Oando Foundation has awarded a total of ₦20 million in grants to 10 young innovators following the completion of the pilot cohort of its Green Youth Upskilling Programme (GYUP), marking a significant milestone in its push to support youth-led climate innovation and enterprise development in Nigeria.
The announcement was made at a closing and awards ceremony held in Lagos, where the Foundation also unveiled a second cohort that will train 50 additional young Nigerians in renewable energy, waste management, and green enterprise development. The move signals a scale-up of the initiative, which was launched in July 2025 as a workforce development programme aimed at equipping youths with practical, industry-relevant skills within Nigeria’s emerging green economy.
The nine-month pilot cohort combined technical training with entrepreneurship support, exposing participants to hands-on learning, mentorship, and enterprise development. The programme focused on building competencies in renewable energy systems, waste management processes, and sustainable business models, while also strengthening participants’ capacity to develop viable ventures aligned with climate and sustainability goals.
According to the Foundation, the design of GYUP was intentional in bridging the gap between skills acquisition and enterprise creation. Participants were supported to translate their training into practical solutions, with several developing business models that address inefficiencies in Nigeria’s circular economy, particularly in waste recycling, clean energy access, and sustainable resource use.
At the ceremony, 10 participants from Cohort I were recognised as top-performing Green Youth Champions, based on the strength of their ideas, execution, and potential for impact. The beneficiaries—Temitope Fakorede, Barnabas Iorsue, Boluwatife Amodu, Toluwalase Abiona, Abdulmuiz Edun, Gbayere Onorena, Yunus Sodiq, Janet Ogechi Ohakwe, Aishat Ayyub, and Johnpaul Nwaike—collectively received ₦20 million in grant funding to accelerate the growth of their ventures. The funding is expected to support early-stage operations, product development, and market expansion, positioning them as job creators within their communities.
Speaking at the event, Head of Oando Foundation, Tonia Uduimoh, said the initiative reflects the organisation’s evolving approach to education, with a growing focus on practical skills and youth empowerment beyond traditional classroom learning.
“As an organisation, the Oando Foundation has focused on education since its inception in 2011. While education remains our core, we also recognise that it extends beyond foundational learning and formal academics. In collaboration with NCIC, we developed the Green Youth Upskilling Programme,” she said.
“Through GYUP, we provide practical, real-world green skills that build on participants’ existing knowledge and experience, enabling them to become more empowered and self-reliant individuals, actively contributing to Nigeria’s green economy. We are grateful for the opportunity to implement initiatives such as this, as we expand our focus beyond younger children to also support the youth, who are a critical part of Nigeria’s population.”
Also speaking, Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Abubakre Ogunlende, commended the initiative and its impact on participants, noting the importance of cross-sector collaboration in driving youth development.
“Today, I speak on behalf of every partner in this room when I say we are proud of every participant in the GYUP initiative and what they have achieved over the past nine months. We are grateful to Oando Foundation and NCIC for the intention and preparation that made this possible,” he said.
“GYUP is proof that when the private sector, civil society, and development organisations come together with a shared purpose, we can create opportunities that truly transform lives. Nigeria’s growing economy needs young people like those we have in this room today—skilled, motivated, and ready to lead. Programmes like GYUP are exactly what is needed to build the future we want.”
Ogunlende added that the programme aligns with Nigeria’s National Youth Policy and the revised National Employment Policy, both of which prioritise skills development, green jobs, and youth-led climate solutions. He noted that initiatives like GYUP contribute to the Federal Government’s broader objective of building a resilient and climate-smart workforce while promoting inclusive economic growth.
One of the grant recipients, Toluwalase Abiona, who participated in the Waste Management and Recycling track and received a ₦2 million grant, described the programme as transformative and practical in its approach.
“The programme was truly eye-opening and highly impactful. It highlighted the importance of equipping young people with practical technical skills to advance their careers, particularly within the green economy. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity and the support provided. This experience has strengthened my confidence and commitment to building a career in the green economy,” she said.
In her remarks, Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Climate Change and Circular Economy, Titilayo Oshodi, emphasised the urgency of climate action and the role of young innovators in shaping sustainable solutions.
“Climate action is no longer a future conversation. It is happening now, and it needs your ideas, your energy, and your courage. Do not underestimate the value of what you have learned here,” she said.
“Whether you go on to build businesses, join organisations, or lead initiatives, you are now part of a movement shaping a more sustainable future. As a government, we remain committed to creating an enabling environment where green skills, innovation, and enterprise can thrive, and we will continue to support programmes like the GYUP by Oando Foundation.”
The event drew participation from stakeholders across the public and private sectors, including development partners, investors, and policymakers. Among those in attendance were Oreoluwa Finih, Special Adviser on Sustainable Development Goals to the Lagos State Governor, and Feyisayo Alayande, Executive Secretary of the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), reflecting growing institutional support for youth-focused climate initiatives.
Nigeria Startup News reports that with the successful completion of its pilot phase and the onboarding of a second cohort, GYUP is emerging as a scalable model for addressing youth unemployment while advancing climate action. By combining technical training, mentorship, and access to funding, the programme is creating a pipeline of young entrepreneurs equipped to deliver sustainable solutions and drive inclusive growth within Nigeria’s green economy.
