Jennifer Uchendu, a Nigerian environmentalist, has been listed among the ‘BBC 100 Women 2023’.
The BBC’s list of 100 women started in 2013 as an annual series featuring inspiring and influential women worldwide.
Announcing the list in a statement on Tuesday, the BBC said the women were selected through research and suggestions by the BBC’s network of world service languages teams, as well as BBC media action.
The BBC said it searched for candidates who had influenced important stories over the past 12 months, as well as those who have influenced their societies in ways that would not necessarily make the news.
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The list also highlights 28 women who have been working to help their communities tackle climate change in line with this year’s theme: ‘Climate change and its disproportionate impact on women and girls around the world’.
Uchendu is the founder of SustyVibes, a youth-led organisation focused on making sustainability actionable, relatable and cool.
Uchendu’s recent work has focused on exploring the impacts of the climate crisis on the mental health of Africans, especially young people.
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In a previous interview with TheCable, Uchendu had said the need to uncover the impact of climate change on mental health is most important now because “we are in the middle of a climate crisis”.
The graduate of biochemistry from Covenant University had described climate denial as perplexing, adding that it is an emotional response.
In 2022, she set up The Eco-Anxiety Africa project (TEAP) to focus on validating and safeguarding climate emotions in Africans through research, advocacy and climate-aware psychotherapy.
In response to the selection, Uchendu said she is slowly making peace with the fact that she will never be able to do enough regarding the climate crisis but would still continue to do her best.
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“I experience a range of emotions when it comes to the climate crisis. Showing up in solidarity with others to act, rest and just be, helps me safeguard my climate-induced feelings,” she said.
Other women on the list include Michelle Obama, former US first lady; Amal Clooney, human rights lawyer; Aitana Bonmatí, award-winning footballer; Timnit Gebru, AI expert; Gloria Steinem, feminist icon; America Ferrera, Hollywood star; and Huda Kattan, beauty mogul.
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