Empowering a Climate-Conscious Generation: The Climate Youth Summit 2025
By Oluwatosin Christopher & Ifechi Anikwe
As the world prepares to mark World Environment Day 2025, Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment in the climate crisis. From rising sea levels along the coast to desertification in the north, the impacts of climate change are no longer abstract predictions — they are our present reality. The World Bank’s assessment indicates that climate change inaction could cost Nigeria up to 30% of its GDP by 2050, translating to a loss that could be as high as $460 billion. But amid these daunting statistics lies an extraordinary force for change: Youth.
Introducing the Climate Youth Summit 2025
Organized by Clean Technology Hub in Partnership with Shehu Musa Yar’adua Foundation, Network of Youth for Sustainable Initiative, African Youth Initiative on Climate Change; the Climate Youth Summit 2025 is a one-day physical event set to hold in Abuja at Yar’adua Centre on June 4, 2025, uniting secondary and university students, youth-led organizations, corp members, early career professionals, educators, and mentors from across Nigeria and West Africa. This summit is more than a commemoration — it’s a call to action. The event aims to empower young people with the knowledge, tools, and networks to lead on climate and energy solutions. It’s designed to drive real impact by blending education, innovation, advocacy, and mentorship in one high-energy forum.
Why Youth?
Nigeria is blessed with a youthful population, with over 65% under the age of 30, making it one of the most blessed nations with the youngest population globally. This demographic strength offers an opportunity to reimagine the country’s climate future through creativity, activism, and enterprise. However, young people often lack access to climate education, funding, mentorship, and the platforms to showcase their ideas. The Climate Youth Summit seeks to bridge these gaps and spotlight youth-led innovation as central to national and regional climate strategies.
Key Objectives
1. Raise Awareness — Increase youth understanding of climate change and energy solutions.
2. Build Capacity — Equip participants with tools to develop sustainable, community-driven initiatives.
3. Foster Innovation — Showcase youth-led projects addressing climate issues.
4. Influence Policy — Elevate youth voices in climate governance.
5. Encourage Collaboration — Strengthen cross-sector and cross-border youth partnerships.
What to Expect
1. Mentorship Booths: Sector-focused booths where professionals will mentor participants on climate intersections with:
- Public Health
- Climate Smart Agriculture & Food Security
- Green Entrepreneurship
- Renewable Energy Solutions
- Sustainable Architecture & Urban Planning
- Technology & Digital Solutions for Climate Action
- Climate and Governance
2. Innovation Showcase: A platform for young innovators to present breakthrough ideas, tech, and community projects addressing climate issues.
3. Fireside Chat: Building a Career in Climate Action: Challenges, Wins, and Lessons Learned by professionals with years of experience.
3. Panel Discussions: Engaging sessions with youth leaders, policymakers, and experts to discuss urgent climate challenges and actionable solutions.
4. Art & Media Exhibition: A creative space where youth express climate concerns through visual art, photography, and digital storytelling.
5. Speech by Youth Ambassador
A Deeper Dive into Mentorship
Each sector booth will feature rotating small group sessions, where mentors engage participants in:
- Practical problem-solving
- Career guidance
- Cross-sector networking
An open networking segment will allow for deeper conversations, potential collaborations, and professional relationship-building. Post-summit, participants will be able to engage in virtual mentoring, quarterly follow-ups, and project tracking.
Expected Outcomes
- A stronger, climate-aware youth base across Nigeria and West Africa
- Youth networks in key climate-related sectors
- Professional development for emerging climate leader
- A repository of scalable, youth-led climate solutions
Visibility for youth contributions to Nigeria’s climate resilience goals
Call for Sectoral Partnership & Support
Clean Technology Hub is inviting strategic partners across professional sectors to co-lead mentorship and engagement at the Climate Youth Summit 2025. Whether your expertise lies in public health, agriculture, energy, education, construction, finance, tech, media, or beyond — your voice, knowledge, and support are needed.
We are seeking:
- Professionals to serve as mentors at the summit
- Mobilization of young professionals and students within your sector
- Communications support to amplify the summit’s reach and impact
- Funding partnerships to support event execution and post-summit initiatives
- Collaboration on identifying long-term investment in youth-led climate solutions
What’s in it for you/your organization?
1. Shape the national and regional discourse on climate and your sector
2. Network with emerging leaders and changemakers
3. Gain brand visibility and recognition across traditional and digital media
4. Influence climate-focused capacity building and innovation
5. Be part of a national movement building climate resilience through youth leadership
Join Us
The Climate Youth Summit 2025 is more than an event — it is a movement to invest in the next generation of climate champions. If we are to end plastic pollution, build resilient systems, secure our food supply, transition to renewable energy, influence policy, and shift mindsets — then young people must be at the forefront.
Together, let’s create the future we want — starting with the youth who will lead it. To partner, support, or participate, contact Clean Technology Hub.
