Fidelity Bank Partners With Ashoka To Empower Young Innovators
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Determined to build a network of social entrepreneurs, Ashoka Africa, an organisation dedicated to fostering social innovation, has unveiled the 2025 cohort of Ashoka Young Changemakers in Nigeria, nurtured to lead and solve social problems.
According to the organisers, the programme is an inspiring convergence of young leaders, educators, and changemaking allies committed to shaping a Nigeria where every young person sees themselves as a problem-solver.
The festival marks a major moment in the growing movement to embed changemaking in schools, communities, and systems; and to spotlight the power of youth to drive meaningful social transformation.
Speaking at a Young Changemaker Festival held in Lagos recently, Angelou Ezeilo, co-president of Ashoka Africa and director of the CTeach programme, said the festival is a celebration of Nigeria’s very best across various sectors.
According to her the young changemakers represent hope in a time where it seems problems are outrunning solutions, adding that the event is about the celebration of innovation, resilience, empathy, collaboration, and the power of love.
Ezeilo said the 2025 festival brings together students, teachers, education leaders, social entrepreneurs, and partners from across Nigeria to celebrate a shared vision: a country where every young person is inspired, enabled, and activated to be a changemaker.
She further said that Ashoka supports world-leading social entrepreneurs, learns from their innovations, and mobilises a global community to build a world where everyone is a changemaker.
Adeolu Adewumi, founder of Zer Consulting Africa, a purpose-driven strategy and management consulting company based here in Lagos, said the concept of changemaking is about acknowledging problems and seeing them as a potential opportunity to make a change by providing solutions.
She said the process is about making a difference, not just for the present, but more importantly, for the next generation.
Adewumi said that achieving the needed change in our education system goes beyond the curriculum, but involves teaching children critical thinking, problem solving and emotional intelligence.
She said to achieve the desired change in our education system, there need for the government to encourage private companies to be part of the educational system.
On her part, Paula Ugwu, the Youth and Partnerships manager for West Africa at Ashoka, said the idea is to groom young people to have strong teams with friends, family, and volunteers.
“This allows them to implement their solutions and create a lasting impact. The young changemakers are also becoming powerful advocates for their peers. They are becoming vocal advocates for young people’s needs and perspectives. Their voices are being heard, shaping a more inclusive future for all young Nigerians,” she said.
Seyi Ogundipe, founder of Astra and one of the newly elected Ashoka Young Changemaker, said he is glad that his effort at empowering digital, tech skills and personal skills of young people around him is been recognised.
Ogundipe said his passion to provide a platform that enables young people gain access mentorship, scholarships and internship opportunities is what drives him to do more.
The newly elected Ashoka Young Changemakers were recognised for launching powerful initiatives addressing issues ranging from mental health and education equity to climate action, gender equality, and inclusive technology.
They include 14-year-old Vanessa Varlyngton, founder of Egalitarianism for Earth (Children4Climate Initiative); 18-year-old Seyi Ogundipe, founder of Astra; 19-year-old Emmanuella Sule, founder of Circles Mends;19-year-old Favour Oshiokenoya, founder of Own a Book Today Initiative; 20-year-old Unique Okewoye,founder of Health Impact for Youth;
Others include 18-year-old Precious Omelu, founder of For My Boys Initiative; 19-year-old Oluwapelumi Oyetade, founder of Bloom in STEM; 17-year-old Comfort Alabi, founder of Eco City Vision; and 19-year-old Oluwafeolami Awe-Joseph, founder of Educational Guidance Development Initiative (College Guide Africa).
The highlight of the festival was the celebration of the winners of the CTEACH Pitch-a-thon, student-led Changemaker Squads from Lagos State public schools who designed and pitched real solutions to real problems in their schools and communities. These student teams, supported by teachers trained through Ashoka’s Changemaker Teacher Activation Programme (CTEACH), are living proof that when educators shift from just instruction to activation, students respond with bold ideas and transformative leadership.
