Nigerian Conservationist Rachel Ikemeh Wins 2026 Rolex Award

Nigerian conservationist and environmentalist Rachel Ikemeh has been named a 2026 Rolex Awards Laureate in recognition of her community-driven efforts to protect the rich biodiversity of the Niger Delta, conserve threatened species and improve the livelihoods of local communities.

Ikemeh’s conservation journey in the Niger Delta began in 2013 when she encountered forests severely polluted by crude oil activities. Moved by the environmental degradation, she established the South-West/Niger Delta Forest Project (SWNDFP), a community-led initiative that works closely with local populations to restore degraded forests and protect endangered wildlife.

One of the initiative’s most notab...