Damilola Ogunbiyi, the CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), has been named to the Forbes Sustainability Leaders 2025 list, making her the only Nigerian recognized among 50 global leaders driving climate action.
At 46, Ogunbiyi is one of the most influential voices in global energy transition. From her London base, she leads the UN-backed Energy Compacts initiative, which has mobilized over $201 billion in investments to expand clean energy access. Her work has directly impacted millions: between 2021 and 2024, the program enabled reliable electricity for 177 million people and 6,000 healthcare facilities, while pushing forward affordable energy solutions for the 685 million still living without electricity and the 2 billion cooking with polluting fuels worldwide.
Ogunbiyi also co-chairs Mission 300, a joint World Bank Group and African Development Bank program that aims to bring power to 300 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa by 2030.
Her recognition comes at a critical time, as the world faces intensifying climate disasters—record-breaking heatwaves, billion-dollar storms, and rising seas—while political pushback and misinformation threaten global cooperation. The Forbes list honors leaders turning ambition into action, from deploying AI to restoring ecosystems and reshaping climate finance.
Chosen by a panel including Laurene Powell Jobs, Jane Fonda, Tom Steyer, Jigar Shah, Charlot Magayi, and Ester Baiget, the 2025 Sustainability Leaders highlight decisive voices driving measurable progress. As Steyer notes, “When the sustainable choice is also the smart choice, the future becomes obvious. What’s left is the courage to deliver it.”
For Ogunbiyi, courage has meant ensuring that sustainability is not just a concept for wealthy nations but a lifeline for underprivileged communities. Her inclusion affirms Nigeria’s growing role in shaping global climate leadership and underscores the urgency of inclusive energy solutions for the Global South.
