Ambassadors 2023

The inaugural 2023 cohort brought together thought leaders across 8 sectors including climate change, climate finance, education, green infrastructure, energy, agriculture, carbon markets, and carbon removals. All ambassadors are accomplished careerists recognized as Tutu fellows through the African Leadership Institute.

Bilha Ndirangu

Kenya

CEO - Great Carbon Valley Co-Founder - Jacob’s Ladder Africa

Bilha Ndirangu

Kenya

We need increased green energy production not just to meet Africa’s needs, but also because we want to position Africa as the next hub for green manufacturing and as an energy producer for the world. Adequate investment in renewable energy is essential to achieving these ambitions.

Oluseun Onigbinde

Nigeria

Lead Partner and Co-founder of BudgIT

Oluseun Onigbinde

Nigeria

"Climate change puts Africa at risk but also presents an opportunity to leapfrog into a new dawn of green jobs and sustainable growth. We must come together to seize the moment for a prosperous future."

Paulino Dias

Cape Verde

Founding Partner and Chairman of the Board of Directors at PD Consult

Paulino Dias

Cape Verde

“Climate change is here and requires individuals to have a new set of values and behaviours as well as have society adjust to its governance systems, policies and tools in order to mitigate associated risks and better adjust to the impact of climate change.”

Swaady Martin

– Ivory Coast

Serial Entrepreneur, Author, Board - African Leadership Institute

Swaady Martin

– Ivory Coast

Healing our unconscious warfare against the earth and being a true custodian of the environment starts by making conscious choices in our everyday consumption and lifestyle habits.

Dr. Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg

Kenya

Executive-In-Residence at Schmidt Futures

Lai Yahaya

Nigeria

Lawyer, Political Economist and Senior Policy Advisor, Energy Transitions

Lai Yahaya

Nigeria

Our challenge is how deftly we are able to navigate the trilemma of accelerating climate action; prioritising the quest for growth and industrialisation; and ensuring sufficient African agency in an increasingly complex multipolar world. If we act more responsibly in the stewardship of our resources, can capitalise on emerging opportunities in innovation and technology, and are able to leverage the demographic dividend fully, we will succeed in meeting this challenge.

Mokena Makeka

South Africa

Cities and the future of Living. Principal - Dalberg Advisors, Office Director, Southern Africa.

Mokena Makeka

South Africa

“A planet centric future means designing the cities of tomorrow with bio-based materials, fostering regenerative landscapes to increase biodiversity and inclusive economic growth.”

Luís Samacumbi

Angola

Programme Specialist at the United Nations Population Fund - UNFPA

Luís Samacumbi

Angola

Climate change is negatively impacting current and future generations. It has the potential to take away everything we have taken for granted in this age. Extreme weather patterns such as flooding in some places, acute water shortage and intense heat in others point to the fact that we need to act now before it is too late.

Lalaina Randriarimanana

Madagascar

Founder and Managing Director Lead Institute for Transformation - LIfT

Lalaina Randriarimanana

Madagascar

"As the Now Generation, we can position ourselves to be the solutions to global warming by connecting the dots between our everyday habits and an ever increasing love for nature."

Rose Funja

Tanzania

Founder and Managing Director of Agrinfo Company, Co -founder - She Codes for Change Social Enterprise

Rose Funja

Tanzania

“The eyes of all future generations are upon us, let’s choose to do better ”

Olanrewaju Akinola

Nigeria

Head of Content at the Norwegian-African Business Association (NABA), Advisory Board member at Plastic Partnership

Olanrewaju Akinola

Nigeria

"Africa is commonly viewed as a passive victim of Climate change. While the continent is indeed heavily affected by its impact, it is also endowed with tremendous potential to be a global driver of global climate action and green growth. We need a fresh narrative that positions Africa at the heart of driving solutions!"

Maimouna Diakhaby

Guinea

Advisor in charge of Digitalization and Employment - Ministry of Technical Education and Vocational Training Guinea

Hubert Ruzibiza

Rwanda

Climate Finance Advisor

Hubert Ruzibiza

Rwanda

"To ensure Africa finances its NDC’s, it will require to pull efforts from various sources not only traditional.

We have to be bold and unconventional. We owe it to the next generations.

My contribution stands into mobilizing Capital for Africa's Climate Transition"

Zanele Mkwanazi

South Africa

Director: People and Organisation at Novo Nordisk

Zanele Mkwanazi

South Africa

‘As a mother of 3 young daughters, climate change has become more important as I navigate my role in ensuring that I leave this world a better place for my children, their children and for generations thereafter. Like most important topics, It Starts With Me and the role I can play in creating awareness’

Mugure Njendu

Kenya

Founder, Green Building Expert, CEO Built for Good Africa

Mugure Njendu

Kenya

‘The built environment is one of the largest contributors to Climate Change - contributing 37% of Carbon emissions and responsible for 34% of energy demand globally. This accords the industry a big opportunity to be impactful in Climate Action, by returning to building sustainability; as is inherent in most African cultures.'

Ifeoma Malo

Nigeria

Founder/CEO, Clean Technology Hub

Ifeoma Malo

Nigeria

"The changes in climate present opportunities for Africa to leapfrog into a sustainable green economy."