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Yemi Adamolekun

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Yemi Adamolekun
photograph of woman with short hair and glasses, crossed arms
Adamolekun in 2022
NationalityNigerian
Education
Alma mater
Occupation
OrganizationEnough is Enough
Known forActivism and Social Campaigning

Yemi Adamolekun is executive director of Enough is Enough. She campaigns for better governance in Nigeria and is also a senior associate in the Center for Strategic and International Studies. She participates in political discussions and was awarded a Global Citizen Prize in 2022.

Early life

Adamolekun grew up on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University at Ifẹ in Nigeria and started her education at the University of Lagos. She then studied at the University of Virginia and pursued postgraduate qualifications at the London School of Economics and the Saïd Business School, at the University of Oxford.[1][2]

Career

refer to caption
'Yemi Adamolekun speaking at a conference in 2012

Adamolekun began her career working at Navigant Consulting in the US, then returned to Nigeria to work at Alder Consulting.[1] She became executive director of Enough is Enough (Nigeria), which campaigns for better governance. The organisation co-ordinates different groups and broadcasts radio shows in 25 states. It supports local initiatives, for example working against violence in Katsina, reopening a healthcare centre in Osun State and helping to repair the roofs of schools in Niger State.[3] Adamolekun commented to AllAfrica: "part of why Nigeria is unpeaceful is huge amounts of poverty: people fighting over scarce resources, insecurity, distrust – people desperate to survive".[4] During the elections, Enough is Enough began its "RSVP" campaign, encouraging people to Register, Select, Vote and Protect. It also demanded more transparency in the National Assembly and participated in the "BringBackOurGirls" movement following the Chibok schoolgirls kidnapping.[2]

Adamolekun is also a senior associate in the Center for Strategic and International Studies.[5]

Other events

In 2018, Adamolekun's name appeared on the list of Most Influential People of African Descent (MIPAD).[5][2] Also in 2018, she criticised President Muhammadu Buhari for going abroad to seek medical treatment for him and his son, whilst healthcare professionals in Nigeria were on strike for better working conditions.[6]

Alongside Israel Aye, Ndidi and Yemi Osinaike, Adamolekun was on a panel which asked political candidates questions in the Lagos Gubernatorial debate before the 2019 Nigerian general election.[7] She then became a spokesperson for the Not in My Church movement, when Pastor Biodun Fatoyinbo returned to the Common Wealth of Zion Assembly church a month after leaving it in the wake of underage rape allegations.[8]

In November 2019, she attended a demonstration in support of Omoyele Sowore in Abuja and alleged that members of the State Security Service had attacked her and broken her mobile telephone whilst she was recording two journalists being beaten up.[9] She had pledged to attend every court hearing of Sowore.[10] In December 2019, Sowore was released and arrested again the next day, and Adamolekun was at another demonstration which was attacked by unknown people.[11] In 2022, she was awarded a Global Citizen Prize.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b Oladipo, Bimpe (22 January 2019). "ADAMOLEKUN, Yemi". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Meet Yemi Adamolekun – MIPAD Blog". MIPAD. Archived from the original on 22 October 2020. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Nigeria: 'Enough Is Enough' Aims to Reclaim Citizen Power". allAfrica.com. 26 February 2020. Archived from the original on 13 March 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  4. ^ Kramer, Tami Hultman and Reed. "EXTREMIST SURGE: US military presence in Africa falls under the spotlight". Daily Maverick. Archived from the original on 11 February 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Yemi Adamolekun". CSIS. Archived from the original on 14 June 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  6. ^ Akinwotu, Emmanuel (8 May 2018). "Nigeria's President Draws Criticism for Seeking Medical Care Abroad". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  7. ^ Okeowo, Mosopefoluwa (14 January 2019). "Key highlights of the 2019 Lagos Gubernatorial debate". Ventures Africa. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  8. ^ "Nigeria outrage as rape accused pastor returns". BBC News. 5 August 2019. Archived from the original on 11 September 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  9. ^ Ogundipe, Samuel (12 November 2019). "How I was attacked by SSS officers — Activist". Premium Times. Archived from the original on 8 December 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  10. ^ Olabimtan, Bolanie (8 March 2020). "Aisha Yesufu, Bukky Shonibare — Nigerian women creating change through advocacy". The Cable. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  11. ^ Omokhunu, Gbenga; Kalu, Nicholas (23 December 2019). "Several injured as miscreants disrupt Pro-Sowore protest". The Nation. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
  12. ^ "Group lauds Yemi Adamolekun for standing for equity, justice, accountability". Vanguard News. 28 August 2022. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
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