse community of experts from various countries around the globe with whom we have remained friends thousands of kilometers apart. Memories of interactions and support from Dr. Anna and Dr. Andre of significant notes. I am grateful for their help back then when I was at CIPSEM in 2016, but on top of that, I still benefit from their support till date.

Contact:

Adedoyin Adeleke, PhD
Executive Director, Green Growth Africa
Ibadan, Nigeria 

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