Jennifer Olachi Uchendu is a pioneering Nigerian climate advocate, sustainability strategist, and mental health activist whose work is reshaping how Africa addresses the complex intersections of climate change, youth engagement, and emotional resilience. She is the Founder of SustyVibes, a youth-led organization committed to making sustainability relatable, inclusive, and actionable for young Africans, and the visionary behind The Eco-Anxiety Africa Project (TEAP), a groundbreaking initiative that explores the emotional and psychological impact of environmental crises on African communities.

Jennifer holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry from Covenant University, Nigeria, and a Master’s degree in Development Studies from the Institute of Development Studies (IDS), University of Sussex, UK. She earned the latter through the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, a reflection of her outstanding leadership and academic excellence. Her research and advocacy have positioned her at the forefront of global conversations about climate justice, mental health, and sustainability education.

In 2016, Jennifer founded SustyVibes to engage young people in Africa through advocacy, storytelling, community outreach, and environmental action. Under her leadership, SustyVibes has launched impactful projects including nationwide tree planting, environmental cleanups, sustainable fashion campaigns, and community workshops on climate education and reproductive health. The organization’s popular tagline—“We are the cool kids for sustainability”—reflects Jennifer’s bold vision of blending youth culture with environmental awareness.

Recognizing the growing emotional toll of climate change, Jennifer launched The Eco-Anxiety Africa Project (TEAP) in 2022, making her one of the first African voices to spotlight eco-anxiety as a public mental health issue. TEAP serves as a research, advocacy, and healing platform, supporting Africans—especially youth—through storytelling, therapy sessions, art-based interventions, and workshops that foster emotional resilience in the face of environmental uncertainty.

Jennifer’s work has received widespread recognition. In 2023, she was named one of the BBC’s 100 Most Influential and Inspiring Women, acknowledging her innovative leadership at the intersection of sustainability and mental well-being. In 2025, she was listed in National Geographic’s 33 Emerging Global Voices, where her advocacy for climate-emotion literacy was highlighted as a leading force for inclusive environmentalism.

She also contributes to global research on climate emotions as a fellow and researcher at the Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, where her academic work focuses on eco-anxiety and how it shapes young people’s environmental behavior and engagement.

Jennifer is a frequent speaker at local and international conferences, a published author (A Guide to Business Sustainability in Nigeria, 2017), and an advisor to development organizations and youth networks. She has been featured in Time Magazine, National Geographic, and Devex, and serves as a thought leader on panels addressing climate justice, gender, mental health, and youth inclusion.

With a deep commitment to humanizing the climate conversation, Jennifer Uchendu is a transformative force in Africa’s climate movement—creating space for healing, empowering the next generation of sustainability leaders, and reframing what it means to care for both the Earth and ourselves.