We are delighted to report that one of our interns Mr. Oluwatunmise Adedayo has emerged as the winner of the Wikifarmer New Authors Challenge. He is an intern from the present 4th Cohort, and a student of the Obefemi Awolowo University Ife in Nigeria. He is part of GCSAYN Ambassadors for Change Program.
On this occasion he shared his happiness with the following message “Thank you sincerely for pointing me toward this platform. I wholeheartedly dedicate this win to GCSAYN for believing in youth, amplifying our voices, and opening doors we wouldn’t ordinarily have access to.”
Mr. Oluwatunmise Adedayo’s Profile
Mr. Adedayo is a final-year student of Industrial Chemistry at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. He is the youngest child in a family of four, raised in modest circumstances by his father, a retired primary school teacher and farmer; and his mother, who is a small-scale trader.
Growing up, he faced significant educational challenges. He was often sent out of class due to unpaid school fees, yet he remained determined. He would borrow classmates’ notes after school and walk 25 minutes to the Oyo State Library in Dugbe to catch up. His father supported his learning by bringing home books, and when electricity was unavailable, he would read under candlelight or lantern. These moments shaped his resilience and thirst for knowledge.
His earliest experience in agriculture was on his father’s farm, where they used crude labor-intensive tools. He observed the struggle and wondered if farming could be less stressful and more productive. Even though he didn’t know the term “Sustainable Agriculture” back then, but he dreamed of something better.
His admission into Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, opened his eyes. Studying Industrial Chemistry revealed how fertilizers, pesticides, and agrochemicals support farming.
During the COVID-19 lockdown, he returned home and once again saw how crucial their small farm was, it fed the family when there was no government support. That moment deepened his conviction: agriculture isn’t just survival it’s power.
Post-lockdown, Mr. Adedayo began volunteering at agricultural events, attending online courses, and immersing himself in climate-smart agriculture. He joined AHICSA and helped train young farmers. His passion for agriculture became inseparable from his identity.
In early 2025, he participated in the “5G for Entrepreneurship” program an ERASMUS+ KA171 course led by Aalto University, Addis Ababa University, NUST Namibia, and his school’s Faculty of Agriculture. At this evenent, he met Prof. Adeolu Ayanwale, who introduced him to internship opportunities at the Global Climate Smart Agriculture Youth Network (GCSAYN). Shortly afterwards, he was selected by the Executive Director, Mr. Divine Ntiokam, to serve as a GCSAYN Ambassador for Change. It was an honor and a huge responsibility.
Then came the Global Research & Innovation Marathon Relay the game-changer. As a volunteer and note-taker, he engaged in multi-hour sessions with global facilitators. He attended trainings, created social media content calendars, designed e-fliers, and actively promoted the event. Despite academic pressure and limited access to technology, he stayed up for over eight hours during sessions at difficult time zones.
During a session led by Gujemal Gulya, he spoke about his work in climate advocacy, water security, and plastic clean-ups as a Plastic Wise Fellow with U-Recycle Initiative Africa. Her encouragement showed him that his local actions had global value. It was through that experience that he first learned deeply about citizen science and it shifted everything. He realized that even from a small place, he can be a global contributor. This spark fueled his decision to enter the Wikifarmer New Authors Challenge when Mr. Divine shared the details during a GCSAYN check-in.
Although he was unwell, still he pushed through and submitted his article just minutes before the deadline. The piece focused on food production’s climate impact, particularly methane from livestock, and sustainable choices consumers can make. Once published, he entered the repost challenge. With no smartphone, an unstable laptop, and erratic electricity, he launched a grassroots digital campaign and it worked. Over 370 reposts in under two weeks, and he was announced the global winner.
But the article was only part of the story. This win was the result of years of persistence: reading by candlelight, learning on the farm, volunteering with heart, and showing up even when conditions weren’t perfect. GCSAYN gave him the platform, and above all Mr. Divine & Prof. Ayanwale believed in him. The Global Research & Innovation Marathon Relay ignited a fire that hasn’t gone out.
Mr. Adedayo says “To every young person reading this: You might not have the tools, the power supply, or even the health show up anyway. Someone, somewhere is watching. Your moment will come”.
He further shared that as Chief Obafemi Awolowo once said, “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” Prepare. Keep learning. Keep showing up. Trust the process. “And when opportunity comes, it will meet you ready just like it did for me.”