Who is Akosua Dardaine?
Akosua Dardaine Edwards is an author, speaker, coach, and social entrepreneur whose work has taken her from rural communities in Trinidad and Tobago to international stages — always with the same conviction: that unconditional self-love is the foundation of everything.
Her impact has been recognised across the Caribbean and beyond. She is a multiple award winner, honoured as Social Entrepreneur of the Year in Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean Female Social Entrepreneur of the Year by the Global Innovation Partners, and recipient of The Merikin Award for Distinguished Leadership in Women's Affairs. In 2019 she was named one of the Women's Economic Ambassadors by Diversity RD Global.
The NiNa Programme
At the heart of Akosua's community work is the NiNa Young Women's Leadership Programme — a movement, not just an initiative. NiNa supports young women transitioning out of the state care system, equipping them with the tools to build self-worth and step confidently into the world. It also operates in secondary schools across Trinidad and Tobago, using entrepreneurship as a vehicle for empowerment as young women prepare for university and beyond. NiNa has received international recognition through the UNF and UN Spotlight Initiative.
Her Books
Akosua has written and published four books, including her most recent, Now What? The Flipside (2021) — an honest, practical companion for anyone navigating life's turning points.
On the Ground, In the World
What drives Akosua is not theory — it is presence. Being on the ground in communities, witnessing first-hand what she calls "the beauty of the human spirit," is what called her into this work and what keeps her showing up. She has worked in rural communities and developing countries, and approaches every experience as both a contribution and a learning.
