Ashoka Africa has reiterated its dedication to fostering youth-led innovation and transformative leadership by hosting the 2025 edition of its Young Changemakers Festival in Lagos, bringing together a vibrant network of young leaders, educators, and social innovators.

In a statement released on Sunday, the organisation said the event aimed to ensure that “every young person in Nigeria sees themselves as a problem-solver.” The festival’s central moment was the unveiling of the 2025 Ashoka Young Changemakers — a dynamic cohort of under-21 Nigerians who are tackling critical community issues through creative and impactful ventures.

Among the standout names in this year’s cohort are 14-year-old Vanessa Varlyngton, founder of Egalitarianism for Earth, and 18-year-old Seyi Ogundipe, founder of Ad Astra. They are joined by seven other changemakers working across various sectors including education, mental health, climate justice, and inclusive technology.

According to Ashoka Africa, the new changemakers were selected through a rigorous peer-led process and are already demonstrating leadership by mobilising teams, building innovative solutions, and initiating systemic change in their communities.

The festival also featured the CTEACH Pitch-a-thon, a platform where student teams from Lagos public schools presented actionable solutions to local challenges — highlighting the role of empowered learning environments in nurturing leadership and creativity among youth.

Angelou Ezeilo, Co-President of Ashoka Africa, praised the young participants for their courage and vision. “This festival is a celebration of our very best. These young people represent innovation, empathy, and the courage to lead with love in a time when the world urgently needs bold solutions,” she said.

One of the newly inducted changemakers, Oluwafeolami Awe-Joseph, emphasized the importance of collaborative leadership. “Ashoka has taught me the power of helping others lead themselves. It’s not about control; it is about trust, learning together, and growing impact,” he said.

Concluding the event, Ashoka Africa reaffirmed its national vision: to inspire, equip, and activate every young Nigerian to become a changemaker — not in the future, but now.

The 2025 Young Changemakers Festival marks another milestone in Ashoka’s mission to build an ecosystem where young people are empowered to lead with purpose and create lasting change across Nigeria and beyond.