Nike Kerstin Akerele-De Souza

Kemi Ajumobi

February 17, 2026

Nike Kerstin Akerele-De Souza
Co-Founder/Board Member, Teach For Nigeria

Nike Kerstin Akerele-De Souza is co-founder/Board member at Teach For Nigeria. Teach For Nigeria is a 2-year youth leadership initiative (fellowship) addressing educational inequities. They work in disadvantaged communities to turn around education outcomes. Some of their Alumni transition to build social enterprises to address critical areas in education innovation, quality, access and delivery. 

Nike’s strength lies in supporting institutional strengthening and capacity development, advising and guiding strategy development and execution (the strategic doing), governance, risk management, compliance, human resources, and building structures and systems.

She has been fortunate to live and work across sub-Saharan Africa, the USA, and the UK, building a career that has been as diverse as it has been fulfilling.

Her path has taken her through the worlds of Big 4 consulting, private enterprise, international development, social impact, and entrepreneurship — each chapter adding new layers to her skills, perspective, and purpose.

In 2003, she transitioned into entrepreneurship. She said building human resources (HR) consulting business from the ground up was exhilarating and humbling. “It challenged me to think strategically while staying grounded in people’s needs.” Nike stated.

To founders/CEOs, Nike says it is important to recognise you can’t save the world if you don’t first take care of yourself. She says this because she came to the conclusion that many of them face burnouts. She advises that they take time out, seek wellness and mental health support, and not to be afraid to ask for help. She further states that they must consider individual or group coaching and/or mentorship for perspective and shared support. In addition, she says “Be transparent with your board and funders and work with them to re-evaluate capacity, strategy, and sustainability.” According to Nike, you must also “Strengthen governance, leadership, and succession planning to spread responsibility.”

Nike is committed to investing in human capital development on the African continent, with a personal focus on education (skills development, employability), leadership development, gender, and youth empowerment.