For Toyin Akanni, stories have always been more than entertainment. Long before she became an author, educator, and sustainability advocate in the UAE, she was a child in Nigeria, sitting through power cuts, listening to her grandmother tell stories by candlelight.
“That’s where it began,” she reflects. “Those moments taught me that stories carry power – they shape how we think, how we feel, and how we understand our place in the world.”
Today, that belief sits at the heart of Toyin’s work. Based in Ras Al Khaimah, she is the founder of ENVHERO, a purpose-driven environmental education platform that blends storytelling, science, and sustainability to inspire the next generation of climate-conscious leaders. Through children’s books, immersive school workshops, and a forthcoming gamified education app, she helps young people engage with complex global issues through curiosity, empathy, and imagination.
Toyin’s journey has never followed a straight line. When she moved to the UK at sixteen, she chose a more conventional academic route, studying Geology before completing a master’s degree in Environmental Science. Her creative voice, she admits, went quiet for a time.
“I did what felt responsible,” she says. “But creativity never really leaves you – it waits.”
That waiting ended with motherhood. During the pandemic, while raising a young family and navigating profound personal change, Toyin enrolled in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge. She graduated the same year she welcomed her daughter following a high-risk pregnancy that included weeks in neonatal intensive care.
“That period taught me resilience and the strength we carry as women,” she says.
Reconnecting with storytelling unlocked something deeper. Since then, Toyin has published three children’s books, spoken at major literature festivals, delivered sustainability workshops across UAE schools, co-founded an education-focused nonprofit in Nigeria, and joined the board of a renewable-energy startup. Her work now sits confidently at the intersection of science, education, and storytelling.
Her biggest learning along the way? “Life isn’t linear. Evolution isn’t failure. You can reinvent yourself and still honour who you’ve always been.”
ENVHERO grew from Toyin’s frustration with how environmental issues are often taught. Too abstract. Too disconnected. Too adult.
“Children understand far more than we give them credit for,” she explains. “When you translate climate science into stories, games, and hands-on experiences, it becomes real – and empowering.”
Through ENVHERO, Toyin delivers immersive storytelling sessions and sustainability workshops across the UAE. Feedback from teachers and students highlights increased confidence, creativity, and environmental awareness.
Beyond schools, ENVHERO is evolving into a wider education business aligned with the UAE Net Zero 2050 Agenda and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A gamified environmental education app is currently in development, designed to teach sustainability through play, problem-solving, and storytelling.
“I believe some aspects of education are outdated,” Toyin says. “Gamification will take centre stage. I want to inspire young eco-warriors who grow up living consciously.”
One of the proudest moments of Toyin’s career unfolded during one of the hardest seasons of her life. In 2025, her first son underwent a medical transplant, requiring an extended hospital stay filled with uncertainty and fear.
“In those quiet pauses between treatments, I leaned in to my creativity,” she recalls. “An idea for a story came to me beside his hospital bed.” That story became Barki and the Lost Penguin, her third children’s book. Writing grounded her, giving her something hopeful to hold on to. The book went on to have a successful launch across the UAE and online platforms. But the outcome that matters most, she says, happened at home. “My son is fully recovered and returning to school in January 2026.”
The experience reinforced a belief she carries forward: “Even in the hardest chapters, something meaningful can still emerge. Resilience and creativity often walk hand in hand.”
Toyin defines success not by scale or profit, but by value. “Success is using your talents and skills to be a blessing to others,” she says. “It’s making the world a better place – and spending time with loved ones.”
Her business mantra is anchored in kindness and impact. Every decision is filtered through one question: Does this add value, and does it leave people better than it found them? She speaks openly about the challenges she’s encountered – the moments she was overlooked or underestimated. “I’m aware that my gender and the colour of my skin affected the opportunities I was given,” she says. Instead of letting that limit her, she focused on preparation and excellence. “When a seat at the table wasn’t available, I learned to create my own.”
As a British-Nigerian woman, Toyin sees her identity as a strength – one that allows her to bridge cultures, lead with empathy, and bring a holistic, global perspective to education and leadership.
“Inclusion isn’t just about fairness,” she says. “It leads to better outcomes for everyone.”
What excites Toyin most about the future is scale with intention. She envisions ENVHERO partnering with businesses, schools, and institutions to drive youth-focused sustainability initiatives that create long-term environmental and social impact.
It’s advice rooted not in theory, but in lived experience. A life where science and storytelling meet to shape a more compassionate future.
