Oumar Issoufou Adamou
MPS Class of 2024, Global Development
- He/him
- Grand challenge: Climate change and food security challenges in the Sahel
- Where he calls home: Niger
- Connect: oi39 [at] cornell.edu
Oumar Issoufou Adamou is from the Republic of Niger in West Africa, in the center of the Sahel. As an MPS student in Global Development at Cornell University, his focus is on climate change and food security challenges in the Sahel, with the objective of improving the food production systems for underserved communities
Prior to Cornell, he worked with the government newspapers "Le Sahel" and "Sahel Dimanche". Oumar also brings experience with social safety net programs, having led one of the data collection teams for a Niamey-based research firm where he collecting data for a World Bank-funded program in rural Niger.
At university, he studied the English language, civilization, and literature. His background in English carved his path into international development work, initially volunteering with the American NGO Population Services International (PSI). There he was an interpersonal communication health agent for sexual and reproductive health. His responsibilities focused on mobilizing and sensitizing youth target populations, as well as leading group discussions on modern contraceptive methods, post-abortion care, and other reproductive health issues. He also met with local leaders about youth reproductive health.
In November 2022, His article "Maternal and Child Health: Low Awareness of Danger Signs During Pregnancy” won a prize in UNICEF’s Neo-natal and Child Health Media Competition (Print Media category). In January 2023 he participated in a Climate Change Journalism Fellowship Program in Accra, Ghana, which provided him with a better understanding of the issues surrounding the agricultural system.