Damilola Ogunbiyi Becomes First Nigerian to Win Prestigious TIME Earth Award

Damilola Ogunbiyi’s inclusion in the 2026 TIME Earth list marks a watershed moment for African representation in global climate governance. As the first Nigerian to receive this distinction, Ogunbiyi’s recognition validates a career spent bridging the gap between high-level international policy and localized energy access. Her dual role as the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General has positioned her at the nexus of the world’s most pressing challenge: decarbonizing the global economy while ensuring no community is left behind in the dark.

Under Ogunbiyi’s leadership, SEforALL has evolved from a policy advocacy group into a formidable engine for climate finance. The organization has successfully brokered partnerships with over 200 entities and facilitated commitments exceeding $1.6 trillion. This scale of mobilization is critical as the world grapples with the finance gap in the energy transition, particularly in developing nations where the cost of capital remains a significant barrier to renewable deployment. By securing these commitments, Ogunbiyi has demonstrated that large-scale capital can be directed toward sustainable goals if the right frameworks and leadership are in place.

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The organization has successfully brokered partnerships with over 200 entities and facilitated commitments exceeding $1.6 trillion.

Before her international ascent, Ogunbiyi’s work within Nigeria provided the blueprint for her global strategy. As the head of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), she spearheaded the Nigerian Electrification Project. This $550 million initiative was transformative, providing energy access to over 8 million people and deploying more than 100 megawatts of solar hybrid mini-grids. This Nigeria-first experience has allowed her to advocate for the Global South with authentic authority, arguing that the energy transition must be synonymous with economic development and poverty alleviation rather than being viewed as a separate environmental mandate.

Ogunbiyi’s philosophy centers on a people-first transition. She frequently highlights successes in the Global South—such as Pakistan’s 33 GW solar capacity and Kenya’s 90% clean energy grid—to counter the narrative that green transitions are a luxury reserved for wealthy nations. By focusing on distributed renewable energy, she addresses the immediate needs of families and small businesses, making the climate agenda tangible for those most affected by energy poverty. This approach has resonated globally, leading to her recognition by TIME as one of the six global leaders at the forefront of climate action.