The United Nations has appointed Nigerian sustainability expert, Dr. Adedoyin Adeleke, as Co-Chair of the 2027 Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR). He is the first African and Nigerian to take up this position.
Adeleke will lead the Independent Group of Scientists (IGS) with Professor Phoebe Koundouri of Athens University of Economics and Business and the University of Cambridge. Together, they will guide a team of 15 global experts to prepare the final report before the 2030 SDG deadline.
The GSDR, released every four years, is the UN’s flagship publication on sustainable development. It provides evidence-based recommendations to world leaders and helps close the gap between science, policy, and society. The 2027 edition will act as a “last call” for the SDGs while shaping the post-2030 agenda.
For Africa, Adeleke’s appointment is a breakthrough. His leadership is expected to highlight climate justice, fairness, and green growth at a global level.
Adeleke is the Founder of Green Growth Africa Sustainability Network, a UNEP-accredited NGO promoting just transitions across Africa. His innovations include Nigeria’s first green building made from waste plastic bottles, the SNAP-Up project on plastic upcycling, and Green Growth TV & Studios, the country’s first development-focused media outlet.
He has also developed digital platforms — Green Growth DigiHub and Green Growth Watch — to track projects and empower citizens on environmental rights.
Through the EcoHeroes Initiative and a mentoring programme, Adeleke has reached 10,000 students and supported 175 graduate researchers across 26 African countries.
A holder of a PhD in Energy and Nuclear Science and Technology from Politecnico di Milano, Italy, he has contributed to global projects such as LEAP-RE and AMBITION.
His appointment puts Nigeria and Africa at the centre of global sustainability decisions, ensuring their perspectives shape the future of development.
