The Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative (NGYouthSDGs), in partnership with the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), has opened the Solar Power Nigeria National Youth Competition, inviting young Nigerians to develop practical solutions to improve access to clean energy.
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The nationwide competition is open to Nigerians aged 18 to 35 and will run from November 11 to November 24, 2026. It is the second phase of the Solar Power Nigeria project, which GIFSEP launched in February 2026 to advocate improved energy access for poor and vulnerable Nigerians, particularly women and persons with disabilities. NGYouthSDGs is responsible for the project’s youth engagement component.
The competition seeks ideas that can help communities overcome energy challenges through advocacy, public engagement and practical local solutions. Participants are expected to design a three-month campaign that advances solar energy access in a specific state or community.
Entries may focus on advocacy aimed at decision-makers and the public or propose a practical community-level solution. Applicants must explain how their proposed activity would improve energy access for people in their chosen location.
Seven successful participants will be named Solar Power Nigeria Fellows. Each fellow will receive a grant of ₦390,000 to implement a three-month project, alongside expert mentorship, access to sector partners, media exposure and opportunities to engage with policymakers.
The organisers also announced an additional benefit for public institutions. Two outstanding fellows will each nominate a public primary school or government health facility to receive a complete solar photovoltaic (PV) system. GIFSEP will procure and install the systems in partnership with NGYouthSDGs, followed by public handover events.
A five-member Competition Review Panel will conduct a technical assessment of entries. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to present their ideas during pitch sessions, while the seven fellows are expected to be announced in late December 2026.
The organisers said the competition is intended to enable young people to develop solutions to energy poverty, which affects businesses, schools, health facilities and livelihoods. Reliable electricity can support digital work, small businesses, healthcare delivery and other community services.
The organisers say the competition responds to an energy gap affecting education, healthcare, small businesses and young people’s livelihoods, particularly in underserved rural communities where reliable electricity remains difficult to access across many rural communities.
Who can apply?
Nigerians aged 18 to 35 are eligible to enter. Applicants should develop an actionable idea that addresses energy access in a particular state or community. The proposal may be an advocacy campaign or a practical intervention, but it should show how the project can make a difference over three months.
How to apply
Interested applicants should submit their entries through the official competition link at https://bit.ly/SPNCompetition. Applications opened on November 11 and will close on November 24, 2026.
Applicants should provide a clear explanation of their proposed campaign or community solution and ensure that their submission meets the competition guidelines. The organisers have invited media organisations, government agencies, solar companies, energy-sector groups, development partners and civil society organisations to engage with the ideas submitted by young Nigerians.
