Our youth, our hope

• How Nigerian youths are fighting abduction, sexual violence and environmental decay

By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye

Since 2014, over 1,700 children have been abducted by gunmen, including the notorious case of the Chibok schoolgirls, where 276 girls were kidnapped by Boko Haram. In 2024 alone, Boko Haram abducted over 400 people, mainly women and schoolchildren, from displaced persons camps.

In the first quarter of 2025, 537 people were kidnapped nationwide, amid rising insecurity. Rangers, militants, and criminal gangs have made mass school kidnappings a recurring and tragic issue, with over 1,680 students abducted across Nigeria since 2014, many between ages five and eleven.

Sexual violence is also at crisis level with serious underreporting. In 2020, Nigeria recorded 11,200 reported rape cases, including many involving children, with a significant increase during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Of rape victims, over 90% were female, and nearly half were under 20 years old. Despite some prosecutions, stigma and police failure to investigate frequently deny survivors justice.

This rampant sexual violence further endangers young girls and boys across Nigerian communities.

Against this troubling backdrop, the story of 15-year-old Chigaemezu Nzerem’s SafeLink—a smart wearable jewelry and app designed to protect Nigerian students, especially young women—takes on powerful significance. It offers a measure of safety amid widespread harassment and kidnapping threats, pointing to hope and innovation from Nigeria’s youth to tackle urgent social crises.

Again, how many times have we carelessly thrown rubbish out of moving vehicles or dumped refuse indiscriminately by the roadside? These seemingly small, everyday acts are fueling a major environmental crisis in Nigeria, where blocked drainage systems and increasing erosion threaten the health and safety of millions.

At the heart of addressing these challenges are Nigeria’s young changemakers, whose stories and achievements were celebrated at the recent ExponentialHER Global Life Skills Award Ceremony—an event that not only honours personal success but calls for a collective responsibility to the environment and community.

Dr. Elrico Van Rooyen, the keynote speaker, set the tone with an inspiring message that “life skills are your personal operating system,” emphasising resilience, communication, and critical thinking as the superpowers necessary for building a sustainable future. “To get a degree is a tool; to get a job title is a label, but life skills guide you through all challenges,” he declared. “Nigeria is a nation of immense potential, but potential is just a promise until matched with action and integrity. Your generation must design the solutions to the problems you inherit.”

Rooyen described resilience as “the muscle of greatness,” not stubbornness, but “the ability to change your strategy without changing your goal.”

He urged the youth to lead with courage and character, noting, “It’s not about chasing profits but making an impact that lasts for generations.”

Referencing Nigeria’s Dangote family as an example of generational wealth built with ethics and resilience, he encouraged young entrepreneurs to build companies that outlast them. “Africa is crying out for a new kind of leadership—from Cape Town to Abuja, from Cape Town to Cairo. Nigeria’s youth, armed with these skills, are the leaders Africa has been waiting for.”

He thanked the parents present, calling them “the wind beneath your wings,” reminding all that “it takes a village to raise a child—and the same village supports your rise.”

Ufuoma Aniamaka, Life Skills coordinator, introduced award categories and shared: “This category, 100% Responsibility Community Development Task, celebrates children who took full responsibility for their communities during holidays.”

She praised the young awardees for volunteering without being asked, highlighting the importance of community ownership.

Anne Ekwueme, convener and a key figure behind the event, warmly commended 14-year-old Rejoice Ezinne Sunday for choosing community cleanup over distractions like TikTok.

“Rejoice, you could have done anything, but you invested your time wisely. Thank you for being responsible not just to yourself but to your community and the world.” Anne presented her with a surprise N50,000 prize, praising her bravery and mindfulness.

Rejoice responded humbly: “Even someone small can make a huge difference… Taking 100% responsibility taught me that change starts with me. Real change doesn’t happen if we just wait.”

She explained how the Life Skills Summer Camp inspired her to become a voice for the voiceless through social entrepreneurship, turning empathy into action.

Then came 12-year-old Othniel Asaju, another awardee whose bright, innovative mind was lauded. Anne noted: “Othniel, you took initiative when others hesitated. In Nigeria, people often ask, ‘Who sent you?’ but you showed courage by acting anyway.”

With joy, she handed him a N50,000 prize. Othniel shared: “Taking 100% responsibility taught me maturity and that I have the power to choose how to respond to challenges. I am part of the solution now, even in small ways.”

His environmental cleanup efforts with his brother symbolized the grassroots activism Nigeria desperately needs.

The highlight was 15-year-old Chigaemezu Nzerem’s award for Best Social Enterprise. She was awarded a prize of N500,000 to support her enterprise. Her venture, SafeLink, is a smart wearable jewelry and app targeting personal safety for Nigerian students, especially young women, amidst widespread harassment and kidnapping threats.

Dr. Elrico declared: “I’ve worked with many entrepreneurs, but this innovation is remarkable. It embodies exponential growth—you are destined for international recognition.”

He offered support to bring SafeLink to market and invited her family to South Africa. “At 15, this is just the beginning. We’ll read about you in global news someday. Your impact will cross continents.”

Chigaemezu humbly thanked the organizers and her parents, saying: “Leadership isn’t about age but bravery to stand and believe your ideas can make a difference. Creating solutions with empathy and innovation is my passion. I want to start now, not wait for the right time.”

Anne joyfully responded: “For moments like this, all the hard work is worth it. Chigaemezu, you are our star girl—exponential in every way.”

Esther Atani, moderator, echoed this, saying: “Empathy is key—not just solving problems but emotionally connecting to them. Knowing Chigaemezu and witnessing her dream grow has been a privilege.”

This celebration of young Nigerian changemakers resonates strongly against the backdrop of the country’s environmental crisis. According to studies, 80% of urban floods in Nigeria stem from blocked drainages clogged with refuse from careless dumping and waste thrown out of vehicles. This causes erosion, damages infrastructure, and threatens lives and livelihoods. Nigeria loses billions yearly due to the economic fallout of polluted waterways and degraded land from refuse dumping. Only about 30% of urban residents have formal waste disposal, leading to a heavy reliance on informal, unsafe practices.

The throwing of rubbish from moving cars or dumping indiscriminately may seem trivial to many, but this reckless lifestyle fuels erosion and flooding with devastating consequences. Nigeria’s rapidly urbanizing population dramatically magnifies this issue. Environmental experts warn that unless urgent behavior change occurs, soil erosion will irreversibly degrade farmland, while blocked canals will cause more frequent, dangerous floods.

The youths celebrated at the Life Skills ceremony embody the mindset Nigeria needs: taking ownership with resilience, responsibility, and initiative. Their commitment to cleaning communities, innovating solutions like SafeLink, and raising their voices exemplify the change from awareness to action that Nigeria so desperately requires.

Elrico’s parting words ring true for all Nigerians: “The graveyard is the richest place on Earth because many die with their dreams buried alongside them… We must have the courage to act, even if we fail. The Nigeria and Africa we dream of starts with us.”

Anne Ekwueme reminds everyone, “Social entrepreneurship is rooted in the heart—to do good, to heal, to build lives and communities.” The call is clear: while the statistics of environmental damage paint a gloomy picture, the bright lights of Nigeria’s youth show that sustainable transformation is possible if each person takes responsibility for their actions, their communities, and their environment.

The price of our throwaway culture is steep, but as Rejoice Sunday said: “Real change starts with me.” How many times will we throw rubbish out of moving vehicles? How many blocked canals and eroded lands will we tolerate? The future belongs to those who act now with skill, courage, and heart—Nigeria’s youth are ready to lead the way.

This is not just an award ceremony—it’s a clarion call to environmental responsibility and social entrepreneurship, showing that the power to protect and restore Nigeria’s environment and even its economy lies in the hands of its people, particularly its remarkable young generation.