In a time when climate change continues to threaten livelihoods around the world, Nigerian youths are stepping up—boldly, creatively, and with lasting impact. Recent developments underscore how the younger generation is driving environmental leadership across the nation.
Seventeen-year-old Amara Nwuneli from Lagos recently gained international attention after winning the prestigious 2025 Earth Prize. Her project, Preserve Our Roots, is transforming a hazardous dumpsite in Ikota, Lagos into a vibrant playground and green park through the creative use of recycled tires, flood-tolerant trees, and locally sourced eco-materials. Inspired by the devastating Lagos floods of 2020 that deeply affected her family, Amara’s work is not only an environmental intervention—it is also a personal mission. With the $12,500 prize money, she plans to develop three additional green spaces in Lagos, Ogun, and Oyo States, complete with gardens, mini-greenhouses, and youth-led recycling hubs. Her initiative sends a powerful message: sustainable development begins at the grassroots level.
In addition, the Lagos Youth Climate Campaign—launched as part of the state’s broader Climate Action Plan (originating in July 2021)—has been gaining momentum. Designed to engage young people by providing them with resources and platforms to participate in climate change discussions and initiatives, the campaign is backed by valuable support from international partners including C40 Cities and the UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO). This initiative is also aligned with Lagos State’s “T.H.E.M.E.S Plus” agenda, which places special emphasis on youth engagement and social inclusion.
Nigeria, one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change, faces challenges ranging from severe flooding in the south to desert encroachment in the north. These developments underscore an important shift: young Nigerians are not waiting for change—they are driving it. Whether through community-led green projects or innovative, policy-driven campaigns, these emerging leaders are redefining the nation’s approach to climate resilience.
The rise of eco-leaders like Amara and the growing momentum behind the Lagos Youth Climate Campaign prove that youth voices are not just important; they are essential to shaping a sustainable future for Nigeria. Their efforts inspire a generation to dream bigger, act locally, and think globally.
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