Olumide Makanjuola

Olumide Makanjuola (born June 7) is a Nigerian human rights activist,^[1] storyteller,^[2] LGBTQI advocate,^[3][4] and social entrepreneur. He was the executive director for The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERS)^[5] and presently the program director for Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest (ISDAO), a regional activist-led organization supporting an inclusive society free from violence and injustice through funding to local organisations.^[6][7]

Olumide Makanjuola
Born	Olumide Femi Makanjuola 7 June Lagos
Nationality	Nigerian
Alma mater	Ogun State Institute of Technology, Anglia Ruskin University
Occupation(s)	Human rights activist, storyteller, social entrepreneur
Known for	Human rights activism, LGBTIQ advocacy, social justice and storytelling
Title	Human rights activist
Website	https://olumidemakanjuola.com/

In 2016, Makanjuola received a Queen's Young Leader Award for his work within the LGBTI+ community^[8] and was the 2012 Future Awards nominee in the Best Use of Advocacy category.^[9] Makanjuola's work has contributed immensely to the advancement of LGBTIQ rights in Nigeria. He is considered a pioneer of many initiatives, and has contributed to shifting public discussion around LGBTIQ rights and issues.^[10]

Education

Makanjuola is a graduate of business management from the Ogun state Institute of Technology, Strategic Project management at Anglia Ruskin University. He holds an introduction project management certificate from City University London.^[11]

Activism

Makanjuola co-produced a documentary on what it means to be gay in Nigeria in 2014 just after President Goodluck Jonathan signed the same sex marriage prohibition act into law.^[12][13] Makanjuola also co-produced Veil of Silence, Hell or High Water, Everything in Between, We don't Live here anymore^[14] and Walking with Shadows,^[15][16] adapted from Jude Dibia's 2006 book.^[17][11]

Makanjuola joined The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs) in October 2006 as a community volunteer and one of the founding members, and grew in rank to become its executive director in September 2012, serving until March 2018 when he stepped down.^[18] He has served as an independent expert to the European Asylum Support Office and as a board member at The Equality Hub, a queer women-led organization.^[19][20] He has served as the executive vice-chairman of The Future Project since 2015.^[21] In March 2019, he became the program director for Initiative Sankofa d’Afrique de l’Ouest (ISDAO), a West African philanthropic fund that is working to ensure a just and inclusive West Africa free from violence and discrimination;^[22] and it's notably to note that he still works there.

Awards and recognition

• 2012, Future Award nominee in the Best Use of Advocacy category
• 2016, YNaija PowerList for Advocacy^[23][24]
• 2016, Queen's Young Leader Award^[25]

References

1. "The Nigeria Prize for Difference and Diversity Announces Judges and Advisory Council". Brittle Paper. 2020-07-13. from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
2. "Olumide Makanjuola Archives". The Rustin Times. from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
3. "Olumide Makanjuola". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
4. "'Business must think beyond profit and start to focus on people'". Businessday NG. 2019-06-02. from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
5. "Meet Olumide Makanjuola, a Nigerian activist fighting for women and LGBTI rights". Pulse Nigeria. 2019-06-10. from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
6. "ISDAO is excited to announce the appointment of our first Director of Programs: Olumide Makanjuola". ISDAO. 2019-03-01. from the original on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
7. "Don't do good things just for accolades –Olumide Makanjuola". Punch Newspapers. 2019-05-11. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
8. "Olumide Femi Makanjuola". The Queen's Young Leaders. from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
9. "Nominees". The Future Awards Africa. from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-16.
10. BellaNaija.com (2017-12-14). "The Initiative for Equal Rights held its Annual Symposium themed Human Rights, Sexuality & The Law". BellaNaija. Retrieved 2021-07-11.
11. Emeka, Mazi (2016-05-30). "How Olumide Makanjuola is carrying the cross for LGBTs in Nigeria » YNaija". YNaija. from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
12. "TIERs Nigeria set to launch Nigeria's first discussion series on sexual rights". Pulse Nigeria. 2016-06-19. from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
13. Onuah, Felix (2014-01-13). "Nigerian president signs anti-gay bill into law". Reuters. from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
14. "Xeenarh Mohammed Executive Director The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs), Olumide Makanjuola, Executive Producer We Don't Live Here Anymore Premiere | Encomium Magazine". from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
15. News, The Next Edition (2019-11-16). "Funmi Iyanda, Olumide Makanjuola, Kunle Afolayan, Others, Witness 'Walking With Shadows' Premiere (See photos)". The Next Edition. from the original on 2020-11-27. Retrieved 2021-06-25. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
16. Walking with Shadows (2019) - IMDb, from the original on 2021-07-08, retrieved 2021-06-25
17. "Walking With Shadows". www.goodreads.com. from the original on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
18. TIERsadmin (2019-02-06). "2018 in Review – What We Were Up To". TIERS. from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
19. "Staff". ISDAO. from the original on 2020-06-29. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
20. "'The exorcism was over in 15 minutes but nothing changed' - LGBT life in Nigeria". the Guardian. 2017-02-21. from the original on 2021-06-29. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
21. "Olumide Makanjuola". The Future Project. from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
22. "ISDAO is excited to announce the appointment of our first Director of Communications & Knwoledge Management: Stéphane Simporé". ISDAO. 2019-09-14. from the original on 2021-07-08. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
23. Esene, Isime (2016-08-03). "Seun Onigbinde, Yasmin Belo-Osagie, Olumide Makanjuola… See the #YNaijaPowerList2016 for Advocacy » YNaija". YNaija. from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-25.
24. "Chimamanda Adichie, Banky W, Toke Ibru, others make YNaija inaugural #Woke100 List". YNaija. 2018-01-03. from the original on 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
25. olumide-makanjuola-a-nigerian-activist-shares-his-view