I have never been one to make a great fuss about my own birthday. Today, as I turn 61, what I feel most is gratitude.
There is something about this year, 2026, about all we have been through, the love we have shared and the losses we have felt, that makes the gift of another birthday especially precious. These moments remind us how much it matters to have people to share our lives with.
I am grateful for life. For my family, my friends and the people who quietly hold me up. For the privilege of serving this country I love. For all of you whose encouragement gives me strength, especially on the difficult days. I could not do this without you.
To everyone whose well wishes have reached me so early this morning, and everyone who will reach out throughout the day, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I feel the love, and I do not take a moment of it for granted.
Thank you for continuing to walk with me as the years go by, and as I give of my best in service to Barbados and our people.
I am going to try to enjoy today. I am still going to work, though! 😊
The Nigerian delegation here at #UNGA, led by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, is a mix of brilliant young and experienced men and women, tech experts, highly educated professionals, global entrepreneurs, and captains of multimillion-dollar investments around the world.
Over the past few days, you all have experienced firsthand some of the things that make the United States function, like good roads, reliable public infrastructure, relative security, efficient systems, and institutions that often work without requiring personal connections or an aide to get things done.
I have seen many of you at UN building, some walking around New York, rushing to meetings and side events, and, interestingly, being punctual. As you return home this weekend, I ask that you take a moment to reflect on these experiences.
Think about the millions of Nigerians who deserve the opportunity to live in a country where their safety, dignity, education, electricity, roads, businesses, and livelihoods are protected by systems that work. For those who have the ears of President Tinubu, please remind him that Nigerians want a country that is secure, safe, functional, and prosperous.
You have seen what is possible. Please, let that experience strengthen the resolve to make Nigeria better for the ordinary citizen.
📍 Ibadan, Oyo State
Yesterday, I had the opportunity to join other passionate stakeholders and practitioners at the Oyo Waste Summit in Ibadan, where I contributed to an important conversation on “Building Careers in the Green Economy: Pathways, Opportunities & Skills for the Next Generation.” I shared perspectives from my experience in climate advocacy, environmental sustainability, youth engagement, and the growing need to connect young people with practical opportunities within Nigeria’s emerging green economy.
I emphasised that the transition to a greener economy should not only be about managing waste or protecting the environment; it should also create decent jobs, entrepreneurship opportunities, skills development, innovation, and sustainable livelihoods, particularly for young people. I encouraged participants to look beyond traditional career pathways and recognise opportunities across recycling, circular economy, renewable energy, waste management, environmental technology, climate communication, research, policy, and green entrepreneurship.
What made the conversation particularly encouraging was the openness and enthusiasm of participants to explore how we can collectively build a green economy that creates opportunities for everyone. For me, the Oyo Waste Summit was more than a conversation about waste—it was a reminder that with the right skills, partnerships, policies, and support systems, Nigeria’s environmental challenges can become opportunities for innovation, employment and inclusive development. 🌱♻️
Special thanks to the Hon. Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources of Oyo State and the organisers of the Oyo Waste Summit.
#GreenEconomy #CircularEconomy
The @UN exists because power requires rules & humanity needs a place where power answers to principle.
The world does not need a weaker UN.
The world needs a UN strong enough to face the world as it is – and determined enough to build the world as it should be.
I never would have reached this finish line alone.
There are so many people who helped make this journey possible, and I’m incredibly grateful to team @grundfos for being part of it from the very beginning.
Their support went far beyond sponsorship. Across the run, our summits and events along the way, people from across Grundfos gave their time, energy and expertise to help bring people together around the future of the Colorado River.
That was always the bigger purpose of what we set out to do.
Running 2,000 miles has helped draw attention to what is happening to this river and to the solutions already out there. Now we have to turn that attention into action by strengthening collaboration across sectors, building the investment needed to scale what works and turning shared ambition into lasting impact.
So while my run may be finished, this journey certainly isn't.
This weekend, I’ll join Grundfos at #WEFTEC2026 in New Orleans as we carry that momentum forward and focus on the partnerships, investment and collective action needed to build a more resilient water future.
#KeepTheRiverRunning
#WorldGorillaDay
Through our partnership with Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, we support graduate researchers and share knowledge within local communities to build conservation leadership and protect this rare gorilla and its habitat.
🌍 𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗜𝗦 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗪𝗘 𝗕𝗨𝗜𝗟𝗗 𝗜𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗚𝗘𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥.
The final session of the Green Webinar Series 2026 brought the conversation to communities; and the partnerships needed to help them prepare, respond and recover from climate challenges.
With Mariam Hamzat, Founder of TerraLearn, we explored:
▪️ What makes a community truly climate-resilient
▪️ Why governments, NGOs, researchers and communities must work beyond silos
▪️ Why community-based data matters
▪️ How young people can move from participation to meaningful contribution
▪️ Why local voices must shape local climate solutions
▪️ And why partnerships must be built to last beyond the lifespan of a project
One thing was clear: “resilience is not simply about surviving a crisis. It is about building communities that are equipped to face what comes next.”
Thank you to our speaker, our host Opeyemi Ogundeji, and everyone who joined the conversation throughout the series.
Four weeks. Many perspectives. One continuing conversation: “how do we move from awareness to action?”
#GreenWebinarSeries2026 | #ClimateAction | #ClimateResilience |#CommunityResilience | #EETF
Spoken Word Poetry at UNGA
A room filled with World Leaders, Heads of State & Entrepreneurs.
The theme:
“The Youth Dividend: Turning AI & Green Investments into Skilling & Livelihood Opportunities for Youth.”
📍 UNICEF HQ, New York
🇳🇬✈️🇺🇸
#UNGA81#SpokenWord#UNICEF#GenU
Happy Birthday to our amazing team member and the vibrant Host of the @ClimateTalkPodd , @adebotes! 🎉
Your passion, voice, and dedication to advancing meaningful climate conversations continue to inspire and create impact across our community.
Wishing you a wonderful new year filled with growth, greater opportunities, fulfilment, and many more successful conversations for climate action! 🎂🌍
#HappyBirthday #ClimateTalkPodcast
🚨🏃♀️🌊 #WORLDRIVERRUN ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨🏃♀️🌊
On September 18th, I’ll reach the end of my 2,000-mile run along the Colorado River. Then I’m passing the baton to all of YOU!
From September 18th to World Rivers Day on September 27th, join us from wherever you are in the world.
Choose a river you care about, pledge your distance and get out there with your friends, family, colleagues or community.
Together, we’ll be moving for the rivers we all depend on.
I’m running for the Colorado. What river will you run for? 💙
Sign up for free at https://t.co/ghLYY2xMDr
#KeepTheRiverRunning