Joannes Paulus Yimbesalu

A trained cancer biologist, Joannes followed his passion in sustainable development all the way to Niger as a research consultant with the World Health Organization’s integrated community case management Rapid Access Expansion Program, supported by World Vision and the Canadian government to evaluate the use of mhealth interventions on quality of care in children. A graduate from York University – Joannes obtained a master’s in leadership and Community Engagement which cemented his passion in community mobilizing and youth engagement, social justice and policy with a focus on youth innovation and entrepreneurship. He currently leads the Generation Unlimited partnership with UNICEF Nigeria to help provide leadership and support in defining priorities that resonate with young Nigerians as they transition from school to work. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, Joannes’ work allowed him to engage with thousands of young Nigerians to gain adequate skills required to mitigate the secondary impact of the convid-19 pandemic on education, employment and entrepreneurship in their communities through online youth innovation challenges. In his free time, he enjoys being around nature and travelling