TIME has named Nigerian innovator Damilola Ogunbiyi; CEO and Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy, to its 2026 TIME Earth list, which recognizes six global leaders shaping climate action.
In its fourth year, the Earth Awards stand as TIME’s top environmental recognition, honoring individuals whose work has left a lasting mark on efforts to combat climate change worldwide. Ogunbiyi was acknowledged for championing the shift toward clean energy and advancing the decarbonization of energy systems globally, contributing to the reduction of emissions. This latest recognition from TIME adds to the numerous accolades Damilola Ogunbiyi has earned over the past four years, underscoring the impact of her work in her dual roles as UN Special Representative to the Secretary-General and CEO of Sustainable Energy for All.
Under her leadership, Sustainable Energy for All has built partnerships with more than 200 organizations, supported over 100 countries worldwide, and mobilized commitments exceeding $1.6 trillion in energy financing. Earlier in her career, Ogunbiyi served as the head of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria, where she launched the Nigerian Electrification Project—a $550 million initiative that has so far expanded energy access to more than 8 million people across Nigeria and delivered over 100 megawatts of decentralized energy to power hospitals, schools, and government institutions.
