Jennifer Uchendu | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 August 1992 Lagos |
| Nationality | Nigeria |
| Education | Covenant University Institute of Development Studies |
| Occupation(s) | researcher, climate advocate, sustainability expert |
| Employer | Utrecht University |
| Known for | climate activist |
Jennifer Olachi Uchendu (born 10 August 1992) is a Nigerian climate advocate, sustainability expert, and the creator of SustyVibes, a youth-driven initiative aimed at making sustainability understandable and achievable for Nigerian youth.
Uchendu was born in 1992 in Lagos, Nigeria and she obtained a degree in Biochemistry from Covenant University [1] in Ota, Ogun State, and a Master's degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies, which is part of the University of Sussex under the Chevening Scholarship [2] [3] She has been employed by Utrecht University to research eco-anxiety. [4]
Uchendu's interest in the connection between young people, women, and taking action on climate change was sparked during her Master's studies, where she explored climate justice, art, youth, and Eco-anxiety. [5] It was also during this time that she began working with ONCA. [6]
Her research into the mental health impacts of climate change has gained her work attention. [7] [8] Within her country there is anxiety about effects like flooding although Uchendu has noted that several local languages lack words to describe climate change. [9] Her work highlights the importance of climate change and its effects on health, [10] and she one of the small number of African activists who attended COP26 in Scotland in 2021. She complained that few African activists are able to attend COP events. [8]
Uchendu's The Eco-Anxiety Africa project (TEAP), was founded in 2022 to protect Africans from climate anxiety. In 2017, Uchendu co-authored the e-book: A Guide to Business Sustainability in Nigeria. [11]
In 2022, Uchendu was named one of the 'Top 20 Young Women in Sustainable Development' by Young Women in Sustainable Development [12] and she was named as one of the BBC's 100 most influential and inspiring Women in 2023. [10]