International Youth Day is celebrated annually on 12 August to bring youth issues to the forefront and celebrate young people’s voices, actions, and initiatives, as well as their meaningful and equitable engagement. Nigeria Youth SDGs, in partnership with Oxfam in Nigeria, launched the Youth Spotlight Award during International Youth Day to spotlight and celebrate ten (10) outstanding young people leading social impact and advancing Sustainable Development Goals at the local and national levels.
The Youth Spotlight Awards received over 400 nominations from individuals and youth organizations across Nigeria. The recipients were officially unveiled and celebrated for their effort in leading change for a sustainable future at the International Youth Day event in Abuja, Nigeria.
Meet The 2022 Youth Spotlight Award Recipients
Wilson Atumeyi
Wilson Atumeyi is a sociologist and an anti-corruption activist based in Abuja. He is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Water With Development (WaterWide), a non-profit organization that solves water sanitation and hygiene-related issues, and tracks government spending and international aid for Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) to ensure transparency, accountability, and the proper implementation and completion of WASH projects in marginalized and rural communities in Nigeria and to improve the living condition of Nigerians through targeted capacity building, advocacy, multidimensional engagement, and social mobilization.
Chidinma Ibemere
Chidinma Ibemere is a Biology Teacher at Federal Government College Enugu and serves as the Lead Volunteer at Chidinma Ibemere Foundation. This organization contributes significantly to bridging the gaps of inequalities that exist in Education through advocacy and empowerment. Chidinma also serves as the Project Officer at Wadi Ben-Hirki Foundation. She was a champion for the ONE Campaign in Nigeria between 2018 and 2020 and a Margaret Ekpo Youth Fellow.
Okeke Grace Eche
Grace is a climate change/girl child advocate, community and social development enthusiast with over three years of experience with NGOs in empowering women/ girls and youths through education, training, mentorship, coaching, and advocacy.
Grace is the initiator of GIRLS for CLIMATE ACTION empowering girls affected by climate change, gaining access to education, and the operations officer with Hope Behind Bars Africa. She is currently a member of the African Feminist Taskforce, developing the feminist demands for COP27. Grace holds a Mini MBA from Lagos Business School and MBA with ABU Zaria in view.
Aliyu Umar Sadiq
Aliyu Sadiq is a climate activist, environmentalist and social entrepreneur. He is the founder and CEO of Ecocykle, a Project Assistant at the African Environmental Awareness Initiative, and a Community Resources Person for CsDevNet & PACJA.
With over three years of experience in development, Aliyu has focused immensely on environmental & climate justice advocacy, waste management solutions, and empowerment initiatives for youth and women. He recently emerged winner of the 2022 African Youth for Environment Fellowship.
Ruth Chidimma Okafor
Ruth Chidimma Okafor is a Programs Officer with Connected Development with an ace in developmental work and impactful experience managing projects tied to gender equality, youth development, and social accountability. Ruth is experienced in performing programmatic roles. She is a gender advocate with a knack for societal development and sustainability. Ruth has led campaigns to influence policies affecting youths, women, and girls.
She is a graduate of Biochemistry from the University of Imo State Owerri, with a Diploma in Project Management. She believes in creating a thriving environment for young people regardless of ethnicity, gender, or group.
Nigeria Youth Call for Participation in Decision Making
Fatima Aliyu Magaji
Fatima Aliyu Magaji is an environmentalist and climate activist. She is the founder of the environmental advocacy platform FAM4FUTURE. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Chemistry from Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. In 2018, she served as a Commissioner for Projects (Set 11) at the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy, and Development (CentreLSD), where she now holds an alumni status.
She is currently the partnership director at the Community Action Against Plastic Waste. She has also served as a member and executive of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI Network Abuja), an initiative of the US government in Africa to groom the next generation of African leaders. In 2022, she was selected alongside 25 other participants in Nigeria for the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung ‘Open Minds Young Voices’ Activists Programme. Fatima consistently leverages her platforms and networks to champion environmental sustainability initiatives, climate action, and community development projects in collaboration with other youth-led organizations.
Bashiru Idris Adedayo
Idris is a Built Environment Professional with Global Leadership skills for Cultural Intelligence and Civic Engagement. He is a Registered Town Planner from Nigeria and a Chartered Project Management Professional. As a Champion of the Nigeria Youth SDGs, he has proven his leadership potential remarkably with his positive contribution to a better community; this includes his input in creating the SDGs Playbook and the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan. Professionally, he has been involved in numerous physical planning projects and engages in the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners activities in Lagos and Ogun State.
Okereke Doris Chikaodili
Doris is an outstanding change maker and dependable team player with a strong voice for positive change and a beacon of hope. She is an advocate and development worker. She has coordinated and offered leadership to various organizations. She has immensely made significant contributions as a Focal person in Inspiring Generation and Humanity Support Foundation Africa (IGHUSUF Africa) in ensuring a safe environment, gender justice, education for all, health facility improvement, and youth participation in governance and more with tremendous results.
Itofameh Ivarah
Itofa Ivarah is a social entrepreneur championing Zero Hunger in Nigeria. He is the founder of My9jaFoodBank Initiative and Church On The Street Int’l championing Zero Hunger in Nigeria. Through collaborative effort and advocacy, he has raised over $9000 for community development across eight states in Nigeria.
Dogara Iliya
Dogara has 6 years of experience as an Entrepreneur and Youth Activist. He is the Founder of Breeliyanth Computers, the Champion Nigeria Youth SDGs Network Adamawa State chapter, and Tony Elumelu Foundation Hub Lead Adamawa State. His focus is on training youths and women to become better leaders and Amplifying their voices to enhance youth participation in developmental activities.
