By Providence Ayanfeoluwa

ASHOKA, a network of social entrepreneurs, has unveiled the newly elected third cohort of Ashoka Young Changemakers, AYC as well as Changemakers Squad winners from schools in Lagos.

The AYC program is a network of young leaders under 21 who exemplify inspirational leadership within their communities, innovate, lead teams, and assume roles as youth influencers and peer allies.
The program connects them with essential tools, opportunities, and supportive networks to amplify their impact.
In September 2023, Ashoka launched 5 Changemakers Teachers Activation Program, CTEACH, a “learning journey” to empower secondary school teachers in Lagos State to instill changemaking skills in their students with the aim to revolutionize education in Nigeria. Speaking at the Young Changemakers Festival and grand celebration of CTEACH, in Lagos, Director, Venture and Talent for Ashoka Africa, Josephine Nnzerem, said that trying to make people understand something different from the popular mindset that children are the leaders of tomorrow instead of now was a challenge.

Nnzerem who doubles as Regional Director, Ashoka Anglophone West Africa, said: “Trying to get people understand what we are doing is a challenge, people are saying children are leaders of tomorrow and not today, but we are trying to make them understand that children are leaders now, because they have to live now not tomorrow.

“As they lead now and they continue, they would grow a critical mass of other people who are young changemakers and leaers.

“ We are using CTEACH to activate both teachers and young people to be change makers, if we are building a world where we want everyone to be a changemaker, it is necessary that we bring everyone into it.”

Also, Co President of Ashoka Africa, Angelou Ezeilo, said that the education system in Nigeria was so broken, saying: “we have young people who are disenchanted, we cannot keep doing same thing and expect different result. CTeach is a wholelistic approach to engage teachers, parents, community members, all working together with young people to help them with the tools that they need to thrive in this changing world.”

In her remark, Ashoka West Africa Youth Partnership Manager, Paula Ugwu, said that the young leaders need collaboration as a key tool to forming strong teams with friends and partners.

However, the program fosters empathy and practical changemaking abilities, benefiting teachers, students, families, and the broader community while equipping millions of students with 21st-century skills in Nigeria.

Out of 22 AYCs, nine were remarkable for their exceptional leadership and groundbreaking solutions to Nigeria’s pressing social issues including challenges in mental health, education, environmental sustainability, and gender equality.