Esther Adedoyin Adeniyi

I am Esther Adedoyin Adeniyi, born in October 2000 to the family of Adeniyi Taiwo Jacob. I am an indigene of Eruwaland, a town in Ibarapa East, Oyo State, Nigeria. I currently reside in Ogun State, where I attended Iyanu Oluwa Group of Schools, Sango Otta, for my primary education, before proceeding to Sango Otta High School for my secondary education in 2011. Due to my love for science-based subjects—Physics, Chemistry, and Biology—and my former ambition to become a Cardiovascular Surgeon, I enrolled in the science department to deepen my understanding of science. I graduated in 2017 and subsequently began the process of applying to the University of Ibadan to study Medicine and Surgery. After two attempts, I was granted provisional admission to study Wildlife and Ecotourism Management. Although this was not my initial course of choice, my passion for excellence in all areas of life has always driven me to give my best. Over time, I came to realize that I had been given the opportunity not only to save lives but also to save the world. This realization fueled my commitment to academic excellence, motivating me to consistently rank among the top five students in my class (a standard I have pursued since my secondary school days). I eventually graduated as the Best Graduating Student with a First Class Degree in Wildlife and Ecotourism Management from the University of Ibadan, with a CGPA of 3.69/4.0. This academic achievement has earned me several awards and scholarships, including the Dean’s Roll of Honour (Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources), the “Most Academically Inclined” student award in the Department of Wildlife and Ecotourism Management for five consecutive years, and the Queen Elizabeth II Hall Financial Bursary Award. Beyond academics, I have held several leadership positions within and outside the university. I served as the Public Relations Officer for the Biodiversity Conservation Club, University of Ibadan; Choir Coordinator for Winners Campus Fellowship in my third and fourth years; and Vice President in my final year. Currently, I serve as a member of the Media and Publicity Team for the Initiative for Biodiversity Conservation in Sub-Saharan Africa and as an Assistant Project Manager for GreenMind International Academy, a Germany-Nigeria-based NGO focused on environmental sustainability and protection. By my second year of study, I had developed a keen interest in all aspects of my course, especially because of its diverse areas of specialization such as Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Genetics, Ornithology, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Health and Toxicology, Ecotourism, Food and Hospitality Management, and Tourism and Transportation. In my final year, I developed a particular interest in environmental research centered on conservation genetics and toxicology, which led me to conduct a research project titled “The Genetic Diversity of Land Snail Species in the University of Ibadan Using COI Gene Loci” for my undergraduate thesis. I also recently completed a six-week internship as a Research Intern at the Drosophila Research and Training Center, where I assisted in studies on the impact of toxins and carcinogens using ‘Drosophila melanogaster” as a model organism. I am presently seeking to pursue postgraduate studies aligned with my research interests outside Nigeria, as there are only a few postgraduate programs in Conservation Genetics within the country. Additionally, due to my awareness of the adverse effects of anthropogenic activities on the environment, I developed a passion for environmental sustainability, policy development, and advocacy, particularly in alignment with SDGs 13, 14, and 15 (Climate Action, Life Below Water, and Life on Land). This has encouraged me to actively volunteer for several environmental initiatives such as school and community outreaches, tree-planting campaigns, environmental clean-ups, leadership programs, conferences, fellowships, and digital campaigns that promote sustainability and environmental consciousness. While my achievements have helped me leave my comfort zone and become more meticulous in my engagements, I occasionally struggle with feelings of inadequacy and a tendency toward perfectionism. I am learning to channel this energy into growth, ensuring that I invest not just in my academic pursuits but also in every aspect of my life. This is part of my motivation for applying to the Top 100 Africa Future Leaders Program, which I believe will offer a valuable opportunity to learn and grow through mentorship and collaboration with like-minded emerging leaders. Personally, I have come to believe that there is no limit to the possibilities I can imagine or achieve. The only limitation I can ever have is myself, so I choose to never stop dreaming big. I look forward to becoming a woman of impact and global influence, ensuring that I am not only growing but also giving back to my community.