Eddie Ndopu

Eddie Ndopu (born 1990) is a South African disability rights advocate. He is one of 17 global advocates appointed by the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Sustainable Development Goals.

Background Eddie Ndopu was born in Namibia in 1990, after his single mother had fled apartheid South Africa by going into self-imposed exile. At the age of two Ndopu was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy, a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system, and was given until the age of five to live. When he was aged nine, he moved to Cape Town, South Africa. He then graduated summa cum laude with an interdisciplinary studies degree from Carleton University in Canada. During this time Ndopu was invited to give a presentation about his work at a 'Master's Tea' at Yale University. based at Somerville College, he graduated with a masters in public policy. Ndopu is the special adviser for impact and corporate sustainability to the Partners of RTW Investments.

In 2019, Antonio Guterres – Secretary-General of the United Nations – appointed Ndopu as one of 17 eminent advocates for the Sustainable Development Goals .

Recognition Ndopu became a Global Changemaker in 2008. The Global Changemakers programme invited him to attend the World Economic Forum in South Africa. He has been recognised by Pacific Standard as one of their "top 30 thinkers under 30", by Shaw Trust and Powerful Media as one of the 50 most influential people with disabilities in the world, and by South Africa's Mail & Guardian as one of their annual "top 200 young South Africans" for 2019.