celebrate three Nigerians
Determined to nurture youth-led innovation across Africa, TEDxLagos, in collaboration with Kijana has concluded its 2025 edition of the Young Innovators Accelerator (YIA) where it spotlighted 19 emerging entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa.
According to the organisers, this year’s cohort reflects the continued mission of TEDxLagos and Kijana which entails cultivating African excellence by nurturing youth-led innovation through access to mentorship, networks, and expert knowledge.
After an intensive programme built on collaboration, innovation, and hands-on learning, three exceptional ventures were celebrated for their ingenuity and impact. They are most Innovative Business, Chimezie Martins, founder of Darwin Foods which addresses food insecurity with sustainable farming practices.
Most Impactful Business/Idea: Opeyemi Muyiwa-Dada, Florence AI democratising STEM education through an AI-powered classroom system and Most Viable Idea: Aderonke Salami, Clean Unity connecting households to local cleaners through a gig-based platform.
Speaking about these ideas, TEDxLagos Convener and executive director of YIA, Mercy Akamo, said that they are not just good ideas, but are scalable solutions grounded in real problems.
According to Akamo, the goal of the platform is to empower young people who are not waiting for permission to lead.
The 2025 YIA cohort was mentored by an inspiring roster of global professionals and thought leaders such as Daniel Cerventus (TEDxKL, NextUpAsia); Mercy Akamo (TEDxLagos, Kijana); Gabriella Uwadiegwu, Archangel Fund, Wetech; Florentina Niradewi, Learning Capital; Femi Taiwo, INITS, World Bank DPI Consultant.
Others are Seyi Akamo, TUROG Technologies; Rose Umane, Meta; Chiaka Unegbu, SabiTeach and Lani Aisida, Netflix’s Ololade, African Stories Untold.
Accelerated by Kijana, a platform championing youth-driven innovation across the continent, YIA is part of a broader movement to bridge talent with opportunity. The programme equips participants with insights from sectors including fintech, climate finance, AI, impact investing, software engineering, storytelling, and digital strategy preparing them to pitch, prototype, and scale with confidence.
TEDxLagos and Kijana continue to work in tandem to inspire a generation of African changemakers young leaders who are building homegrown solutions to local and global challenges.
