Ebenezar Wikina

Activist, Christian, Concerned citizen, Inventor, Journalist, Parent, Project manager, Social entrepreneur, Writer/Editor

Ebenezar Wikina has over 15 years of experience working with more than 40 organisations across multiple sectors. He is the Founder of Policy Shapers, a civic startup that empowers young people with knowledge, skills, and tools to engage with public policy. Mr Wikina has trained grassroots activists in 36 countries across 5 continents through his work at Nguvu Collective. He is a World Economic Forum (WEF) Expert Network Member, a Thematic Lead at the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), and an Advisory Committee Member at the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF). As a Biomimicry Practitioner, Ebenezar developed the 10:3 Voting System, abstracting nature principles from African Wild Dogs to advise the UN Security Council. He is also currently building the Biomimicry Nigeria Collective to spread the knowledge of biomimicry in Nigeria. As a Futurist, in 2025 Ebenezar is convening the #Rivers2050 Vision Project, a platform for citizens in Nigeria's leading oil-producing state, Rivers State, to craft a 25-year people-led development vision across 15 thematic areas. Over the past four years, he has led the #ReformIELTS campaign, which seeks to end the practice of mandating Anglo-Africans to write English proficiency tests while seeking study or work opportunities abroad. So far, the campaign has mobilised over 82,000 supporters and influenced policy changes in 30 universities worldwide. He has previously worked as a Campaign Strategist at Change.org, an Advocacy Coordinator at PIND Foundation, a Technical Advisor at the Rivers State SDGs Office, a Senior Category Judge of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, and a Youth Advisory Board Member at the British Council. While working as a journalist, Ebenezar interviewed over 100 world leaders and experts on an interview blog he founded using his Nokia phone in 2013. His work has been published on the Huff Post, Al Jazeera, CNBC Africa, and Global Voices, to name a few. The US government has recognised his work via the Mandela Washington Fellowship. He is also a Skoll Fellow, Bridge Fellow, Civic Hive Fellow, and GIJC Fellow. He won the first-ever Soundcity Africa MVP Award for Community Development, the Royal African Youth Leadership Award, and the NESG Exceptional Leadership Award. Wikina is an alumnus of the International Institute of Journalism Abuja, the London School of Journalism, Harvard Kennedy School, and the Stanford Centre for Professional Development. He is married to Soibi-ilate Wikina, Founder of SOIBI, and they are blessed with one son, Sean Kisi Omieibi Wikina.

citizen-led democracy; futures and foresight; biomimicry and nature-based solutions

The government often leads long-term visioning; what if citizens lead it?

Biomimicry, Community of Practice, Development, Education, Government Relations, Media, Public Policy, Research

In 2013, I volunteered at TEDxStadiumRoad, the inaugural TEDx event in Port Harcourt, organised by Donald Okudu, and in 2014, I got the license to organise TEDxYouth@OrdinanceRoad, the only TEDxYouth event in West Africa that year. While working as a journalist, I interviewed Richard Saul Wurman, the founder of TED, on an interview blog called The Stroll, which I started in Port Harcourt with my Nokia Java phone.

Marching band drumming