Oluwaremilekun Makinde
2022 IVLP Impact Award Project: Human Rights and Civic Education for LGBTQI+ Persons in NigeriaNigeria
Oluwaremilekun "Remi" Makinde is a feminist, activist and human rights lawyer with keen interest in sexual rights, grassroot LGBTQI+ movement building and inclusive advocacy. She works to promote and protect the rights of sexual minorities such as women and queer persons. While tactfully navigating cultural and religious differences, Remi supports such minorities through engagements with state institutions, stakeholders and international bodies. In July 2021, Remi won a scholarship to attend a Strategic Advocacy and Litigation for LGBT Human Rights Defenders in Africa from the Center for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. Remi currently works at The Initiative For Equal Rights as both the Interim Executive Director and the Director for Human Rights. She has been a formidable strategist leading several projects while passionately working to help women and queer persons access justice in her community. Remi holds a Bachelor of Law degree from Babcock University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2012.
IVLP Impact Award Project: Human Rights and Civic Education for LGBTQI+ Persons in Nigeria
This grassroots, civic education initiative empowered LGBTQI+ Nigerians with knowledge about their civic rights and promoted civic engagement among Nigerian youth. The project targeted queer persons living in remote areas who lacked access to information on their basic rights. A total of 122 queer persons across 6 local governments were trained on human and socio-economic rights in international law, regional mechanisms to enforce such rights, and the importance of participating in local elections.
IVLP Exchange Experience
Remi participated in the IVLP Project Human Rights and Civic Engagement for Youth, organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning in partnership with Charleston Council for International Visitors, Columbia Council for Internationals and Georgia Council for International Visitors.
Remi's exchange experience led to the development of her IVLP Impact Award Project: "Change is possible when we build intentionally to mobilize for social change."
U.S. Communities Visited Virtually
Washington, DC; Atlanta, GA; Charleston, SC; Columbia, SC