Ashoka Young Changemakers Program 2026 for Nigerians

Scholarship Details

The Ashoka Young Changemakers Program is inviting nominations from young Nigerians under the age of 21 who are leading initiatives and creating positive change in their communities.

Organised by Ashoka Anglophone West Africa, the programme seeks young people who have identified social problems, developed original solutions, built teams and taken action to improve people’s lives and the environment.

The initiative is a co-leadership programme that supports young social innovators working in areas such as climate action, healthcare, education, gender equality, minority rights, information and communication technology (ICT), agriculture and economic sustainability.

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Eligible candidates can nominate themselves or be nominated by someone who knows their work. Selected participants will join a global network of young changemakers and receive mentorship, leadership development opportunities, media visibility and support to advance their initiatives.

About the Ashoka Young Changemakers Program

Ashoka Young Changemakers are a carefully selected network of young people who have discovered their ability to create positive change and are engaging their peers and society in building a world where everyone is a changemaker.

The programme is designed for young people already leading social impact initiatives and who are willing to help others recognise their ability to solve problems and create meaningful change.

Ashoka Anglophone West Africa is particularly seeking young Nigerians who are committed to improving their communities and influencing positive social transformation.

Benefits of the Ashoka Young Changemakers Program

Selected young changemakers will enjoy the following benefits:

1. Global Network Membership: Membership in a select network of young leaders and social entrepreneurs from different countries.
2. Community Events and Peer Learning: Invitations to community events and peer-learning sessions with other young changemakers and leading social entrepreneurs.
3. Media Recognition: Opportunities to be featured in different media outlets and share their stories on reputable platforms and with partner organisations.
4. Mentorship and Support: Guidance and support to implement their ideas and promote an Everyone a Changemaker culture in their schools, communities and cities.
5. Collaboration Opportunities: Opportunities to brainstorm and collaborate with influential next-generation leaders across government, media, business, education systems and philanthropy.
6. Leadership Development: Opportunities to strengthen their leadership and changemaking competencies through interactions with other young leaders and social entrepreneurs.

Areas of Social Impact

The programme welcomes young people leading initiatives in different areas of social impact, including but not limited to:

• Climate action
• Healthcare
• Education
• Gender equality
• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Minority rights
• Information and Communication Technology (ICT)
• Agriculture
• Economic sustainability

Applicants should demonstrate how their initiatives address problems and create positive change in their communities.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for the Ashoka Young Changemakers Program, candidates must satisfy the following requirements:

1. Age Requirement

Applicants must be under 21 years old.

Candidates must not be above 20 years of age by December of the year of nomination.

2. Nigerian Residency and Nationality

Candidates must:

• Reside in Nigeria.
• Be Nigerian citizens.

3. Demonstrated Changemaking Experience

Applicants must have demonstrated that they are actively creating positive change.

They should meet the following expectations:

• Launched an Idea: Candidates must have identified a problem through deep empathy and developed their own original idea to address it.
• Built a Team: Candidates must have built a team around their idea and demonstrated leadership by helping others recognise their ability to create positive change.
• Created Positive Impact: Candidates must have contributed to improving people’s lives and the environment around them, demonstrating a commitment to the good of all.

4. Willingness to Co-Lead the Everyone a Changemaker Movement

Candidates must be willing to become co-leaders of Ashoka’s global Everyone a Changemaker movement.

They should believe that everyone can take initiative and solve problems and be willing to help their peers and people in their schools, communities and country discover their potential to create positive change.

Selection Process

The Ashoka Young Changemakers selection process consists of four stages.

Stage 1: Online Nomination and Screening

Candidates can nominate themselves or someone they know through the online nomination form.

Applicants will reflect on their changemaking journey and gain access to inspiring ideas to advance their initiatives.

Stage 2: National Review

Candidates will interact with the Ashoka team in their country.

They will learn more about co-leadership opportunities, contribute to the programme and receive useful insights to accelerate their leadership development and changemaking competencies.

Stage 3: International Review

Candidates will interact with a senior leader from the Ashoka team and young changemakers from its global network.

This stage provides an opportunity to understand Ashoka better and gain expert insights to advance their changemaking journey.

Stage 4: Selection Panel

Candidates will participate in an in-person or virtual discussion and selection panel involving leading social entrepreneurs, journalists and other leaders.

They will also meet other outstanding young changemakers and discuss ideas for influencing youth culture in Nigeria and co-leading the Everyone a Changemaker movement.

How to Apply for the Ashoka Young Changemakers Program

Interested young Nigerians can nominate themselves or someone they know who meets the programme’s eligibility requirements.

To apply:

1. Visit the official Ashoka Young Changemakers programme page.
2. Review the eligibility requirements and selection criteria.
3. Click the online nomination option on the page.
4. Complete the nomination form with the required information about the candidate and their changemaking initiative.
5. Explain the problem the initiative addresses, the original idea developed, the team involved and the positive impact created.
6. Submit the nomination for consideration.

Official Nomination Page: https://www.ashoka.org/en-ng/program/nominate-ashoka-young-changemaker

Application Deadline

The programme page does not specify a closing date for nominations. Interested candidates should visit the official nomination page to confirm whether nominations are currently being accepted.

Contact Information

For enquiries, interested candidates can contact Ashoka Anglophone West Africa.

Organisation: Ashoka Innovators for the Public

Office Address:

3rd Floor, Katia Towers, Plot 1676 Oladele Olasore Street, Off Sanusi Fafunwa, Victoria Island, Nigeria.

Conclusion

The Ashoka Young Changemakers Program provides an opportunity for young Nigerians under 21 who are already creating positive social impact to gain international recognition, mentorship and access to a network of influential young leaders.

Young people working in climate action, education, healthcare, agriculture, technology and other social impact areas are encouraged to nominate themselves or recommend another deserving young changemaker.