The Be The Change Initiative, a flagship programme of iLEAD AFRICA, has launched its 2025 cohort, aiming to empower more than 3,000 young changemakers across 30 African countries.
The founder of the initiative and Chief Executive of iLEAD AFRICA, Yusuff Liadi Abiodun, announced this during a press briefing in Abuja to mark the 2025 International Youth Day with the theme “Local Youth Actions for the SDGs and Beyond”.
Abiodun said the programme seeks to equip young people with skills, mentorship, and resources to drive civic action, influence policy, and implement community-based solutions that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“Since inception, we have directly impacted over 1,000 changemakers in 15 African countries. This year, we are expanding our reach to over 3,000 across 30 countries,” Abiodun said. “We are investing in a new wave of civic leaders ready to challenge the status quo, mobilise their communities, and hold leaders accountable.”
According to him, the Be The Change Champions Programme provides three months of intensive online capacity building in leadership, localising the SDGs, and using digital tools, storytelling, and advocacy for community development.
Abiodun called on government, civil society, the private sector, and the media to support youth leadership with practical actions. “Change begins with the choices we make every day — to speak up, act with integrity, and leave our communities better than we found them,” he added.
The Programme Officer of iLEAD AFRICA, Sunday Timothy, explained that the organisation focuses on leadership development and civic engagement among African youth, while the Communication Assistant, Abiola Brandy Hassan, said the initiative also connects participants to networks that enable them to scale their impact beyond their immediate communities.
