Chairman of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Olanrewaju Suraju, has been named and awarded the winner of the 2025 Courageous Scientists Award for Environmental and Climate Justice, from Africa, an international honour established by the Vienna-based organisation, Forum Eco-Social Transformations.
Suraju was announced as one of six global winners selected from 22 nominees across Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, Latin America and North America. The award, created in 2025, recognises individuals who demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment to environmental protection, climate justice and species preservation, often at significant personal risk.
According to the organisers, Suraju’s selection acknowledges his “outstanding and inspiring work, long-time fight against corruption, and deep commitment to human rights,” especially through his leadership of HEDA Resource Centre. The award aligns with the prize’s guiding motto, “Tell the Truth!”, which honours individuals who speak boldly on environmental and justice issues.
Other 2025 award recipients include: Asia: Eight Iranian scientists from the Persian Wildlife Foundation, arrested in 2018 for conservation work; Australia/Oceania: Cynthia Houniuhi of Vanuatu, President of the Pacific Islands Students Fighting Club; Europe: Dr Elisa Privitera, Italian urban and environmental planner at the University of Toronto Scarborough; Latin America: Olivia Bisa Tirko, President of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Chapra Nation, Peru; North America: Dr Rose Abramoff, earth scientist at the University of Maine, USA.
The winners were selected by a six-member International Jury comprising experts in environmental economics, climate science, Indigenous rights advocacy, urban planning and ecological research from across the world. A five-member Scientific Advisory Board based in Vienna, led by Dr Ernst Fürlinger, oversaw the process.
The award was founded by Austrian architectural historian and climate advocate Dr Norbert Mayr, who said the recognition highlights Suraju’s sustained commitment to environmental justice and accountability.
Speaking on the award, Suraju described the award as an encouragement to continue advocating for transparency and climate responsibility. He dedicated the recognition to environmental defenders and civil society actors in Africa who work under challenging conditions. He decried the inhuman environmental and human rights conditions of the Niger Delta, and accused State Authorities, the IOCs, and their host countries of complicity in the creation of world most polluted region out of the Niger Delta from oil exploitation.
The public award ceremony held on 15 November 2025 in Vienna, with global participants joining in-person and online.
