The Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigeria Wind Energy Council (NWEC) have officially launched the Youth for Wind, Climate and Innovation (YWCI) initiative, a groundbreaking programme designed to empower Nigeria’s youth to lead the country’s clean energy transition through wind energy innovation, policy engagement, and community action.
The launch event, held in Abuja, brought together government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and young innovators to chart a new course for Nigeria’s renewable energy future. With over 60% of Nigeria’s 220 million population under the age of 30, the initiative recognises youth as critical drivers of the country’s sustainable energy transformation.
The Ministry’s Director of the Department of Climate Change, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, explained during her keynote address that “when the wind of change blows, some build walls, but some build turbines. Nigerian youth must be equipped to harness both the literal and metaphorical winds of change to power our nation’s future.”
A statement issued by the organisers after the event noted that Nigeria faces one of the world’s largest energy access deficits, with over 85 million citizens lacking grid electricity access, but “YWCI addresses this challenge by mobilising young Nigerians to champion wind energy solutions, particularly in the northern corridor where wind resources remain largely untapped”.
NWEC’s Partnerships and Market Intelligence Lead, Omiesam Ibanibo, emphasised that whilst solar energy has made significant strides, “it is not enough to bridge the nation’s energy access gaps. Wind energy, especially in Nigeria’s northern regions, is essential for achieving universal energy access.”
The programme is structured around four foundational pillars:
• Education and awareness – Building wind energy literacy across communities
• Innovation and research – Supporting youth-led technological solutions
• Community engagement – Fostering grassroots climate action
• Policy and governance – Integrating youth voices into energy policy development
The statement further revealed the initiative has garnered strong support from key government ministries and international development partners, as Mr. Oyekan Adedayo, representing the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, affirmed the government’s commitment to “creating youth-centred, climate-responsive development policies” and recognising young people as “partners, leaders, and innovators capable of shaping climate policy”.
Also, development partners, including GIZ Nigeria Energy Support Programme, the British High Commission, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Coordination Office have pledged continued support for scaling youth-led innovations across the continent.
The launch featured a compelling showcase of homegrown innovation by Emmanuel Abbah, founder and CEO of Waste2Light Ltd., who presented a locally-developed wind turbine designed specifically for Nigeria’s wind conditions. The turbine, which uses 3D-printed blades made from plastic waste and rice husk, demonstrates the potential for circular economy solutions in Nigeria’s energy sector.
A virtual presentation from Nairobi highlighted the initiative’s continental ambitions, with Kenyan youth representatives encouraging Nigerian counterparts to envision themselves as ‘the next African champions in wind energy and digital innovation’.
“The programme emphasises digital storytelling and social media engagement as key tools for democratising energy literacy and driving adoption. Participants will use unified hashtags including #YWCI and #NigeriaWindEnergy to amplify reach and build community.
“YWCI will roll out through several key activities:
• A 30-day Youth Innovation Challenge
• Regional “Climate-athons” across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones
• Integration with existing university eco-clubs
• A national showcase connecting youth innovators with government ministers
• Capacity-building workshops at major universities”, explained a statement issued afterwards.
Victoria Iyang Titus, Director at the Department of Climate Change, emphasised that “collaboration, idea-sharing, and knowledge exchange are key to unlocking wind energy’s potential and empowering youth to shape a more sustainable Nigeria”.
