Roseline Adewuyi

Roseline Adewuyi was featured in a UN publication, "Breaking Gender Barriers through Education," in April 2024. This recognition prompted her to reflect on her eight-year advocacy journey. Facing discrimination in school ignited her passion for gender advocacy, leading her to pursue a PhD in French Literature with a Graduate Concentration in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies. As a girl with a twin brother, she encountered and challenged gender stereotypes from a young age.

Throughout her academic journey, Roseline has excelled, choosing the Arts in secondary school despite societal pressures favouring the Sciences for brilliant students. Graduating with a first-class degree from Obafemi Awolowo University as best student in her department and best female graduating student in her faculty. She achieved a distinction in her Master's degree. Before her Ph.D. studies in the USA, she worked as a translator and interpreter with the African Union. At Purdue she received awards including Student of the Year and the Boilermaker Change Award. 

She founded the Roseline Initiative to empower girls by breaking educational barriers through seminars, competitions, and mentoring, collaborating with organizations such as ONE Campaign, UNGEI, and Girl Up Campaign, and her work has been recognized by the US Mission in Nigeria and TheirWorld. She serves in the Commonwealth Youth Gender and Equality Network and uses her social media influence for advocacy with Malala Fund and CAMFED. 

In 2022, Roseline became the first female President of the Nigerian Students Association at Purdue, where she led mentorship and mental health programs. She currently serves as a senator for the Purdue Graduate Student Government, advocating for policies that promote diversity and equality. Her efforts in mentoring and leadership have been recognized with accolades including the Mentor of the Year Award and the Global Engagement Award. 

Roseline's commitment to gender equality extends to her home country, Nigeria, where she addresses gender stereotypes in education via the Roseline Initiative, organizing academic seminars, outreach programs, and competitions to help students unlearn gender stereotypes. She partners with organizations to provide resources to secondary school students and involves boys in her advocacy projects, with these efforts impacting over 6,000 young girls in Nigeria. 

Despite facing challenges as a non-STEM student in a science-oriented society, Roseline excelled academically, using her experiences to mentor others. She is a passionate blogger and social media influencer, using her platforms to educate the public on gender equality, publishing over 300 articles and running an annual magazine on gender issues. 

Roseline has participated in global programs including the United Nations Graduate Study Program in Geneva and the Young African Leaders Initiative. She has been recognized as a ONE Champion and a Dalai Lama Fellow. Through these programs, she has collaborated with individuals from diverse backgrounds to address global issues. Her dedication to gender equality and education has made her a prominent advocate and leader whose efforts have been featured by major media outlets, and she continues to inspire and mentor young girls to break barriers and excel in their chosen fields. Her aspiration is further work with international organizations on women and gender issues, leveraging writing and literature for social change.