Priscilla Achapka facts for kids

Priscilla Mbarumun Achakpa is a Nigerian environmental activist. She is the founder and Global President of the Women Environment Programme (WEP). This organization helps women find lasting solutions to everyday problems, especially those related to the environment. Before becoming the Global President, she was the executive director of WEP.

Priscilla Achakpa also serves as the national coordinator for Nigeria at the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council. She is the chairperson of the board for the Abaagu Foundation, which helps young people. She was also chosen to be a co-facilitator for a group within the United Nations Environment Programme.

Early Life and Learning

Priscilla Achakpa faced many challenges when she was young. She got married at age 16 and became a mother of three children. Sadly, her husband passed away, and his family did not support her afterward. Despite these difficulties, she decided to go to school. She earned degrees in Developmental Studies and Business Administration and Management. Later, she completed postgraduate degrees in Management and Business Administration, and in Developmental Studies. She also earned a Ph.D. from the University of Business Engineering and Management in Banja Luka. She also received a special certificate from Harvard University Business School.

Her Work and Impact

Starting Her Environmental Journey

From 1989 to 2001, Priscilla Achakpa worked at Savannah Bank. During this time, she started taking courses about environmental issues. She wanted to build a long career helping communities as an environmental activist. Her main goal is to make sure that women's needs are included when planning how to manage water resources.

Working with the United Nations

Priscilla Achakpa has been a Nigerian delegate for the Women's Caucus. She also worked with the Women and Gender Constituency at the UN Climate Summit in Copenhagen. She was chosen to help lead the "Women's Major Group" for the United Nations Environmental Programme. In this role, she talked with women's groups across Nigeria about UN environmental rules and events. She also helped raise money for the Women's Major Group. She is the chairman of the board of the Abaagu Foundation, which helps young people grow and get back into society.

Leading the Women Environment Programme (WEP)

Priscilla Achakpa founded the NGO Women Environment Programme (WEP). She is now its Global President, after being the Executive Director. WEP has helped many women by offering lasting solutions to their daily challenges. A big part of WEP's work focuses on climate change. WEP has offices in Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Togo, and the United States.

In 2012, she took part in important discussions at the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20). Her most important contribution was making sure that gender was included as a key part of sustainable development goals. She has also spoken at the United Nations General Assembly in Nairobi. There, she talked about how important women's human rights are in environmental activism.

Achakpa also holds the position of National Coordinator for Nigeria for the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC). This organization is connected to the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

In 2015, Vogue magazine wrote an article about her. It was about the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference. The article named her as one of 13 "formidable women leading the way."

Awards and Recognition

Priscilla Achakpa has been a Fellow of Ashoka since 2013. She was called an "Eco Hero" by Germany's Deutsche Welle and by Nigeria's Channels Television. She also received an environmental innovation award from Deutsche Welle. The Nobel Women's Initiative recognized Achakpa as an important activist.

See also

• Titilope Gbemisola Akosa