Olusola Owonikoko: is Our #OnePerson for November
Our #OnePerson for November 2024 is Olusola Owonikoko, a visionary social advocate and the Executive Director of Project Enable Africa. With over a decade of experience, Olusola has emerged as a driving force in promoting disability inclusion, digital empowerment, and public policy advocacy across Nigeria. His groundbreaking efforts have transformed lives, reshaped employment opportunities, and inspired more inclusive policies nationwide.
Under Olusola’s leadership, Project Enable Africa has upskilled over 5,000 people with disabilities, connected more than 2,500 people to job opportunities, and provided business support to over 1,000 entrepreneurs with disabilities. In partnership with Google.org, he established Nigeria’s first disability-inclusive digital hub, which has upskilled over 2,000 persons with disabilities and provided them access to economic opportunities. His team also developed the Disability Audit Toolkit to guide workplaces in fostering inclusivity. Through strategic collaborations with over 250 corporations, he has been instrumental in promoting disability-inclusive policies. Beyond employment, Olusola has supported four individuals with disabilities in running for public office. He has raised and managed over $1 million in partnership with organisations such as Google.org, DFID, and Standard Chartered, expanding his impact across Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Uganda, and Cameroon.
Olusola’s academic and professional achievements reflect his deep commitment to development and advocacy. He holds a Master’s degree in Globalisation, Business, and Development from the University of Sussex, UK, along with certifications in Social Epidemiology, Entrepreneurship, and Civic Leadership from Harvard School of Public Health, the University of Maryland, and Wagner College. He also leads programmes that target underserved populations, building their capacity to overcome systemic barriers. As the President of the U.S. Consulate Carrington Fellowship programme and a member of the World Bank’s S4YE Youth Advisory Group, Olusola continues to influence policy and practice on a global scale.
His work has earned numerous prestigious accolades, including being named a 2022 Obama Foundation Scholar at Columbia University and receiving the Google Impact Challenge Award in 2018. He won the Active Citizen’s Award for Disability Empowerment from BudgIT Foundation in 2022 and the Royal African Youth Leadership Award in 2020, presented by the Ooni of Ife. Recognised as one of Africa’s 100 Most Influential Young Leaders by the Pan-Africa Youth Leadership Foundation, Olusola’s leadership has left an indelible mark on inclusive development.
In 2015, Olusola posed a question to President Obama during a Presidential Townhall meeting and was subsequently invited to the White House. This moment sparked a series of global engagements where he advocated for African-led development, inclusion, and innovation. He has since spoken at international platforms, including United Nations Conferences, the African Eye Festival in the UK, and the ICT4D Conference in Uganda. His passion for empowering others has also seen him mentoring scholars at Columbia University and driving transformative projects such as the COVID-19 pandemic response for persons with disabilities, which reached over 10,000 households across Nigeria.
Olusola’s commitment to fostering equity, innovation, and inclusion underscores his enduring impact as a change-maker. Through Project Enable Africa and his broader advocacy, he has proven that one person can truly make a transformative difference. Join us in celebrating Olusola Owonikoko, a relentless advocate for empowerment and opportunity.
