Simileoluwa Liyele
About Simileoluwa Liyele
Simileoluwa Liyele is a drug policy advocate and communications specialist based in Abuja, Nigeria, with more than eight years of engagement at the intersection of harm reduction, human rights, and public health.
As Advocacy and Communications Officer at YouthRISE Nigeria, he leads strategic communications and advocacy for drug policy reform, translating complex public health and legal arguments for community members, policymakers and lawmakers, contributing to Senate and House public hearings on issues relating to drugs and youth. His work ensures the voices of young people who use drugs, people living with HIV, and other young key populations are meaningfully represented in Nigeria’s drug policy conversations.
Beyond formal legislative processes, Simi maintains active engagement with the West Africa Drug Policy Network (Nigeria Chapter), has directed documentaries, coordinates the YouthRISE Nigeria Media Fellowship, and supports Global Fund advocacy processes that enable community members to engage international funding mechanisms.
A skilled policy writer, his technical contributions include creative design of ‘An analysis of Nigeria’s legal landscape for harm reduction’, ‘Comprehensive overview of the country’s harm reduction landscape and drug laws’, and other works. His commitment to reform predates his professional roles. Since 2017, he has volunteered with Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) Nigeria, reflecting an arc of engagement that is as much vocation as career, grounded in the belief that drug policy must be shaped by those most affected by it.