Ibironke Olubamise possesses three decades of expertise in conservation, environmental management, grant administration, and strategic leadership. She served as the inaugural National Coordinator of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP) in Nigeria, overseeing 170 environmental projects across 29 states in collaboration with 130 Civil Society Organizations. Olubamise also led the Community-Based REDD+ program for the United Nations Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (UNREDD+) in Nigeria. Previously, she held key roles at the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, becoming the first Nigerian woman to head its Technical Programmes Department.
Engaging with the Federal Ministry of Environment, Olubamise contributed to fulfilling Nigeria’s commitments to various environmental agreements, including the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Reflecting on her career journey, Ibironke Olubamise initially studied Microbiology and later pursued Environmental Microbiology for her Master’s Degree at the University of Lagos. Her entry into environmental management commenced with the Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD) fellowship program, leading to the establishment of an environmental consulting firm and collaborations with Lagos State government.
Addressing environmental challenges in Nigeria, Olubamise emphasized the distinct regional issues, such as desertification in the north, deforestation in the south and west, and erosion in the east. She identified poverty, gender imbalance, ignorance, and lack of capacity as major issues affecting sustainable environmental management.
Regarding her experiences with over 180 projects in 200 communities,Ibironke Olubamise highlighted the willingness of Nigerians to collaborate on environmental solutions once sincerity is established. She stressed the importance of incorporating indigenous knowledge and advocated for returning to nature to address environmental issues.
In response to recurring environmental challenges like waste management, flooding, and erosion, Ibironke Olubamise outlined her focus on plastic waste as a critical issue and her strategy of empowering youth and women to provide alternatives to plastic. She shared ongoing projects, including initiatives to replace plastic with leaf plates and cups.
Looking back on her 30-year environmental career, Olubamise emphasized that environmental management is a collective responsibility, urging for the integration of environmental education into the national curriculum. She called for stronger political will, equity in natural resource access, and gender mainstreaming in environmental policies.
Ibironke Olubamise
In offering advice to aspiring women, Olubamise emphasized the importance of purpose, responsibility, and continuous personal growth. She encouraged women to demand what they want from life, strive for excellence, and contribute beyond expectations.
Driven by the desire for relevance and guided by genuine purpose, Olubamise defined success as fulfilling the purpose of anything encountered and adding value to others. Finally, she urged Nigerian women to earn recognition through competence, highlighting the power women wield and the need to think innovatively to fulfill their destinies.
