Three Nigerian teenagers have won a combined $1,989 in grants to implement community-impact projects under the 2025 Pan-African Youth Leadership Program (PAYLP) Mini-Grant scheme.
The young beneficiaries: Olagbemisoke Alaka, Dinatu Joseph, and Divine Akunne, emerged as recipients of the U.S.-funded support, allowing them to turn innovative ideas into practical solutions for challenges within their local communities.
The grant, provided through a partnership between the U.S. Department of State and the Meridian International Centre, enabled the youths to design and complete projects that addressed pressing needs among students, children, and smallholder farmers.
Youth Can Nigeria, the implementing organisation, confirmed the successful completion of all three projects, noting that the mini-grant not only empowered the teenagers to drive meaningful change but also showcased the potential of young Nigerians when given the opportunity and resources to lead.
According to Youth Can Nigeria, their initiatives ranged from improving access to educational resources to supporting child development and strengthening agricultural practices for vulnerable families.
The organisation noted that Alaka’s RaiseNets Initiative tackled indiscriminate waste disposal in a community in Ogun State by providing environmental education to over 400 students and securing 350 pledges for action.
She also collaborated with the Waste Management Authority and donated four large waste bins, aiding the community in adopting proper waste practices and fostering a safer, more sustainable environment.
In Abuja, Dinatu Joseph’s Yara Reader Project trained 17 teenage volunteers as “street teachers” to teach 96 children aged eight to 14 to read in their communities. The project improved literacy skills, strengthened peer-based learning, and provided critical support for underserved children, with parents witnessing their progress at a community Demo Day.
Also, Divine Akunne’s TIRA Water Project provided a low-cost irrigation solution for smallholder farmers in the Federal Capital Territory, helping them cope with dry-season water shortages. The project, expanded to serve 23 farmers, is expected to reduce labour demands, improve irrigation and support resilient dry-season farming.
All three projects were supervised by the 2025 PAYLP Adult Mentor, Irene Bangwell, Co-Founder of the KNOSK N100-a-Day Charity Secondary School, Kuje, Abuja.
She noted that the PAYLP Mini-Grant received funding from Meridian International Centre, with additional support from Dr. Bobby Digi of the Canvass Institute, Dr Roderick Palton of PenPal Global and the KNOSK N100-a-Day Charity School, which served as a feeding partner for the literacy project.
She said the success of the three young leaders demonstrates the power of youth-led solutions when provided with the right mentorship and resources. Bangwell called on government agencies, civil society, and development partners to continue investing in youth-driven innovation nationwide.
She said: “These young people have shown that with even a modest investment, Nigerian youth can design solutions that transform entire communities. What they achieved with just $1,989 proves what is possible when we trust and empower them.
“If Nigeria wants to unlock the full potential of its youth population, then programmes like PAYLP must be scaled up. Our young leaders are ready to build the future; they only need the support to do so.”
