Dr. Shamsiyyah Umar

Shamsiyyah Umar is the Founder and Executive Director of We Are Special Foundation, a nonprofit advancing disability inclusion, education, innovation and climate action in Nigeria. She leads initiatives that expand access to education, digital skills and opportunities for underserved communities, particularly children and young people.
Through her engagement with UNICEF’s Green Rising Initiative, which mobilises young people to take climate action, she has helped mobilise 500 young people to access learning and opportunities. She is a PhD holder in International Relations, a former UNICEF Nigeria Generation Unlimited Youth Adviser (YPAT), a Nasser International Leadership Fellow, and a 2025 Young Global Changer. Her work focuses on disability-inclusive climate action, youth leadership and building systems that leave no one behind.