In a significant boost for youth-led development, three Nigerian teenagers have been awarded a combined grant of $1,989 to execute transformative projects in their local communities. The funding, provided under the 2025 Pan-African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) Mini-Grant scheme, enabled the young leaders to convert their innovative ideas into tangible solutions for pressing societal challenges.
Meet the Young Change-Makers and Their Projects
The grant beneficiaries, Olagbemisoke Alaka, Dinatu Joseph, and Divine Akunne, received U.S.-funded support through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Meridian International Centre. The implementing organisation, Youth Can Nigeria, confirmed the successful completion of all three initiatives, which addressed critical needs among students, children, and smallholder farmers.
Olagbemisoke Alaka's RaiseNets Initiative confronted the problem of indiscriminate waste disposal in a community in Ogun State. Her project provided environmental education to more than 400 students and secured 350 pledges for action. She also partnered with the local Waste Management Authority, donating four large waste bins to foster proper waste practices and a safer, more sustainable environment.
In Abuja, Dinatu Joseph launched the Yara Reader Project. This initiative trained 17 teenage volunteers as "street teachers" who then taught 96 children, aged eight to 14, within their communities how to read. The project enhanced literacy skills, promoted peer-based learning, and offered vital support to underserved children, with parents celebrating the progress at a community Demo Day.
Divine Akunne's TIRA Water Project delivered a low-cost irrigation solution for smallholder farmers in the Federal Capital Territory, helping them manage dry-season water shortages. Expanded to serve 23 farmers, the project is designed to reduce labour, improve irrigation efficiency, and support resilient dry-season farming.
Mentorship and a Call for Greater Investment
All three projects were supervised by the 2025 PAYLP Adult Mentor, Irene Bangwell, Co-Founder of the KNOSK N100-a-Day Charity Secondary School in Kuje, Abuja. She highlighted that the mini-grant received funding from Meridian International Centre, with additional support from Dr. Bobby Digi of the Canvass Institute, Dr Roderick Palton of PenPal Global, and the KNOSK school, which acted as a feeding partner for the literacy project.
Bangwell stated that the success of these young leaders underscores the power of youth-driven solutions when paired with proper mentorship and resources. She issued a strong appeal to government agencies, civil society, and development partners to increase investment in youth-led innovation across Nigeria.
"These young people have shown that with even a modest investment, Nigerian youth can design solutions that transform entire communities," Bangwell said. "What they achieved with just $1,989 proves what is possible when we trust and empower them. If Nigeria wants to unlock the full potential of its youth population, then programmes like PAYLP must be scaled up. Our young leaders are ready to build the future; they only need the support to do so."
The accomplishments of Alaka, Joseph, and Akunne stand as a powerful testament to the creativity and dedication of Nigerian youth, demonstrating that with targeted support and opportunity, they are capable of driving substantial, positive change at the grassroots level.
