Solar skills for rural youth in Northeast Nigeria

In Borno State, where Mwada Emmanuel Wapah grew up, "conflict and damaged infrastructure left many communities without reliable electricity," he says. The loss went beyond light, into "education, health care, livelihoods and opportunities for young people." Those experiences, he says, inspired him to create solutions built around clean energy and young people.

Illuminaire Youth Foundation is the result. He is its founder and executive director. The youth-led non-profit is based in Northeast Nigeria and works on climate action through renewable energy, environmental sustainability and community development. Young people, he says, are leaders and innovators who can help shape a more sustainable future. He is now in a postgraduate programme at the University of Nigeria.

“Youth can change the world”

Mwada Emmanuel Wapah

Project Illumination, the foundation's flagship programme, provides young people with solar energy skills, raises climate awareness and advocates for inclusive renewable energy policies so that rural youth can take part in the decisions that affect their future. The foundation has also worked with communities, run environmental awareness campaigns and set up partnerships to promote sustainable development and create opportunities for young people, particularly women and other underserved populations.

Now the work is shifting. "We are now moving from community engagement to formalized youth advocacy," he says. The next phase is to train 100 rural youth leaders, hold community consultations, produce a youth-led policy brief and establish a Youth Energy Advocacy Network to connect young people with policymakers on renewable energy and sustainable development decisions.