Yem - Yem

Yem-Yem is a champion of biodiversity conservation in the areas of international policy negotiations, lobbying for change, wildlife trade regulations and local community engagements. She holds a Bachelor of Laws from Obafemi Awolowo University and a MSc in Wildlife Conservation from the University of Salford, Greater Manchester UK.

She researches, influences and advocates policy solutions that tackle threats to species and their habitat at both National and International Levels and has lobbied State and Federal lawmakers to adopt policies protecting endangered species, canvassing support through stakeholder workshops, community engagement and focused groups as well as helping to negotiate biodiversity priorities (Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework) with and on behalf of government and renowned international organizations

Yem-Yem has worked with several stakeholders at different levels and supporting National Governments in becoming more involved in negotiation processes at Global Conventions. She has also led several intervention projects such as developing strategies for sustainable forest management, Legislative Reviews, including VMPs affecting Vulture Populations and she co-authored the UNDP Youth Action Manual on Climate Change, targeting individuals between the age of 5-30yrs.

She has facilitated several high-level meetings and has had the privilege to interact with top decision makers around the world, including taking part in private meetings at the Prime Minister’s Office at 10 Downing Street, and with Elders such as; President Ricardo Lagos, President Ernesto Zedillo, Dr. Harlem Brundtland and Mrs Graca Machel, advocating for the ban of illegal wildlife trade to members of the UK parliament and discussions with Lords on Policy for Global Change at the House of Parliament.

She symbolizes our biodiversity’s hope for a generation which will continually strive to protect it through policy research, negotiations, and advocacy. She also endeavours to be a voice for who are the closest connected to nature and biodiversity in their communities and who possess superior ecological knowledge which can build bridges that conquer inequality, social norms, cultural stereotypes, and high levels of poverty.

She is a recipient of several awards including the WWF/Prince Bernhard Scholarship for Nature Conservation, the British Council Future Leader Policy Fellowship, and an Alumnus of the United States International Visitors Program. She is also a member of the Nigerian Bar Association, the British Ecological Society, and the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law amongst other local and international taskforces created to protect biodiversity.

Yem-Yem thrives in an environment where no two workdays are the same and enjoys finding solutions to difficult challenges to improve Conservation Actions Globally. Those solutions which include her recent book: ‘God’s Flight Plan’, aims to provide conservation solutions through Faith Dialogues and Stewardship.

Yem-Yem runs two youtube channels- 'Funny Village Histories' and 'Birds Folklore' where she narrates funny stories about birds and villages.

She enjoys cooking, travelling, photography and bird watching with her Husband, Charles and their two amazing kids.