Driving Youth-led Impact for Sustainability!
Dear Friend,
February was a month of action, innovation, and impact at NGYouthSDGs! From amplifying youth-driven climate solutions to shaping conversations on national policies, we’ve been busy ensuring that young people remain at the forefront of sustainable development.
We launched our 2024 Impact Report, showcasing the milestones we’ve achieved together. We also selected the Top 6 innovators for the Sustainable Innovation Lab, equipping them with the skills and resources to scale their solutions through intensive bootcamps. In the climate policy space, we hosted an Insight Gathering on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the National Adaptation Plan (NAP), ensuring youth voices are heard in shaping Nigeria’s climate future. We also empowered student leaders through a Leadership & Capacity-Building Workshop at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), equipping them with the tools to drive change in their communities.
As we navigate this new month of March, we invite you to join the movement! Whether through advocacy, innovation, or collaboration, your voice and actions matter. Stay engaged and inspired, and let’s keep pushing for a more sustainable future together!
📩 Keep reading for more details on these milestones and how you can get involved! ⬇️
2024 Impact Report
2024 was a year of bold action and transformative change at NGYouthSDGs! From empowering young innovators to driving climate solutions, our journey has been fueled by passion, resilience, and impact. Curious to see the numbers, stories, and milestones? Dive into the NGYouthSDGs 2024 Impact Report and discover how we are accelerating progress toward the SDGs!
🔗Read the full report here 👉 https://nigerianyouthsdgs.org/2024-our-year-round-up/
Bridging the Gap: Inspiring A New Generation
In February, NGYouthSDGs continued its mission of empowering young leaders by hosting a transformative Capacity Building Workshop themed: Bridging the Gap: Inspiring A New Generation at the Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos (UNILAG).
Facilitated by Ms. Opeyemi Ogundeji, NGYouthSDGs’ Programmes Manager, the session challenged participants to reflect on what it means to be a changemaker. Through an engaging role-play activity, students developed leadership and communication skills, learning how to provide constructive feedback and support their peers in overcoming challenges.
Additionally, participants explored different changemaker identities—Advocates, Entrepreneurs, Mobilizers, and more—while gaining insight into effective impact measurement strategies for driving social change. This impactful event provided a platform for interactive leadership discussions, capacity building, and networking opportunities aimed at fostering youth-led sustainable development.
The Future is in Our Hands! At NGYouthSDGs, we believe investing in young leaders is key to building a sustainable Nigeria.
📩 Click link below for more insights.
https://nigerianyouthsdgs.org/bridging-the-gap-inspiring-a-new-generation-capacity-building-for-students/
Meet Our Top Six Innovators
We have more exciting news: We selected our Top Six Innovators of the Sustainable Innovation Lab, proudly supported by the German Embassy in Nigeria. Over 339 Innovative Youths sent in their applications from all over Nigeria, but only 15 were selected for a chance to go through the various selection processes, leadership exercises, learning boot camps, and the pitch for 5-million-naira funding for their Climate Solutions.
As presented by our dedicated and amazing SIL judges, we are glad to announce our Top Six Innovators who made a significant impression on the judges with their outstanding solutions. We commend all participants who went on this journey for their dedication and contributions to the development, promotion, and scaling of climate solutions.
The Sustainable Innovation Lab is designed to empower these young changemakers with the skills, mentorship, and resources needed to make a difference in their communities and contribute to Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP).
Join us in congratulating them, and we also urge you to stay updated via our social media platforms for the award of the Top 4 Innovators who are going to be taking over and dominating with different Climate solutions.
Freedom of Speech: Struggle for Social Justice In Nigeria.
To Commemorate International Day for Social Justice, our 2025 Cohort of the Youth Activators Lab came up with an amazing piece on social justice as it relates to Nigeria.
Observed February 20th every year, the team highlighted the critical role of freedom of speech in promoting social justice in Nigeria, which is a vital human right that empowers individuals to voice their opinions, advocate for change, and demand accountability from leaders. In a just society, everyone deserves to be heard, yet this remains a significant challenge in Nigeria.
Achieving social justice in Nigeria hinges on protecting the freedom of expression, especially for marginalized voices that are crucial in addressing inequality, advocating for human rights, and driving policies that advance fairness and justice. The fight for a just society involves exposing corruption, amplifying the concerns of oppressed communities, and pushing for reforms that foster equity and inclusivity. The team also notes that a truly just society is one where every voice counts for a better Nigeria.
You can find the full piece here ⬇️
https://nigerianyouthsdgs.org/freedom-of-speech-and-social-justice-a-call-for-equity-inclusion/
Our Executive Director Joshua Alade, also put together a piece on Achieving Social Justice in Education and Employment for Sustainable Futures for Youth in Nigeria.
According to him, achieving social justice in education and employment is crucial to Nigeria’s attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is the pathway to eradicating extreme poverty and creating opportunities for young people to contribute meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic development. It enables young girls, people living with disabilities, and youth from disadvantaged communities to thrive in a nation that acknowledges their rights and provides the educational and economic opportunities they need to succeed. You can read more about it using the link below⬇️
https://nigerianyouthsdgs.org/achieving-social-justice-in-education-and-employment-for-sustainable-futures-for-youth-in-nigeria/
Strengthening SDG Action in Lagos!
Living up to one of our major mandates, NGYouthSDGs, in partnership with Sustainacious.co, is taking a bold step toward embedding sustainability in governance by training the staff of the Office on SDGs in Lagos State on how to integrate the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their daily work.
Represented by Ms. Opeyemi Ogundeji, NGYouthSDGs’ Programmes Manager, the training focused on SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and SDG 13 (Climate Action)—key areas that are essential for fostering a sustainable and resilient Lagos. Through interactive sessions, practical case studies, and hands-on learning, participants gained insights into how their roles can contribute to the larger SDG agenda.
By bridging the gap between policy and implementation, this initiative ensures that sustainability principles are embedded in decision-making processes, urban planning, and service delivery.
Together, we are accelerating action for a greener, more inclusive Lagos.
Insights Gathering on the NAP and NDCs
Learning never stops with us, so we hosted a virtual session to gather diverse insights and perspectives on the role young people can play in driving climate adaptation and mitigation strategies in Nigeria.
Led by our learning consultant, Dr. Shakirat B. Ibrahim, PhD, a real expert in climate policy the learning session also took a deep dive into insights and stories from climate innovators and policymakers, fun and interactive discussions about youth-led climate solutions, and making the the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) document more accessible, user friendly, including pictures and datas.
We value your thoughts and contributions on the NAP and NDCs document, if you are yet to download our simplified toolkit, click the link below to access it ⬇️
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ATJ4t14q3Z-f4PhfQCZ81WEk7pA1vD-2/view
External Opportunities
Disclaimer: We do not claim any ownership or legal rights to the external opportunities shared. They are provided solely to promote meaningful engagement of young people.
1. DAAD In-Country/In-Region Masters/PhD Scholarship Programme
2. UfM Energy & Climate Business Forum 2025:
3. Fully Funded Master in African Innovation Leadership (AIL)
4.French African Foundation Young Leaders Program
5. The Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts Fellowship
6. Small Business Champions 2025 Call for Applications:
7.LEAP Africa Youth Leadership Development Programme 2025 for young changemakers.
8. The Vital Voices (VV) Visionaries Program 2025 for Emerging Women Leaders.
9. FAO Regional Office for Africa (RAF) Internship Programme
This year, we’re creating even more spaces for organisations, development professionals, and public or private sector leaders to support our work.
If you’re passionate about equipping and empowering youth to lead change, or you know an organisation that is, we’d love to collaborate.
Here’s how you can help:
💰 For donations:
Account Number: 1214508474
Account Name: Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative
Bank: Zenith Bank
📧 Want to meet with us? Send an email to programs@nigerianyouthsdgs.org
Stay Connected with Us:
Dear Friend,
What are your initial impressions after reading the Green Letters for the first time? We would love to know your thoughts, so feel free to write back.
Nice and laudable