Cynthia Ezinne Ohaeri has made history as the First Nigerian at the University of Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, Awarded MasterCard Foundation, Norman and Ivy-Lloyd Scholarships.

She is a recipient of the MasterCard Foundation and AfOx Linacre (Norman & Ivy Lloyd) Scholarships, reading for a postgraduate degree in Sustainability, Enterprise and the Environment at the University of Oxford. Cynthia made history as the first Nigerian at the Oxford Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, and is a member of Linacre College.

In 2025, she was named a Top100 Africa Future Leader, in recognition of her academic excellence and social impact. She is further deepening her leadership and expanding her impact by increasing access to EduTech opportunities for youths from disadvantaged communities through her work in STEM and Climate Sustainability education. For her, lofty dreams have become a reality.

Cynthia is the Founder and Societal Impact Director of ‘Nigerian Girl In STEM’, a non-profit foundation championing youth empowerment, access to education and STEM opportunities for girls from underserved communities.

She is also Co-Founder and Project Manager at ‘Hello Dreams’, where she leads the development of Edu-Tech AI tools and advances sustainability solutions for corporate and individual clients.

She actively champions climate education, speaks on global platforms and volunteers as a researcher. Her publications on curbing gas flaring and decarbonizing aviation using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and hydrogen explore novel scientific innovations.

Her interdisciplinary research at the University of Oxford combines her passion for policy, climate finance, economics, and environmental innovation, preparing her for long-term impact in global sustainability transitions.

Cynthia’s work spans sustainable finance, energy policy, decarbonization, data analysis, project management and enterprise innovation, positioning her to influence inclusive and context-sensitive sustainability solutions globally.

A firm believer in the currency of expressed excellence, she is committed to contributing her ingenuity globally through her work at Oxford.

By connecting global innovation with local realities, she aims to champion the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, lead innovation in STEM, promote global energy access and security, and drive sustainable finance and economic development through data, artificial intelligence, and predictive modelling.