November 17, 2025
By Ayinde Adeleke
Olanrewaju Suraju, Chairman of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), has been named the recipient of the 2025 Courageous Scientists Award for Environmental and Climate Justice for Africa.
The announcement was made in a press release made available to The Yoruba Times on Monday.
The 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 selected as one of six global winners from a pool of 22 nominees spanning Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The award highlights his exceptional contributions to environmental advocacy, long-standing fight against corruption, and unwavering commitment to human rights through his leadership at HEDA Resource Centre.
The award ceremony was held on November 15, 2025, in Vienna, with participants joining both in-person and online.
In his acceptance remarks, Suraju dedicated the award to environmental defenders and civil society actors across Africa who continue their work under challenging conditions. He also drew attention to the dire environmental and human rights situation 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 recipients of the 2025 award include eight Iranian scientists from the Persian Wildlife Foundation, Cynthia Houniuhi of Vanuatu, and Dr. Elisa Privitera, Olivia Bisa Tirko, and Dr. Rose Abramoff from the University of Maine, USA.
