We are happy to celebrate two of our own who have not only supported the implementation of our youth-focused initiative but have also been impacted by our training aimed at equipping young people to lead and thrive.
These two young leaders- Alfred Akerele and Abdulazeez Musa Etudaye were recently selected to join the ONE Campaign Africa as ONE Champions. The ONE Champion role is a prestigious recognition by the ONE Campaign, a global advocacy organisation that fights to end extreme poverty and preventable disease. ONE Champions are leaders who demonstrate exceptional dedication to advancing the campaign’s mission, engaging in advocacy efforts, and mobilising support to address critical issues such as economic opportunities and healthcare access.
Meet the young leaders from NGYouthSDGs
Abdulazeez Musa Etudaye is a development program leader youth empowerment advocate and strategist, passionate about designing and implementing solutions that strengthen access to opportunities for young people in education, employment, skills development and leadership. With over half a decade of experience in the development space, Abdulazeez has directly impacted over 6,000 young people and women through training, facilitation, advocacy, and coordination of various projects aimed at fostering youth socio-economic empowerment in Nigeria and globally. He currently serves as the Director of Programs at Bridge Connect Africa, is the Co-founder of WeCan Africa Initiative, and serves on the Youth Panel of the EU-Youth Empowerment Fund, in addition to being a member of several other global youth-related civic causes, and currently a ONE Champion with the ONE Campaign in Africa.
“Joining the Youth Activators Lab (YAL) as an Associate over the past year has profoundly influenced my growth within the social development sector. From the onset, the YAL program immersed us in a series of workshops and training sessions led by seasoned professionals, as well as collaborative projects with fellow Associates. These experiences have significantly broadened my understanding of sustainable development and the pivotal role youth play in shaping policies and programs and provided me with insights and perspectives that have enriched my approach to advocacy. Collaborating with other Associates has further honed my skills in strategic planning and engagement.”
As a ONE Champion with the ONE Campaign, Abdulazeez sees it as an opportunity to connect with vibrant network of young Africans, to fight for a more just world by engaging decision-makers, supporting advocacy efforts, and mobilising public support to demand the investments needed to create economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa.
Alfred Akerele has over a decade of experience in the non-profit sector, holding significant roles with local, national, and global humanitarian and media organisations. He is a seasoned professional dedicated to driving impactful change through strategic project management, resource mobilization, and policy advocacy. His expertise spans sustainable development, civic engagement, education, media, public health, economic development, climate change, and social inclusion.
Alfred has mentored young people through various projects, including the Youth Leadership Development Program by LEAP Africa, judged at the 2023 Enactus Nigeria National Competition, the GovSpend Media Fellowship by BudgIT Foundation and Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024. He is currently collaborating with the Commonwealth Youth Gender Equality Network to enhance member states’ commitment to gender-inclusive quality education and equitable employment opportunities.
“As an NGYouthSDGs Champion Coordinator (now known as Youth Activators Lab programme) in Ondo State from 2020-2022. I organised several programs and worked with policymakers. I also had the opportunity to contribute to the Nigerian Youth Employment Action Plan as a State Implementation Committee member. These experiences reflected my dedication to youth engagement and also earned me a recognition and recipient of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) individual grant in 2022.”
As ONE Champion with ONE Campaign Africa, Alfred will expand his work in youth engagement, through organisational policies, delivering high-quality results, and collaborating with other champions across 12 African countries to drive impactful change.
The involvement of these young leaders as ONE Champions is a clear indication of our commitment to establishing a supportive environment that empowers young leaders, amplifies youth voices, and enhances the impact of youth for sustainable development. We are delighted to endorse and promote the efforts of leaders such as Abdulazeez and Alfred, whose dedication to youth empowerment is shaping a better future for everyone.
