The founder and chief executive of SereniMind, Mr Ridwan Oyenuga, has been appointed to the World Citizen Peace West Africa Advisory Council, a regional advisory body of the World Citizen Peace Ambassador Centre dedicated to advancing peacebuilding, leadership, sustainable development, and regional cooperation across West Africa.
The appointment recognises Mr Oyenuga’s contributions to mental health innovation, youth development, entrepreneurship, and public sector collaboration across Africa.
He has championed innovative approaches to mental health advocacy and access across Africa. Beyond directly impacting more than 300,000 individuals through SereniMind’s services and programs, he spearheaded the Africa Wellness Voices Initiative (AWVI), a landmark pan-African campaign that generated over 100 million media impressions across 25 African countries, amplifying conversations around youth mental health and wellbeing.
Through these efforts, SereniMind has emerged as one of Africa’s most recognised youth-led mental health organisations and has earned recognition among Nigeria’s leading health technology ventures.
In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Ridwan has served in several leadership positions focused on youth empowerment and social impact. He is a World Food Forum Youth Representative under the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), State Coordinator of the Youth Creative Consortium in Ogun State, President (Nigeria) of the African Youth Convention, and has collaborated with various governmental and international organisations on initiatives promoting innovation, youth participation, and sustainable development.
“It is a privilege to join the World Citizen Peace West Africa Advisory Council. I look forward to contributing to initiatives that strengthen peace, leadership, collaboration, and sustainable development across West Africa while creating opportunities for young people to drive meaningful change within their communities,” he said in an emailed statement.
The World Citizen Peace West Africa Advisory Council brings together leaders, professionals, advocates, and changemakers committed to fostering peace, civic engagement, and inclusive development throughout the region.
The appointment reflects the growing recognition of young African leaders who are leveraging innovation, entrepreneurship, and advocacy to address societal challenges and contribute to regional progress.
Mr Oyenuga has collaborated with initiatives linked to the United Nations, the African Union, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Youth Development, while leading the Africa Wellness Voices Initiative, which reached over 100 million people across 25 African countries. He is a member of the ForbesBLK community and a Fellow of the Harvard Aspire Leaders Program, committed to advancing innovation, mental health, and youth development across Africa.