Impact Leader of the Month: Morenikejimi Olaniran

When you meet Morenikejimi, fondly called Global Mo, one thing stands out, her deep passion for people.
She’s not just leading projects; she’s changing lives and rewriting what leadership looks like for young women in Nigeria.

As a survivor advocate, researcher, and social impact leader, Morenikejimi has spent over five years building bridges of hope for young people in underserved communities and internally displaced persons (IDPs). She currently serves as the Project Lead at the Centre for Teens Health and Development (Centre4Teens), where she designs and leads transformative programs focused on mental health, youth empowerment, sexual and reproductive health (SRH), and human rights advocacy.

Through her work, she’s empowering teenagers to see themselves beyond their current circumstances, to dream bigger, speak louder, and take up space confidently.
Every project she leads is built on empathy, knowledge, and a genuine commitment to helping others rise.

Her academic background in Child Development and Family Psychology, combined with advanced training in Human Rights and Gender-Based Violence, reflects her holistic approach to impact, one that values both heart and skill. Beyond her work in Nigeria, she’s mentoring over 1,000 young adults across 27 countries, guiding them through global leadership platforms like United Leaders Global, Wenations, and Zabi Repro Academy.

What’s truly inspiring is how she constantly turns challenges into change.
Morenikejimi became the first Nigerian recipient of the NextWorldNow Community Investment Grant, a milestone that recognized her innovative work addressing period poverty, SRHR education, and youth marginalization. She’s also been honored with several awards, including the European Year of Skills (YEARN 2023), Nigerian Volunteer Award, The Phoenix Award by Beyond Her Odds, and the Youth Day Spotlight Award by OXFAM & NGYouthSDGs, each one a testament to her consistent impact and unwavering drive.

But beyond titles and accolades, what makes her truly remarkable is her voice, bold, grounded, and unafraid to challenge harmful cultural and societal norms that hold young people back. She uses her platform to spark conversations that matter, push for inclusion, and inspire communities to do better for the next generation.

Her journey reminds us that impact isn’t about how loud you are, it’s about how deeply you care.
And in everything she does, Morenikejimi embodies that truth.

Here’s to Olaniran Morenikejimi, a impact leader whose courage, compassion, and commitment are lighting the path for others to follow.