Abiodun Ogunbiyi

Abiodun is an AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics) Educator Associate, a certified mentor & coach (Madrid, Spain) a motivational speaker, a researcher, a university of Ibadan graduate of Petroleum Engineering, with professional qualifications from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University , Florida and Federal Aviation Administration, USA and Queen Elizabeth Prize in Engineering Ambassador . He is the President / CEO / Founder of Ola-great Multilinks Nigeria Enterprises, Aerospace Palace International Nigeria (Registered with US government with DUNS Number: 561383937 and NCAGE Number: SHJF7), Aerospace Palace Academy Nigeria (Aeroversity, Nigeria) andAerospace FM online Radio Nigeria (The Aerospace World media) established with the sole responsibility of promoting, Aerospace & STEM education among the youths with the vision to support SDGs 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, & 17, provide job opportunities , raise quality leaders who can 'man' the Aerospace industry and ultimately make our skies safer by the year 2025. In this regard, he was appointed as a member of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In September 2019, Abiodun received an award from Space & Satellite Professionals International, (SSPI, USA) as one of the best 20 under 35 professionals in the space and satellite industry, thereby becoming the first black man to win the highly coveted award. https://www.sspi.org/cpages/20-under-35 consequently in 2019, he became International Space Station Ambassador.

In September, 2020 Abiodun was appointed as European Parliament's Expert in the field of science communication and other relevant domains or the provision of draft articles and other science communication outputs. This came as a result of his vast experience in reviewing project grant proposals funded by the H2020, European Union FP7 programs and several others.

In 2021 , United Nation (UN) Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), New York (NY), USA appointed Abiodun as a Global Schools Advocate . Global Schools is an initiative of the SDSN in support of UNESCO's Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). The goal of Global Schools is to create a world where every primary and secondary school student has the awareness, values, and skills required to respond effectively to the greatest challenges of this century and to form a world that is sustainable and prosperous. The Global Schools Program is an initiative of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network in support of UNESCO's Global Action Program on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD).Through research and advocacy, Global Schools develops the tools, resources and programs to support education systems around the world in shaping a more resilient and sustainable world.

·         Integrating sustainable development into education and

·         Integrating education into sustainable development. Corresponding to this overall approach, the program has two objectives.   With the following objectives:

Objective 1 "to reorient education and learning so that everyone has the opportunity to acquire the knowledge, skills, values ​​and attitudes that empower them to contribute to sustainable development";

Objective 2 "to strengthen education and learning in all agendas, programs and activities that promote sustainable development".

Abiodun is an international expert / specialist with a high level of reputation, integrity, ethical behavior and substantive experience in the areas of early warning and climate information services Health (HSE), Agriculture and food security, Water Security, Infrastructure and built environment, Ecosystems and ecosystem services, Energy generation and access, Smart Cities & applications, Energy Efficiency, Low emissions transport, Forest and land use, etc; He has several years of prior experience developing, reviewing and evaluating climate change mitigation or adaptation project / program proposals, as well as experience implementing climate change projects / programs in developing countries in different regions which has culminated into effective demonstration of technical capacity and expertise and professional experience in an international environment, in the following technical specialties:

(1)    Experience working in developing countries across LAC, America, Africa, Europe and Asia, and Pacific.

(2)    Expertise developing, implementing, and reviewing climate projects / programs in GCF result areas, and across micro to large project sizes.  

(3)    Experience working with international, regional, and national entities and with different financial instruments including grant, loans, equity and guarantee. 

(4)    Experience conducting financial and economic analysis on a project / program level; 

(5)    Experience with ex-ante, mid-term or final evaluations and impact assessment of climate mitigation, including carbon accounting, or adaptation projects / programs; 

(6)    Risk analysis of projects / programs, particularly for the management of financial and operational risks;

(7)    Implementation and oversight of environmental and social safeguards and policies, including gender policies; other

(8)    Design and implementation of results management frameworks for the monitoring and evaluation of projects and programs. 

(9)    Experience developing the Theory of Change (TOC) that will enable climate finance to address core mitigation and adaptation challenges.

His professional experience and an expert as a UN expert on SDGs and as a sustainability expert has equipped him with the following qualifications: Extensive operational experience in Energy access and power generation , Low emission transport, Smart cities, industries, and appliances , Forests and land use , Increased resilience of livelihoods of people, communities, and regions , health, well-being, food and water security , infrastructure, environment , ecosystems / ecosystem services ,Professional experience in the financing, development, and implementation of public and / or private sector projects in developing countries. Abiodun also has experience in working knowledge of the project management cycle, including origination, implementation, activity oversight; and deep understanding of policies and procedures of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and keeping abreast of communications of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and other relevant processes is desirable.

For his contribution towards promoting education across the world for the youths, in the year 2018, the Space Foundation, USA selected Ogunbiyi Abiodun, as one of the 31 Space Foundation Teacher Liaisons Flight 15-18! In addition to the recognition activities, he will also participate in the Space Foundation's virtual distance delivery education programs. This is the first time that a Nigerian would be selected for such a prestigious award. https://www.spacesymposium.org/media/press-releases/space-foundation-international-teacher-liaison-program-adds-31-educators . In this capacity Abiodun serves as advocate for space-themed education and use Space Foundation-provided training and resources to further integrate space principles into the classrooms in Nigeria. He was chosen for his active promotion of space and science education in the classroom. He was selected by a panel comprised of experienced Teacher Liaisons and representatives from the space industry and the military. The Space Foundation Teacher Liaison program is funded by  Lockheed Martin .

In 2018, Aerospace Palace International received accreditation from the International Youth Federation, UK (IYF / NAC / 1160) which clearly reflects his solid commitment and dedication to supporting youth empowerment to achieve sustainable, better and empowered youth by 2030.   Also in 2019, the Institute of International Education (IIE) Texas appointed Aerospace Palace International as a commitment partner towards achieving the aims and objectives of the 'Study Abroad' program.

Abiodun has been involved in social works and community development initiatives. He has been a very active, young community leader. He has been involved in a series of community and social development initiatives, including but not limited to, mentoring of the younger generations of Nigerians in reaching out to the youth for purposes of changing the paradigmatic approaches to responsible governance and good leadership as well as systematic approach to fighting social ills like corruption and others.

In 2018, he was invited by African Union (AU) as a participant in the annual “Innovating Education in Africa Expo 'with his project acknowledged and published in the first edition of African Union Education Innovations Handbook.   In 2018, he was one of the 4 experts invited from Nigeria by the United Nations office for Outer Space (UNOOSA) for the annual Expert Meeting in Vienna, Austria.

Since 2016 he has been a Reviewer and expert for National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA), USA as a result of which he has evaluated proposals submitted by over 30 universities and organizations across United Stated. He is also a judge in the NASA Annual Astrobiology Debate among Universities and colleges in USA. He is currently working as a Reviewer for the NASA STEM 2019 (EONS-2019).

Since 2005, Abiodun has been working as a consultant and reviewer to 'To Love Educational Foundation, USA' as a result of which I reviewed and corrected the 'Healthy & Smart' HIV / AIDS curriculum for African schools; This made me to review works on mental health, drug effects and ensured it is biologically and culturally acceptable for implementation in Africa.

In 2018, Abiodun obtained an Affiliate status of the "European Alliance for Innovation" in order to foster excellence in research and innovation on the principles of transparency, objectivity, equality, and openness. With passion to create better research, provide fair recognition of excellence and transform best ideas into commercial value proposition.

Also, he was recently appointed as an Ambassador for the Queen Elizabeth Prize in Engineering Award which is an international network of young engineers from both business and academic institutions. As a Queen Elizabeth Engineering Ambassador, he has been involved in numerous projects, even at the council level among which is the Global Grand Challenges Summit ( www.ggcs2019.com ). As a Queen Elizabeth Engineering Ambassador, he has been involved with the Global Grand Challenges Summit as a result of which he has shared his experience in the STEM mentoring at the collaboration lab, the purpose is to guide the students as they work in mixed country team and provide prompts and perspective from which they can grow their idea. Additionally, there were opportunities to advise students on a more intimate basis, between session to offer insight into the skills, experience and general good for thought that can assist them as they embark on their careers. He has shared his volunteering (time and expertise) help the next generational of engineering and social science professionals become equipped to establish and advance their careers. As a Collaboration Lab judge, he assisted in judging the in-country pitches that took place on the first day of the event, where students presented in short pitches the ideas they have been working on in their respective countries.