HEDA’ Chairman wins 2025 global courageous scientists award for Africa
By Samuel Ogunsona
The Chairman of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Olanrewaju Suraju, has been named the winner of the 2025 Courageous Scientists Award for Environmental and Climate Justice for Africa.
This was contained in a release made available to Irohinodua on Monday.
This prestigious international honor, established by the Vienna-based organisation Forum Eco-Social Transformations, recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment to environmental protection, climate justice, and species preservation.
Suraju was announced as one of six global winners selected from 22 nominees across Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, Latin America, and North America.
The award acknowledges his outstanding work, long-time fight against corruption, and deep commitment to human rights, particularly through his leadership of HEDA Resource Centre.
The award ceremony took place on November 15, 2025, in Vienna, with global participants joining in-person and online.
Suraju dedicated the recognition to environmental defenders and civil society actors in Africa who work under challenging conditions.
He also expressed his concerns about the inhuman environmental and human rights conditions in the Niger Delta, accusing state authorities, international oil companies, and their host countries of complicity in creating one of the world’s most polluted regions.
Other award recipients include eight Iranian scientists from the Persian Wildlife Foundation, Cynthia Houniuhi of Vanuatu, Dr. Elisa Privitera, Olivia Bisa Tirko, and Dr. Rose Abramoff from the University of Maine, USA.
The winners were selected by a six-member International Jury comprising experts in environmental economics, climate science, Indigenous rights advocacy, urban planning, and ecological research.
Suraju described the award as an ‘encouragement to continue advocating for transparency and climate responsibility’.
He pledges to redouble his efforts to address environmental injustices and promote sustainability.
