Environmental activist and writer Ken Saro-Wiwa, along with eight other Ogoni leaders collectively known as the Ogoni Nine, has been honoured posthumously by the Right Livelihood Foundation, three decades after their execution.

The award, which celebrates individuals and organisations championing peace, justice, and sustainability, was announced during a remembrance roundtable in Lagos, organised 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 amid severe environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.

Von Uexkull recalled that Saro-Wiwa and fellow activist Barinem Kiobel were first recognised by the foundation in 1994 for their fearless advocacy against pollution and exploitation by multinational oil corporations.

He noted that the foundation now boasts over 200 laureates worldwide, all working toward promoting justice, peace, and ecological balance.

“Ken Saro-Wiwa’s legacy remains a global symbol of environmental courage and moral clarity. His struggle continues to inspire movements confronting fossil fuel dependency, corporate impunity, and ecological injustice,” von Uexkull stated.

He further expressed concern about renewed oil exploration activities in the Niger Delta despite ongoing global efforts to transition toward clean energy, describing such developments as “environmentally dangerous and unjust.”

In his remarks, Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, hailed Saro-Wiwa as “a man of peace who paid the ultimate price for defending his people and the environment.”

Bassey urged Nigerians to honour Saro-Wiwa’s memory not just through ceremonies but through continued activism for environmental justice and sustainable development.