Jumoke Omodeni on Climate Action, Youth Leadership, and Building a Resilient Africa through EcoSciGen

Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it’s reshaping economies, communities, and the very systems that people depend on for survival. For Jumoke Omodeni, climate change specialist, social innovator, and Executive Director of Eco Science Generation (EcoSciGen), tackling this crisis requires more than awareness campaigns. It demands actionable, research-driven solutions led by young people who understand their communities and are bold enough to question existing systems.

In this interview with NigerianNGO, Jumoke shares the journey behind founding EcoSciGen, the turning points that shaped her vision, and the challenges of building an organization that dares to bridge science, society, and power structures. From training the next generation of African climate researchers to equipping schoolchildren with sustainable farming skills, her story is a powerful reminder that the path to resilience starts with courage and authenticity.

Let’s dive into the conversation.

NigerianNGO: Tell us about yourself?

Jumoke Omoden: My name is Jumoke Omodeni. I’m a climate change specialist and social innovator from Nigeria, passionate about building a more inclusive and climate-resilient world. I currently serve as the Executive Director of Eco Science Generation (EcoSiGen), a youth-led initiative providing actionable solutions to the climate crisis through education, youth empowerment, and leadership development. At the heart of my work is a drive to bridge the gap between science, society, and power structures to ensure that climate solutions are innovative, accessible, grounded in the strengths and real needs of our communities. I have had the privilege of designing and leading several programs that equip young people, and local communities with the tools to shape their own climate futures.

NigerianNGO: What inspired you to found Ecoscigen?
 
Jumoke Omoden: Firstly, we have the climate crisis and the massive impact it has had on our
communities which are places that we consider safe and that many of us call home. Over time, I began to notice how many of the social problems we are trying to solve are deeply connected. You may be working on an issue in education, agriculture, or health, and when you dig deeper, you realize that the real root problem is lack of quality governance or a lack of inclusion. The turning point for me came when I began to understand how scientific research, which should be guiding responsive solutions for our country, is often absent or underused. This is largely due to conflicting agendas from external donors that have influenced the direction of science and research in Nigeria for many years. Now that the effects of climate change are clear and persistent, I believe it is time for a complete shift in how we approach our own problems.

I started openly advocating for Nigeria to take the lead in sponsoring its own scientific research. I raised this point at two different conferences, and in both cases, it sparked intense debate and in some cases, mockery. Not because the idea is unreasonable, but because for many people, it feels impossible. However, I believe that this is the only way we can develop solutions that are truly effective. These kinds of research and data will not just be for academia, they will be used to engage directly with communities and to pioneer innovative, practical solutions.

More than anything, this is why I started EcoSciGen. Through this organization that started as a simple idea, I am now working largely to address these cross-cutting issues with one clear goal in mind: a resilient Nigeria, and a resilient Africa. 

NigerianNGO: What are some of the success stories from Ecoscigen? 

Jumoke Omoden: I remember when we hosted a research workshop that brought together young people from over 25 African countries. Many of them had never imagined themselves as contributors to scientific knowledge, yet after that experience, something changed. They began to see themselves as researchers, people capable of shaping the future of the continent through
evidence, data, and critical thinking. Some have gone on to ask deeper questions in their communities, and others are working on projects that could eventually influence policy or practice.

Another moment that stays with me is after a communication training we ran. A few months later, we started getting messages from participants who had launched their own initiatives in places we’ve never physically been. They were speaking to schools, planting trees, and creating educational materials on sustainability in their local languages, all to support their communities and people, understand climate change and take action. That ripple effect is something we can’t fully quantify, but we feel it.

And then there’s our work with school children, many of whom have dreams of becoming farmers. Watching them learn about agriculture, try out new techniques, and speak with confidence about sustainable agriculture has been one of the most heartwarming parts of our journey. We’ve even constructed two greenhouses in community schools, not just as a farming
space, but as a classroom for resilience and innovation.

NigerianNGO: How does your organization receive support in terms of funding?
 
Jumoke Omoden: To be honest, we’ve always been very careful with funding. Over time, we’ve
seen how access to funding can shift what people advocate for and how it can quietly pull organizations off track. It has also created unnecessary competition, where it sometimes feels like it’s more about who gets the most grants than who creates the most impact. That’s why we’ve chosen to grow differently. We mostly rely on our own resources, strategic partnerships, small grants, and in-kind contributions. This approach allows us to test ideas in a controlled way, stay grounded in our mission, and remain true to the people and communities we serve. Our earliest work was entirely self-funded or supported by volunteers who simply believed in the vision. And to this day, we value technical expertise, research tools, and platforms that help us amplify our work just as much or if not more than financial contributions. For us, support is about alignment, intention, and long-term impact.

NigerianNGO: What challenges have you faced in bringing the vision of Ecoscigen to
life? 

Jumoke Omoden: One major challenge has been that many people don’t fully understand what
we are doing. Our work is designed to be forward-thinking, we are already engaging in high-level research and designing solutions that are far beyond surface-level awareness. But we often find ourselves stuck at the stage of basic climate literacy, constantly having to explain or justify the value of our work. Because of that gap, many people struggle to connect with our vision. Even young people who join the organization sometimes find it hard to cope with the level, pace, or uniqueness of our approach.

The second challenge is that our work questions systems, status quos, and power structures. That makes it difficult to build relationships with some top institutions, even though they have the resources to support what we’re doing. There’s a fear, sometimes unspoken, that because we challenge existing narratives, partnering with us might be dramatic in the future. I
believe that real change requires boldness, and we can’t afford to water down our values for access.

The third challenge is the increasing obsession in the climate space with visibility, trends, and performative metrics. There’s now a tendency to measure success by how well-travelled you are, how often you’re seen, or how many grants you’ve won, rather than by the depth or integrity of your work. Sadly, this value system has created noise, not impact. At EcoSciGen, we don’t operate by those standards, and because of that, people sometimes don’t know how to place us. They wonder how we’re able to do so much with so little, and why we seem uninterested in the spotlight and the noise that comes with it.

NigerianNGO: What events or projects do you have coming up in the near future? 

Jumoke Omoden: One is our new project called “Don’t Mind Me Project - A Youth Representation Catalyst”. It’s designed to help young people become confident advocates,
communicators, and policy influencers. We’re tired of seeing the same faces in youth spaces, and tired of tokenism. This project will help more young people take up space, speak for themselves, and shape the programs and policies that actually affect them.

The second is scaling the SACA Project. We’ve tested the model in two schools, and now we’re looking to expand it to more communities. The goal is to keep equipping children who are interested in farming with sustainable agriculture skills that help them adapt and stay ahead, especially as the climate continues to change.

And of course, the Climate Research Workshop will always come back, better and hotter. By next year, we’ll be running our third cohort of independent African climate researchers, and that alone is something we’re really proud of.

NigerianNGO: What advice would you give to aspiring NGO founders?
 
Jumoke Omoden: Don’t build because others are doing it. Ask deep questions, if you have to question the UN, question them. Understand how systems work and aim for real impact, not numbers or clout.

Maintain your authenticity; the world may not get it at first, but it’ll catch on eventually.

Be courageous. When you show up with integrity and fill a room with your presence, people will question you, feel threatened, and try to dismiss you. Stay composed. Speak up when you need to.

Learn. Read. Sharpen your mind. Not everything is about feelings, when you speak from the heart, let it be powerful, but let data back you up. And honestly? Don’t be too nice. Nice doesn’t change systems, I believe clarity, boldness, and truth do.

NigerianNGO: Do you have any words of encouragement to people who lack essential needs right now? 

Jumoke Omoden: Honestly, I won’t pretend that motivation can replace food or shelter. If you're struggling right now, please know it's not your fault. Systems are broken, and people are doing the most just to stay afloat. 

But I’ll say this: your situation right now doesn’t define your worth. You’re not less because you’re in need. If there’s any space around you, community, neighbor, friend, try to reach out. Help does not always come from formal places. Sometimes it’s in the small things, like shared meals, free training, a message that leads to something. Your story matters. And one day, when the tables turn, you’ll see how much strength it took just to keep going.

NigerianNGO: For readers who want to support your work, what’s the best way to get involved? 

Jumoke Omoden: You can learn more about our work by reaching out to us through any of the social media platform.
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But beyond that, we’re building a movement. So if you believe in research-driven climate action, youth leadership, and reshaping the climate story from the Global South, let’s talk at [email protected]
Linkedin: ecoscigen
Instagram: ecoscigen
Twitter: ecoscigen
Facebook: ecoscigen
Website: www.ecoscigen.org