First-class Chemistry graduate Elizabeth Adewale has opened up about her unusual career journey from studying science to becoming a sex educator and public health advocate.
Adewale, who is a certified sex educator and sexual and reproductive health trainer, has built an online platform focused on providing accessible information about sexuality, sexual health and relationships.
Her interest in sex education developed from her own experience of searching for reliable information. She has explained that growing up in a conservative environment left her with questions about sex and relationships that she initially had to answer through personal research.
While at university, she began sharing information through WhatsApp, initially alongside academic content. During the COVID-19 lockdown, she expanded the platform to include sex education, an area that quickly attracted a wider audience.
However, the decision to discuss sex publicly came with criticism and misconceptions.
Adewale has previously spoken about being judged simply because she discusses sexual health online. Some people, she said, assumed that being a sex educator meant she was sexually promiscuous or overly focused on sex.
She also faced questions about why someone with a Chemistry degree had chosen to work in sex education. Rather than abandoning the field, Adewale continued to develop her expertise and pursue professional training.
Her work now sits at the intersection of sex education and public health, with an emphasis on providing accurate and non-judgmental information. She has said that conversations about sex, consent and bodily autonomy are often treated as taboo, leaving many young people without the knowledge needed to understand their health and personal boundaries.
Adewale’s professional profile shows that she has also undertaken training in areas including clinical research, informed consent, scientific dissemination and public health practice. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in public health with a focus on sexual and reproductive health.
She has also been involved in sexual and reproductive health education beyond her online platform, including work on an interactive training manual covering comprehensive sexuality education, contraception, sexual health and rights for secondary school students.
For Adewale, the goal extends beyond discussing sex. She sees education as a way of helping people make informed decisions about their bodies and wellbeing while challenging misinformation and harmful assumptions.
She has also advocated for spaces where young people can ask questions about sexual and reproductive health without fear of judgement, arguing that the absence of trusted sources of information can leave people relying on misinformation.
Despite the criticism surrounding her chosen field, Adewale has continued to build her career around education, public health advocacy and open conversations about sexual health.
