Toyin Ajao (born 13 July 1978), also known as Moon Goddess [1] is a Nigerianinterdisciplinarypublicscholar, feminist activist, and restorative healing researcher-practitioner.[2][3][4] Her work connects scholarship and activism, addressing systemic change through conflict transformation and indigenous knowledge systems such as Ubuntu philosophy and healing justice framework.[2][3][4] Her work has had an impact across civil society, academia, and marginalised communities.[2][5][6]
She is the founder of Ìmọ́lẹ̀ of Afrika Centre (ìAfrika), a non-profit focused on intergenerational and collective trauma recovery and social cohesion through African-centred methodologies.[3][4][7][8][6]
Ajao worked with BAOBAB for Women's Human Rights and Communicating for Change earlier in her career, before joining Women's Technology Empowerment Centre (W.TEC) in 2008 as Project Coordinator, leading initiatives to increase Nigerian women's participation in technology.[9][10] She later became CEO of Standtall Consulting, leading projects focused on gender equality and sexual rights.[9]
Through her genderandme blog, which she started in 2008, Ajao wrote on topics such as gender inequality, systemic oppression, and women's experiences in patriarchal societies. Her 'Interview on Thursday' series featured guest contributors discussing social justice issues.[11][12]
In 2009, Ajao received the BlogHer International Activist Award,[13] and two years later, she won the Women Deliver Global Blogging Competition, which funded her research trip to document a carbon water initiative in Kenya.[14][15]
In 2011, Ajao participated in the 55th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York as part of an eight-member delegation of African Leadership Centre (ALC) fellows.[9] The group sought to address the underrepresentation of women in formal peace processes by advocating for better documentation of women’s roles as community-level peacebuilders.[9]
Since 2012, Ajao has been a research associate at the African Leadership Centre, King's College London and Nairobi, where she researches peace and conflict issues and mentors fellows.[10][16]
From 2014 to 2016, during her doctoral studies, Ajao worked as an assistant lecturer in the University of Pretoria's Department of Political Science, where she taught undergraduate courses and participated in academic research related to peace and conflict studies.[17]
From 2018 to 2021, she was the coordinator of the ALC Alumni Association.[1] During her tenure, a virtual conference on African peace and leadership was organised in 2021 featuring Funmi Olonisakin, Abiodun Alao and Fatima Akilu.[18][19]
In 2020, Ajao founded Ìmọ́lẹ̀ of Afrika Centre (ìAfrika) and currently serves as Director.[3][4][20]
Other Activities
From 2023 to 2024, Ajao served on the advisory board of W.TEC[21] and currently supports The Resilience Project, a UK-based organisation helping young climate activists build resilience.[22]. She chairs the board of Vision Spring Initiatives (VSI), an NGO promoting human rights, gender justice, and social development.[23]
Zimbabwe’s Cyber-shutdown: A counter-productive economic decision or a politically retrogressive move? 2019, Kujenga Amani, The Social Science Research Council.
Citizen Journalism and Conflict Transformation in Africa: The Ushahidi’s Response to Kenya’s 2008 Post-Election’ Violence. 2017. Coauthored with Dr. Cori Wielenga in Matatu Brill online Books and Journals, African Studies, Volume 49, Issue 2, pages 467 – 486.
#FeesMustFall Uprising 2015: The Emergence of Youth Agency in South Africa’s Largest Post-Apartheid Protests. 2016, Kujenga Amani, The Social Science Research Council.
Ushahidi Crowdsourcing Platform: A People-Centred Approach to Conflict Transformation in Kenya. 2014, Kujenga Amani, The Social Science Research Council.
↑ Like Yemoja, We Are Liberated(PDF) (Report). Purposeful. 2023. pp.9–13. Retrieved 1 August 2025. Feminist mobilization through collective and individual healing by Mary Mam Degen Fye
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