Three exceptional Nigerian teenagers have been awarded a combined grant of $1,989 to bring their community-changing ideas to life. The funding, provided under the 2025 Pan-African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) Mini-Grant scheme, has empowered Olagbemisoke Alaka, Dinatu Joseph, and Divine Akunne to implement practical solutions to local challenges.
From Ideas to Action: The Winning Projects
The U.S.-funded initiative, managed through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Meridian International Centre, allowed the youths to design and complete projects targeting critical needs. The implementing organisation, Youth Can Nigeria, confirmed the successful execution of all three ventures, highlighting how the mini-grant empowered the teens and showcased the latent potential of young Nigerians when given resources.
Their initiatives covered a broad spectrum of community development:
- Olagbemisoke Alaka's RaiseNets Initiative tackled environmental waste in an Ogun State community. The project educated over 400 students on proper disposal, secured 350 pledges for action, and collaborated with the Waste Management Authority to donate four large waste bins, fostering a safer and more sustainable environment.
- Dinatu Joseph's Yara Reader Project in Abuja trained 17 teenage volunteers as "street teachers." They subsequently taught 96 children, aged 8 to 14, to read within their own communities. The project boosted literacy, encouraged peer-based learning, and provided vital support to underserved children, with progress showcased at a community Demo Day.
- Divine Akunne's TIRA Water Project addressed dry-season farming challenges in the Federal Capital Territory by providing a low-cost irrigation solution for smallholder farmers. Expanded to serve 23 farmers, the project aims to reduce labour, improve irrigation efficiency, and support resilient agricultural practices.
Mentorship and a Call for Greater Investment
Supervision for the projects was provided by the 2025 PAYLP Adult Mentor, Irene Bangwell, Co-Founder of the KNOSK N100-a-Day Charity Secondary School in Kuje, Abuja. Bangwell noted that the PAYLP Mini-Grant was funded by Meridian International Center, 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.
She emphasised that the success of these young leaders proves the power of youth-led solutions backed by proper mentorship and resources. Bangwell issued a strong call to action for increased support.
"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 completion of these projects underscores a significant truth: strategic, small-scale investments in young innovators can yield substantial, tangible benefits for Nigerian communities, paving the way for a more empowered and solution-driven generation.
