The United Nations has made history with the appointment of Nigerian sustainability leader, Dr. Adedoyin Adeleke, as Co-Chair of the 2027 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). This appointment marks the first time an African — and a Nigerian — will hold the position, signaling a powerful recognition of Africa’s growing leadership in shaping the world’s future.
Appointed by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Dr. Adeleke will serve alongside Professor Phoebe Koundouri of Athens University of Economics and Business and the University of Cambridge. Together, they will guide a team of 15 internationally acclaimed scientists in delivering the UN’s flagship evidence-based publication on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The 2027 edition of the GSDR carries exceptional weight, as it will be the final report before the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its recommendations will not only shape the world’s last push towards achieving the SDGs but also influence the post-2030 global development agenda.
Dr. Adeleke brings to this role an extraordinary record of innovation, leadership, and impact. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network (GreenGrowthAfrica), a UNEP-accredited NGO driving just and green transitions across the continent. With a PhD in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, Dr. Adeleke has led and contributed to international projects such as LEAP-RE and AMBITION, while inspiring a generation of African researchers and young leaders.
His initiatives have reached over 10,000 secondary school students and supported 175 graduate researchers across 57 universities in 26 African countries. He is also credited with constructing Nigeria’s first ultra-modern green building made entirely from waste plastic bottles and powered by solar energy. Through his flagship project, SNAP-Up (Scaling National Capacity for Plastic Upcycling), he is transforming waste management and promoting sustainable building solutions.
Beyond research and advocacy, Dr. Adeleke is a trailblazer in media innovation. He founded Green Growth TV & Studios, Nigeria’s first development-focused broadcasting platform, and created digital tools such as Green Growth DigiHub and Green Growth Watch, which empower citizens to track sustainable projects and defend their environmental rights.
His appointment is more than a personal milestone — it is a moment of pride for Nigeria, for Africa, and for all who believe in a sustainable future. By elevating African perspectives to the highest level of global decision-making, Dr. Adeleke’s leadership will help ensure that justice, equity, and transformation remain at the heart of the world’s sustainability agenda.
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