The environmentalist and writer, Ken Saro-Wiwa, and eight other Ogoni activists collectively known as the Ogoni Nine, was honoured with a posthumous award by the Right Livelihood Foundation.
The award, coming 30 years since the execution of the Nigerian writer was announced during a remembrance roundtable in Lagos in collaboration with the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF).
Executive Director of the Right Livelihood Foundation, Ole von Uexkull, described Saro-Wiwa as a “common-sense environmentalist” who fought peacefully for the dignity and survival of his people in the face of widespread environmental degradation.
He recalled how Saro-Wiwa and fellow activist Barinem Kiobel were honoured in 1994 for their fearless defence of their people’s rights against pollution and exploitation by multinational oil companies.
Von Uexkull said the foundation now has more than 200 laureates across the world, all dedicated to promoting justice, peace, and sustainability.
He added that Saro-Wiwa’s struggle reflects similar fights against fossil fuel exploitation and corporate impunity in other countries.
He expressed concern over renewed oil exploration in the Niger Delta despite global transitions to clean energy, describing such moves as “unjust and environmentally dangerous.”
Also speaking, Executive Director of HOMEF, Nnimmo Bassey, described Saro-Wiwa as a man of peace who was unjustly killed for defending his people and their environment from reckless oil extraction.
