A Nigerian public interest lawyer, poet, and gender advocate, Karimot Odebode, has won the “29th Global Love of Lives Award” given by the Chou Ta-Kuan Cultural and Educational Foundation, a Taiwanese Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), in recognition of her advocacy for Black girls’ education and youth empowerment.
The “Taiwan Love · Nigerian Affection” event, held at the Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, was witnessed by the Ambassador, Liu Yi-Ping, along with representatives from Taiwanese businesses and overseas compatriots, as they joined in spreading the positive energy of love that knows no borders.
The founder of the NGO, Chou Chin-Hua, and the Chairperson, Guo Ying-Lan, who led a six-member delegation of “Taiwanese Life Warriors” to Nigeria, presented the award to Odebode, a lawyer from Ibadan, Oyo State, with support from the Overseas Community Affairs Council and the Taipei Trade Office in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Guo Ying-Lan said Odebode has been actively volunteering for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), earning high praise from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, as she consistently strives to build a world where girls receive education, youth are empowered, and feminist leadership shapes the future of development, whether in policy-making, poetry creation, or social activism.
The Chairperson stated: “Notably, she leads by example. Beyond her work as a public interest lawyer and poet, she has taken her advocacy to the United Nations, uniting global youth to launch the ‘We, the Youth of the World Declaration for Educational Transformation.
“This initiative promotes dialogue and collaboration across generations, cultures, and religions, aiming to reach every corner of the world – including the most marginalised Black girls by fostering unity, diversity, empathy, and mutual respect.”
She noted that Odebode is recognised as one of Africa’s “100 Most Influential Young People” as she truly embodies the title of “Nigeria’s Public Interest Lawyer-Poet,” saying she stood out among 3,795 global nominees, and was honored with the 29th Global Love of Lives Award by Taiwan’s Chou Ta-Kuan Foundation in 2026.
Dream Initiative
To kick off the initiative, the Foundation, on its inaugural international mission to Nigeria, donated US$5,000 to support Odebode’s Black Girls’ Dream Initiative, and other life fighters in Nigeria striving to fulfill their dreams, advocating a world free from poverty and inequality, and also announced the publication of the Chinese edition of Odebode’s autobiography, A Woman Has Many Names, in Taiwan.
The NGO disclosed that it is looking forward to welcoming Odebode and her family on an all expense paid trip to Taiwan, in September, for the Foundation’s “Life is Love, Earth is Priceless” Charity Series, where she and awardees from other 232 countries will be honoured with the Global Love of Lives Award.
The Head of Mission, Taipei Trade Office in Nigeria, Andy Yih-Ping Liu, in his remarks, noted that such an initiative could deepen the Taiwan-Nigeria relationship, while commending the spirit of humanity the Taiwanese people embody, as they are always the first to come to rescue in times of crisis, and the last to leave.
Furthermore, the Executive Director of the International and Cross-Strait Exchange Center at the Foundation, Chou Shang-Guan, stated that the visit was in response to invitations from Global Love of Lives Medal recipients, including Karimot Odebode; Danish charity angel, Anja Ringgren Lovén; and Nigerian child artist, Waris Olamilekan Kareem.
The Foundation also gave support to the Ayowole Academy of Arts, and the Land of Hope in Nigeria, while donating the English edition of Chang Kuo-Chu’s posthumous work, I Still Have One Leg, along with gifts from Taiwan, to encourage disadvantaged students, artists, and life fighters across the country.
Also present at the Taipei Trade Office were the Programme Manager of the Black Girl’s Dream Initiative, Fatimah Adebimpe; the Project Officer, Foyinsaye Ejilola; and Abdulateef Odebode, a younger brother to the awardee.