EU YOUTH SOUNDING BOARD IN NIGERIA

Abasiama Cyril is a passionate development communicator with a keen focus on environmental sustainability, governance, and leadership advocacy. Her dedication to these causes is evident in her active volunteer roles at organizations such as the Global Shapers Community, Uyo, and the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI), Akwa Ibom Hub.

Abasiama has actively participated in various youth conferences and summits, both in-person and virtually. Notably, she represented Nigeria at the YALI Nigeria National Summit 2023, where she presented a compelling position paper on Climate Change at the Model United Nations General Assembly. Additionally, she has been involved in consultative calls organized by the Major Group For Children and Youth (MGCY) for the Summit of the Future.

With a Bachelor's degree in Communication, Advocacy, and Community Engagement, Abasiama possesses a strong foundation in effective communication and social impact. Her skills in data research and policy analysis enable her to contribute meaningfully to the development of sustainable solutions.

Her commitment to environmental sustainability has been recognized with the prestigious Green Challenge Award 2024 from Oxfam Nigeria. This award is a testament to her significant contributions to promoting a greener future.

Abdulkareem O. Abdullateef is a Social Development advocate, who has consistently initiated programs and ideas on social advocacy and policy redirection on girls' education, social accountability, environmental sustainability, and governance. As the Executive Director of the Saving African Youths Dream Initiative (SAYDi), Abdulkareem envisions a thriving ecosystem where underserved youth can fully harness their potential for societal benefit. SAYDi’s mission includes enhancing quality education, promoting democratic governance, and advancing gender inclusion and social justice, building critical bridges between citizens and the government. His work has made a measurable impact, transforming the lives of thousands in rural communities.

His notable recognitions include the Best Position Paper award at the 2022 International Youth Diplomacy Conference in Ghana and his selection as a 2024 Young Global Changer by the Global Solutions Initiative, Germany. Additionally, Abdulkareem is a faculty member of the CLAY Fellowship Programme and serves as a ONE Champion with The ONE Campaign, among other roles.

Currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Agricultural Economics, Abdulkareem envisions an African system rooted in equity, where social amenities are accessible to all, including those in the most remote areas, and where citizens hold leaders accountable. He is driven to empower youth in marginalized communities to pursue equal opportunities and maximize their potential for a more inclusive and prosperous Africa.

Ayomikun Wuraola Zainab Aderounmu is a Communications Expert, Corporate Master of Ceremonies, and Business Journalist.  She has a background in English Language and Literature with a First Class grade, graduating top of her class as the overall Best Student. 

She is a Global Youth Ambassador at TheirWorld, 2024 Carrington Youth Fellow, and the Apex Lagos State Youth Ambassador, where she leads a cross-functional team of 50 young people passionate about making change in their immediate environment. Together with her team, she has executed over 40 Impact and Social Development projects, and impacted more than 50,000 youth and school children.

In 2023, she led a week-long awareness for International Youth week focusing on Green Skills for young people. She spoke on national TV and radio about these topics and also served as keynote speaker for a number of events during this period. Later that year, she led a team of young people on a project titled Seventh Generation Thinking which focused on climate sensitization and community Cleanup of Eti-Osa, Lagos. She leveraged professional and personal contacts and partnered with government authorities including the Waste management agency. In 2024, she served as the Sustainable Solutions Development Network Lagos State Representative where she led a team of 1000 advocates to spread the gospel of the SDGs, and also executed a community project geared towards Climate Action, SDG 13.

As an Ambassador, she represents thousands of young people on high-profile meetings including a committee reviewing the Youth Policy in Lagos State. Beyond that, she is a certified Fellow of the Management Institute of Finland, Helsinki, where she attended leadership and communication training in Finland. As a gender and climate advocate, she believes women's economic empowerment translates into global economic growth.

Abdulmojeed Aishat is a medical doctor and project management professional with a strong background in clinical practice, public health advocacy, and youth mentorship. A graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, she is currently completing her internship at General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, Ogun State.

Her passion for healthcare advocacy is reflected in her role as the Young Doctors Forum Coordinator for the Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter, where she leads impactful initiatives. In her previous work with organizations like the Nigerian Medical Students Association, Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Auwal Shanono Foundation, and more, she has led and volunteered in initiatives reaching over 5,000 individuals in underserved communities. Her leadership experience includes managing outreach programs, coordinating large teams, and securing strategic partnerships to amplify healthcare access. Notably, in 2022, her leadership contributed to the Auwal Shanono Foundation’s recognition with the IFMSA Rex Crossley Award and the IFMSA Memo Grant.

Aishat’s professional journey is further distinguished by her participation in competitive programs such as the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative by the U.S. Consulate, the McKinsey Forward Program, YALI RLC, the GEDA Digital Fellowship, the Aspire Leaders Program, and the Millennium Fellowship. She recently earned a Certificate in Project Management in Global Health from the University of Washington and is currently pursuing a certification in Data Analysis to further enhance her advocacy work.

With a robust foundation in both clinical and management skills, Dr. Aishat is committed to expanding her impact through community health interventions and capacity-buildi

Ayotunde Aboderin is a youth advocate who is passionate about empowering young people to lead solutions for climate action, anti-corruption, and social justice across Africa. As the Country Lead for MUN Impact Nigeria and Executive Director of AmpliYouth Advocacy Academy, he has developed programmes that have empowered over 2,000 Nigerian students from marginalized communities and equipped over 200 youth advocates with practical skills to champion change since the inception of both organizations in 2019 and 2023, respectively. 

Growing up in Ibadan, Nigeria, he witnessed first-hand the impacts of drug abuse, corruption, and environmental challenges on his community, he is inspired to work toward grassroots advocacy. He has collaborated with organizations like the UNODC, where he led initiatives under their Education for Justice programme and championed the GRACE Initiative to bring anti-corruption education to schools across Nigeria. His role as an educator contributed to his recognition as one of Nigeria's top education change makers in 2024. 

Ayotunde is the author of three books on anti-corruption and climate mobility, which are widely read in Nigeria and several other African countries to encourage integrity, ethical decision-making, and climate action among young people. His work has led him to represent Nigeria in global dialogues, including the Kyoto Crime Congress Youth Forum in Japan, the Regional African Conference on Anti-Corruption in Kenya, and the “Strengthening African Youth Voices on Human Mobility in the Context of Climate Change” Kenya. 

He engages with international counterparts to advance youth-led approaches to justice reform and climate resilience and is recognized for my unwavering commitment to impactful youth engagement

Bukola Mary Taiwo is a development enthusiast, community mobilizer, and advocate for gender and reproductive justice with a strong foundation in international relations and public policy analysis. Passionate about youth engagement, she has led efforts to amplify young voices in peacebuilding and diplomacy. As the first female Secretary General of Ife Model United Nations and former President of the General Assembly at Covenant International Model United Nations 2021, Bukola has demonstrated her commitment to empowering youth to drive meaningful change. 

Bukola is the Founder of BUTA Initiative, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating women and girls in rural communities, conflict zones, and internally displaced people’s camps on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). Under her leadership, BUTA Initiative has reached over 7,000 women and girls, equipping them with knowledge and resources for healthier lives. 

As a pioneer Thematic Lead for Health at the Queen’s Commonwealth Trust from 2022 to 2024, Bukola’s contributions have been recognized with the Ekiti Future Awards "Prize for Community Action" in 2022. A TEDx speaker and UNICEF Nigeria Young Influencer, she also serves as a Program Assistant at Gender Mobile Initiative and a Fellow with Abuja Accelerators. 

With a diploma in local government studies from Obafemi Awolowo University, Bukola is now pursuing a master’s degree in public policy analysis, inspired by a vision for inclusive, equitable societies and sustained youth engagement.

Douglas Izuchukwu Ozoigboanugo, is a graduate of Library and Information Science from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. 

He served as the President of the National Association of Nigerian Deaf Students (NANDS) and Secretary of the World Federation of the Deaf Youth Section (WFDYS), a humanitarian federation under the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), which holds consultative status at the United Nations and advocates for the human rights of over seventy million deaf and hard-of-hearing people worldwide.

His areas of interest include discussions on matters of both local and international concern, as well as development-related conversations. This interest was demonstrated in his role as a delegate representing the Republic of Sudan at the Trust African Model United Nations (TAFMUN) conference held in Lagos State, Nigeria, where he participated in and proposed solutions to global development challenges as a college student at Federal Science and Technical College, Yaba, Lagos, in 2017.

He is a Disability Rights Advocate passionate about Disability Inclusion, with over four years of experience in the field, acquired through strategic volunteering with human rights organizations. Given his experience, he received an individual grant from the Nigeria Youth Future Fund (NYFF) in 2023 to manage a four-month project titled “EmpowerHer: Ending Gender-Based Violence in Anambra State.” This project involved conducting GBV sensitization workshops in four secondary schools in the state, aiming to "catch students young" by raising awareness about GBV—a fundamental step toward prevention. This project was in response to the rising cases of GBV in Nigeria, which, in the first five months of 2024, rose to 6,142, according to Punch Healthwise.

He enjoys writing and storytelling about the lived experiences of deaf people on the Facebook page @deafiesexpriences.

Emmanuella Eze is a licensed physiotherapist with an interest in public health, migration, peace & security. 

She is an alumnus of UNOCT's youth engagement and empowerment program; a platform that engaged young people to offer policy recommendations to the Nigerian government on preventing and countering violent extremism in Nigeria. 

Emmanuella has worked with the Women's Board-educational Cooperation society as a program coordinator on capacity building projects for university students between 2021-2023. 

Emmanuella is currently a young influencer for UNICEF Nigeria where she advocates for the rights and protection of children. She enjoys researching evidence-based practice on the management of developmental milestone delays in children. During her leisure time, I create content that helps young people make informed decisions about migration options and alternatives to irregular migration.

Eric Andrew is working at the intersection of agriculture, data, and climate action to drive sustainable and equitable economic growth among young people and marginalized populations in Northern Nigeria. He is the Team Lead for AgrofixiNG, a non-profit initiative working to enhance resilience and foster inclusion of grassroots communities in agriculture and circular economy to thrive in the face of a changing climate.

Through program design and implementation, research, and advocacy, monitoring and evaluation, his work supports young people, women, girls, and smallholder farmers; providing entrepreneurship and skill development opportunities, climate-smart technologies, waste-to-resource production systems in agriculture, and increased market access to reduce the impact of climate change, empower farming and non-farming communities and enable vulnerable populations to live dignified lives. 

A Young Trade Leader with the World Trade Organization, Eric is learning and influencing how trade policies can sustainably drive international development, and foster food security for a growing world population.  He uses stories to demystify and simplify complex climate concepts for young people and call them to action. Eric is growing a community of online and offline volunteers across Nigeria engaging them in developing solutions for climate action within their communities. He is the organizer of the first climate actors club for secondary school students in Kano. He is leading campaigns including the #Nolit campaign in kano and the 10,000 tree planting campaign.

Esohe Ekunwe serves as the Director of Strategy and Operations at Tech Herfrica, a social impact organization committed to advancing digital and financial inclusion for female farmers and traders in rural and underserved African communities. By providing these women with essential digital access, Tech Herfrica empowers them to grow and thrive in a more connected world. In recognition of its impactful work, Tech Herfrica was honored with the prestigious 2023 ITU Sustainable Development Goals Digital Game Changers Award in the People Category, underscoring its role in promoting digital equity across underserved regions.

Beyond her impactful role at Tech Herfrica, Esohe has trained over 5,000 African youth in digital skills and serves as a mentor to young women entering the tech industry, helping them navigate career pathways in technology. Through her previous role as Growth Marketing Manager at an EdTech startup, she supported over 30 Africans in successfully transitioning into the technology sector, further broadening access to tech-related careers.

As a dynamic public speaker and passionate trainer, Esohe is a certified digital skills trainer, known for her engaging approach to equipping diverse audiences with essential tech skills. Her contributions earned her a place among the Top 10 Most Influential Black Corporate Women to Watch in 2024. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees at Tech Herfrica, where she is dedicated to bridging the digital divide and expanding opportunities for women across Africa.

As a Rise Up and Vital Voices 2024 Global Fellow, Esohe channels her expertise to drive conversations around gender equity and social justice, championing initiatives that promote inclusive growth. She has a strong track record of supporting and executing strategic initiatives that foster both organizational growth and innovation. Her unwavering commitment to empowerment and equity makes her a transformative force in the digital and social impact landscapes across Afric

Happiness Emordi is a purpose-driven young individual with a bold vision to create positive change and drive sustainable impact in marginalized communities. She channels her efforts through three core pillars namely, 'Projects, Programs, and Policies' where she develops initiatives that strengthen youth empowerment, digital literacy and education, all aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

With over two years of experience in sustainable development, Happiness has led projects from conception to monitoring and evaluation, building a reputation for effective project management.

Her work with a start-up accelerator has also provided her with hands-on experience in empowering business owners through training and resources that support economic growth and decent work opportunities.

As the Team Lead at Tribeshood Africa, a human rights organization, Happiness has inspired over 500 young people, educating them on their rights through advocacy and outreach. Her leadership in this role underscores her commitment to equipping young minds with the tools and knowledge they need to advocate for themselves and others.

She is a proud member of Forbes BLK and a youth ambassador for the 5 Rights Foundation. Happiness amplifies youth voices and promotes digital rights, reinforcing her belief that “no voice is too small when it speaks for others.” Her unique perspective and dedication make her an invaluable Member of the European Union Youth Sounding Board, bringing both passion and practical experience to advance youth-focused solutions

Ibrahim Muhammad Bello is a Medical Doctor and an advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights in Nigeria. 

In 2021, he was appointed Pioneer National Chairman of the Emerging Leaders Forum of the Nigerian Medical Student’s Association (NiMSA). He created a vibrant platform for medical students in their first three years to hone their leadership skills. Under his guidance, the Emerging Leaders Forum became a launchpad for aspiring leaders, where they could develop essential skills, build confidence, and forge lasting connections with like-minded individuals. 

In 2022, he served as the National Director of the Standing Committee on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Including HIV/AIDS (SCORA) for the Nigerian Medical Students’ Association (NiMSA). One of his notable achievements was the establishment of the Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights training program for medical students in collaboration with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG). Additionally, Ibrahim partnered with Dkt International Nigeria to distribute over 50,000 ORAQUICK HIV Self Screening test kits across Nigeria #Sharelovenotvirus #UseORAQUICK

Karinate Olali is a Nigerian lawyer specialising in international development, with a focus on International Trade Law. She started her career in the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) with the project: Support to the ECOWAS Commission in the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA); there, she provides general support and conducts research on trade information and trade facilitation. She speaks English & French fluently.

With an additional background in project management, Karinate has been involved in social activism initiatives, including organising TEDx events around climate change, the journey to Net Zero, diversity and inclusion.

In addition to her role in the AfCFTA project, she coordinates a team of over 30 interns across different cities under the auspices of the Gender and Diversity Secretariat, GIZ Nigeria & ECOWAS, to foster peer-to-peer support, enhance welfare, and promote human capacity development. 

Karinate is also a strong advocate for equity and inclusion, focusing particularly on the dimensions of gender, age and social background. She believes that guided liberalised trade, especially in services, is essential for achieving freedom, equality and inclusion. She supports causes that are geared towards the achievement of SDGs 5, 8, 10, 13 & 17.

In her free time, Karinate passionately volunteers on mental health and social justice initiatives. This she has done with the Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative, amongst others. She also enjoys corporate communications, and she regularly listens to podcasts, as well as reading African literature.

Ibrahim is currently the Founder of Hope for HER, which tackles gender-based violence through the provision of education to young vulnerable girls, vocational training to the victims and advocacy against it to young male high school students. 

Ibrahim is the 2016 Winner of the ICT Whizkids Competition, and a 2023 alumnus of the Aspire Leaders Program, United People Global Leadership program and McKinsey’s Forward program. He is a 2023 mentee for the MCW Global Youth Fellowship in New York, and as a recipient of the 2023 MCW Roberta Richin Memorial Vision Plan Award at NYU School of Professional Studies, the Nigerian Youth SDG’s Network Spotlight Series, and a finalist for the Global Youth Awards by the Legacy Project in the UK. 

Mariam Adebayo is an award-winning entrepreneur and thought leader in sustainable living. Passionate about promoting sustainable living and healthy nutrition throughagriculture, she founded Madeochills Ltd. This fast-growing dates fruit processing company focuses on addressing chronic disease prevention and overall health improvement using dates as a sustainable nutritional intervention to ensure healthy living.

Through her work, she is building Madeochills Ltd into an award-winning company that helps families enjoy a sickness-free life. She is a TEF Entrepreneur and an alumnus of the Orange Corners Incubation Programme organised by the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

She is currently the Community Manager for the Global Shapers Ota Hub, where she coordinates community events, foster member engagement, and facilitate collaborations with local stakeholders to drive impactful initiatives that align with their mission to improve the local community. Her work involves organising activities, overseeing communication strategies, and ensuring the hub’s objectives are met through active participation and innovation.

Maryam Bello is a visionary co-founder dedicated to revolutionizing healthcare access in the face of environmental challenges. She spearheads Parker's mobile clinic, a groundbreaking initiative employing telemedicine and innovative AI technology during climate-induced disasters, thus fortifying healthcare resilience currently impacting over 100k underserved people.

As the Executive Director of ITIS (Impact, Technology, Innovation, and Sustainability 4 Development), Maryam champions various impactful initiatives. Her work includes crafting clean cook stoves for rural women to curb carbon footprints, pioneering mobile applications for measuring carbon emissions, and designing climate advocacy curricula. Her outstanding contributions earned her prestigious accolades: Technovation Youth Representative at COP27, where she proposed pivotal curriculum guidelines for youths; a distinguished win as the UNDP Youth4Climate Sparking Solutions Finalist in Italy 2023; and as a top 29 finalist among 500+ contestants in the Ashoka Green Change Makers 2023.

Maryam's impactful presence extends across international platforms. She represented Nigeria as a delegate at the African Youth Climate Assembly in Kenya 2023, COP28, showcased her leadership at the Youth Sustainability Development Conference (YSDC) in Atlanta 2023, and played a vital role at the Conference of Youth on Environment and Climate (COYEC) 2023. Her overarching goal as a global influencer is to empower youth, advocating for sustainability and catalyzing change through disruptive technologies.

Maryam serves as a Global youth mobility ambassador for the third world youth assembly 2025 in Morocco where she will support in preparing the world youth statement and ensuring youth participation at the assembly and global ministerial conference

Mayowa Sodiq Akinpelu is a medical doctor and a member of the World Health Organization’s Youth Council, serving as a youth advisory to the WHO Director-General and WHO Senior Leadership to foster young people’s participation in shaping global health. He is also a member of the youth engagement taskforce of the Generation Unlimited Nigeria, a public-private-youth partnership platform aimed at equipping 20 million Nigerian youth with green skills and opportunity for economic empowerment and social impact.

As the Executive Chairman of the Africa Public Health Student Network (AfricaPHSN), Mayowa leads efforts to strengthen public health systems across African countries. His initiatives through AfricaPHSN aim to address pressing health challenges with a focus on youth-driven approaches. He also serves as Chairperson of the African Youth Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Alliance Task Force, a role in which he champions awareness and action against AMR under the auspices of ReAct Africa and in collaboration with organizations like Africa CDC.

Mayowa is deeply committed to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. He advocates for sustainable, youth-centered health solutions that align with these frameworks. His efforts extend beyond immediate health initiatives to include resilience-building strategies, such as climate adaptation and system reforms, all with the goal of creating a healthier, more equitable Africa for future generations

Melody Okereke is a dedicated youth leader and the Immediate Past (49th) National President of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students (PANS), where he led over 40,000 pharmacy students across Nigeria and implemented critical reforms focused on student welfare, leadership development, and career advancement. Under his leadership, known as #TheStudentFocusedAdministration, PANS achieved historic milestones, including the disbursement of over N3 million in scholarships to deserving students and the implementation of over 25 capital projects within a 1-year period, directly impacting over 5,000 pharmacy students nationwide.

As a passionate advocate for youth involvement in people-centred politics, leadership and governance, Melody has championed and implemented multi-sectoral youth-focused projects and initiatives within public policy, diplomacy, and governance, in collaboration with political stakeholders across Nigeria, including state commissioners, young political leaders, senior legislative aides, national student leaders, and youth advocates.

Recognized globally for his impact in youth leadership, Melody was named a 2024 International AIDS Society (IAS) Global Young Leader, earning a fully-funded scholarship to attend the IAS Conference in Germany. In 2023, Melody received the prestigious Diana Award from the Royal Family (United Kingdom) -the most prestigious award globally than any young person can receive- for his outstanding contributions to youth development in Nigeria through social impact and leadership initiatives. He was also honoured with the 2022 Mike How Award for leadership and excellence in pharmacy earning him a fully-funded scholarship to attend the 2022 World Congress of Pharmacy in Spain. Most recently, he was recognized as a 2024 Top 2% Leading Scientists in the World.

He is committed to redefining politics and leadership in Nigeria through people-centered and transparent governance. He envisions a future where politics serves the masses, driven by integrity, transparency, and accountability -a future which inspires young people to champion progressive policies and transformative leadership in Nigeria.

Nana Aisha El-Yakub, a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment and girls’ rights, dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for young girls in her community. With over three years of experience in community engagement, she has led initiatives that focus on the well-being, education, and empowerment of girls in schools and communities, addressing unique challenges that hinder their ability to thrive academically and socially.

Through her work, Nana Aisha has become a trusted change maker, leveraging her advocacy skills and commitment to gender equality to promote equitable education and safe learning environments for girls. Her dedication to fostering positive change is evident in her hands-on approach to community-based interventions, collaborating with local leaders to ensure every girl has the opportunity to learn and succeed.

Driven by her passion for social justice, she believes in the right of every child to education, regardless of gender, background, or disability. Nana Aisha remains committed to amplifying the voices of women and girls, ensuring they are heard,valued, and empowered.

Oluwaferanmi Oladepo is a passionate youth advocate and emerging technology leader dedicated to amplifying youth voices in Nigeria's development. As an engineering student at the Federal University of Technology Akure, he combines technical expertise with practical leadership experience to drive youth empowerment initiatives.

Being a member of the Oyo State Youth Parliament representing the Afijio State constituency, Oluwaferanmi has successfully proposed and collaborated on youth-focused policies. His work extends beyond policy proposition; he has led initiatives with a direct impact on youth, such as coordinating a digital skills training program that equipped 10 young people in his constituency. He also collaborated in organizing a voter registration drive, enabling over 2,000 youths in Oyo State to participate in Nigeria’s 2023 democratic process.

Recently, he was one of three Africans selected for a specialized summer school in Montreal, Canada, focused on applying artificial intelligence to address climate change challenges in Nigeria.

Alongside his team, Oluwaferanmi developed an AI model giving insight to critical climatic factors for improving cassava production in Nigeria. His technical proficiency includes web and mobile software development, complemented by his certification as a Microsoft Certified Azure AI Engineer Associate. As a multilingual public speaker fluent in English, Yoruba, French, and basic German, he engages diverse audiences on leadership, sustainable development, and technology integration.

By combining technological innovation with youth advocacy, Oluwaferanmi drives meaningful change in Nigerian communities. His focus is on advancing the green and digital economy by developing solutions that address environmental challenges and promote social development through strategic technology application and effective policy implementation.

Oluwatobiloba Adebayo is a 25-year-old, First-class graduate of Business Administration from Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti State. He is an SDGs Advocate whose zeal for social impact and academic excellence has earned him numerous Opportunities including the Venture in Management Program (Mini-MBA program for 100 participants in Nigeria) from Lagos Business School, Edustipend Laptop Awardee, Daniel Kolawole Olukoya Award for Academic Excellence, United Nations Millennium Fellow, Global Youth Ambassador at Theirworld amongst others.

As an empathetic servant leader, he founded Career Development Hub and it has become a one-stop  platform where over 500 students and recent graduates get access to relevant educational opportunities,  mentorship, academic excellence tips,  and capacity development workshops. This enables them to position themselves as experts and thought leaders in their respective fields of interest.

The best part of this is that over 100 members of this platform have  won prestigious local and international opportunities  including Five(5) Laptops from Edustipend,  scholarships, tech-boot camps, Internships, essay competitions, and  grants worth over $1,500. Seeing the success stories of others gives him a sense of fulfilment as it embodies the mantra of "Ubuntu" (humanity towards others)".

He envisions a Nigeria where the out-of-school kids are significantly reduced and that our education system not only meets but surpass the basic requirements to thrive in our dynamic world and also prepares students for the future.

As a quality education advocate, his dream is to establish a foundation that would impact lots of underprivileged kids and equip them with digital and technological skills capable of raising them out of poverty and make them transformative leaders. This dream has been the driving force which propels him to embark on various learning opportunities, volunteering, acquiring relevant knowledge and certifications.

Peace Imoh Harry is a passionate human rights advocate, dedicated to promoting social justice and protecting the rights of marginalized communities. A recent graduate of law from the University of Calabar, Peace has established a remarkable record of leadership and activism. As a co-Founder of the University's Human Rights Club and Director of International Research for the International Law Students Association, she championed initiatives that advanced human rights awareness, education, and advocacy. 

As a seasoned competitor in international moot competitions and conference participant, she has honed expertise in international human rights law, gender equality, and advocacy.

As a firm advocate for an inclusive and gender-equal society, Peace is committed to empowering women and youth to participate in policy-making and governance. With expertise in international human rights law, gender equality, and advocacy, she seeks to bridge the gap between policy and practice, ensuring that marginalized voices are heard and represented. Armed with a strong foundation in research, leadership, and activism, she is poised to drive transformative change in the human rights landscape, inspiring future generations of leaders and change-makers.

Princess Odey is a dedicated legal practitioner passionate about social development and youth empowerment. She brings a wealth of experience in project management and advocacy with a strong writing background. Her work centers around creating a lasting impact, focusing on youth empowerment, gender equality, and access to quality education.

Princess has also dedicated much of her time to volunteering and contributing to local and international organizations. She is deeply involved in community projects, striving to empower individuals and ensure their voices are heard. Her strong writing skills allow her to articulate these causes effectively, amplifying the importance of youth participation and social justice.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Princess enjoys singing, creating podcast episodes, reading, and traveling. These interests not only bring her joy but also enrich her perspective, allowing her to approach her work with creativity and compassion.

Her dedication, skills, and passion make her a valuable addition to the Youth Sounding Board, where she looks forward to contributing meaningfully to EU-driven youth initiatives.

Shua Zakari Meli is a dedicated young Nigerian who is currently pursuing a degree in law with passion and interest in youth empowerment and youth advocacy with specific focus on the rights of a girl child, quality education, gender equality, legal reform and inclusion of youths in decision-making process.

Shua actively engages in various initiatives promoting issues centered on the girl child , gender equality, and bridging the gap between youth , policy makers and stakeholders. Shua is currently the Director of Research for Equity Chambers, a student-run legal forum within the Jural Court of Gombe States University’s Faculty of Law. Shua currently volunteers for NGO’s and initiatives within her local community like the Diplomat Teens Network (DTN), Be My Hand Initiative (BMH), Gender Rights Advocacy and Policy Engagement Initiative (GRAPE) among others. Shua has over 4 years experience volunteering.

She provides mentorship for young people on a variety of issues. These numerous engagements has equipped her with skills such as effective communication, team collaboration, adaptability and continuous learning. Shua is a motivated and enthusiastic individual, passionate about making a difference and is committed to self improvement, and driving positive change.

Tawakalit Kareem is an Associate Managing Partner at WGC Co., Nigeria’s Premier Gender Consulting Company, where she works with organizations and companies to advance meaningful gender inclusion within their systems. 

WGC Co. has worked with forward-thinking organizations across the country and continent through services including but not limited to gender analysis, gender strategy and gender-transformative training.

Tawakalit has around seven years of experience programming for gender across the development sector in Nigeria, especially in the areas of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), Women’s Leadership, and gender considerations as a critical determinant of development markers.

Prior, she has worked on projects focused on SGBV with a grantee of the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative, co-authored and developed resources for survivors including age-appropriate sex education guides for children, and supported the creation of an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) solution through the Open Arms Project that was deployed in Lagos and Borno States. Tawakalit is Co-Editor of two volumes of “In Her Words,” anthologies that center the experiences of African women and teenagers from 7 African countries, with reviews from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and Review of African Political Economy, among others. “In Her Words” has been accessed by readers from over 40 countries globally. As founder of The Butterfly Project, her work has been profiled by the United Nations Children’s Fund ‘Voices of Youth’, The Nigerian Youth Sustainable Development Goals Network, and the Nigerian Tribune.

Tawakalit’s written Paper and articles have been published across platforms including the West African Civil Society Institute (WACSI), African Leadership Magazine, and Guardian Nigeria.

Tawakalit is a Fellow of the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI); a member of the Commonwealth Youth Gender Equality Network; an Ambassador, Africa4Her; a Margaret Ekpo Youth Fellow, and a 2020 ONEChampion.

Victory Ashaka is a multi-talented and award-winning spoken word poet, Lagos state youth ambassador, climate leader, poetry slam champion, global youth ambassador of Theirworld and a member of the young people's action team of UNICEF Generation Unlimited.

Victory is a graduate of English Literature at Lagos State University and a certified leadership fellow from Management Institute of Finland in Helsinki. In 2022, he emerged as the poet laureate of World Food Forum at FAO of the United Nations in Italy and he recently became the poet laureate of UNICEF GenU for UNGA 2024. He is a 3x TEDx performer, a millennium fellowship alumnus, 2024 Prize for Young Person of the Year nominee for the Future Awards Africa, SME100 Africa 25under25 nominee, ambassador of Dawn Project Network and the convener of Mega Changemakers Conference that has impacted over 1,000 changemakers.

He is artistically inclined with the passion for oratory. His social impact, artistic and literary prowess has earned him laurels, certifications and autographs from prominent dignitaries from prominent dignitaries like the 1986 Nobel Laureate in Literature, Prof. Wole Soyinka. He received the Lifetime Carbon Offset(LCO) Award by The Climate Trust, he was recognised by the Captain Planet Foundation in the United States and he is a creator on UNICEF voices of youth platform. Victory is not just an artist; he's a social impact maker and a dynamic spoken word performer known for his high-energy performances that inspire hope for others seeking their paths.

LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/amb-victory-ashaka