Ebenezar Wikina is the founder of Policy Shapers (www.policyshapers.com), a civic tech organization that empowers young people with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to engage with public policy.

Mr Wikina is a World Economic Forum Expert, Senior Category Judge of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, and International Judge of the Association for International Broadcasting Awards (AIBs) based in London. Ebenezar is also a Trustee of the Sickle Cell Awareness and Health Foundation, a pioneer member of the British Council’s UK-Africa Youth Advisory Board, and a founding member of the Open Government Youth Collective.

He’s currently leading the #ReformIELTS campaign which seeks to end the corrupt practice of mandating Anglo-Africans to write English proficiency tests while seeking study or work opportunities abroad. This neo-colonial practice currently costs the African continent more than $10 million annually. So far, the campaign has mobilized over 80,000 supporters and influenced policy changes in 21 universities around the world.

Ebenezar is a Mandela Washington Fellow, Civic Hive Fellow, Bridge Fellow, and GIJN Fellow. He’s also the winner of the first-ever Soundcity Africa MVP Award for Community Development, the Royal African Youth Leadership Award, and the NESG Exceptional Leadership Award, to mention a few. Mr Wikina is an alumnus of the International Institute of Journalism Abuja, the London School of Journalism, Harvard Kennedy School, and the Stanford Center for Professional Development.