Gbemisola Titilope Akosa is a distinguished Nigerian environmentalist, seasoned lawyer, and globally recognized climate justice advocate, with over 15 years of experience advancing sustainable development, gender equity, and environmental governance across Africa. A visionary leader, she is the Founder and Executive Director of the Centre for 21st Century Issues (C21st)—a leading non-governmental organization committed to promoting climate advocacy, inclusive policy engagement, and social justice for vulnerable populations, particularly women.

Akosa also leads the legal practice Titi Akosa & Co., where she brings her expertise in environmental law, human rights, and public interest litigation to support equitable development and responsible governance. Her dual roles as legal practitioner and civil society leader enable her to bridge grassroots realities with institutional reform, ensuring that voices from the margins are heard in high-level policy conversations.

A professionally trained lawyer, Akosa holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from Lagos State University and a Master of Laws (LL.M) from the University of Lagos. She was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1992 and has continued to deepen her professional capacity with advanced training in Sustainable Environmental Management at the University of California, Berkeley. She is also an alumna of the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) of the United States Department of State, where she gained global insights into environmental leadership and civic innovation.

Her work has consistently championed the intersection of climate justice and gender equality. As a leading voice within the Women and Gender Constituency of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Akosa has influenced global negotiations to reflect the lived realities of African women. She serves as the Gender Monitor for Anglophone Africa under the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) and is the focal point for the African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), where she advocates for gender-just access to renewable energy across the continent.

Akosa gained international recognition when she served as a spokesperson for women and gender NGOs at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, where she delivered a powerful address on the need for a gender-responsive Green Climate Fund in Africa. She has since continued to represent African civil society in global spaces, speaking on topics ranging from climate finance and energy transition to environmental rights and social inclusion.

In addition to her global advocacy, she has played a pivotal role in shaping national and regional climate policy. She has worked closely with government agencies, civil society coalitions, and international development partners to mainstream gender in climate policies, monitor climate finance flows, and promote equitable access to adaptation resources. Her leadership was instrumental in the formation of the Coalition for Socio-Ecological Transformation (CoSET), a multi-stakeholder initiative aimed at just and inclusive ecological reform in Nigeria, supported by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation.

Beyond her institutional roles, Akosa is a mentor, public speaker, and capacity builder who has trained hundreds of women, youth, and community leaders in climate literacy, environmental rights, and sustainable advocacy. Her work continues to inspire a new generation of African leaders committed to creating just, climate-resilient societies.

Throughout her career, Gbemisola Titilope Akosa has remained a powerful voice for equity, inclusion, and justice—championing the idea that climate action must be people-centered, rights-based, and driven by the needs of those most affected. Her impact resonates both within Nigeria and across the Global South, making her one of Africa’s most respected figures in the fight for a sustainable and equitable future.