
Elizabeth Adams
Our very own Elizabeth Adams is standing tall on the global stage. Before the world called her a Mandela Washington Fellow, we knew Elizabeth as a young woman who carried purpose like a torch. Her journey started in the corners of community work, where she championed inclusive education and youth empowerment long before she had the spotlight. Selected from over 15,000 Nigerian applicants, Elizabeth’s journey from grassroots leadership to international recognition is nothing short of extraordinary.
She also ran a six-week Leadership in Business programme at the University of Notre Dame, where she expanded, connected, and redefined what impact looks like for young African leaders. We are proud to have been part of her journey, to have witnessed the moment her dreams found wings. Her story reminds us that when young people dare to dream, entire nations shift.

Michael U
Michael has always carried music like a responsibility, weaving messages and melodies with a rare sincerity. When he emerged as the winner of the Artist Project Earth Musical Contest, it felt less like a surprise and more like a rightful next step in his journey.
His latest song, “Our World”, isn’t just another creative work, it is a call to action. A reminder that the planet is fragile, and we are all accountable. Through his voice, environmental advocacy becomes something you can feel, something you can sing along to, something that lingers long after the music stops.
Michael stands tall as an ambassador whose art entertains and mobilises for change.

Ayoola’s Waste to Wealth Creations
What Ayoola accomplished with the Plastics to Creative Crafts (PC) initiative is transformative. With discarded plastic bottles and a room of eager women, she created magic by turning waste into jewellery, and jewellery into opportunity.
Through her training, women learn a skill and discover agency, resourcefulness, and a path to income generation within their own community. Through her, sustainability meets with empowerment, and creativity has become a vehicle for these women to regain their dignity.
Ayoola’s work proves that the simplest ideas, when fuelled by passion, can reshape lives.

Jay Sukpa — The Slam King
When Jay performs, there is a certain fire that he carries, an urgency that demands the attention of people, and a truth that needs to be heard. His win at the Orupeza Festival Poetry Slam Competition is a welcome coronation. We can actually say that the crown fits the head.
Jay writes like someone who has lived a thousand lives, and performs like someone who refuses to let the world stay silent about what matters. His poetry is bold, tender, defiant, and deeply human.
With every verse, he proves that spoken word is not just art, it is artivism. All hail the Slam Champion! Keep speaking the truth with passion.

Rachael Anga
Rachael’s selection for the Building Bridges Project for Creatives (Cohort 3), funded by the Ford Foundation shows her relentless pursuit towards impact. She is the kind of creative who holds both craft and community in her hands, always seeking ways to merge artistic expression with social change.
Her work spans stories, spaces, and identities—bridging gaps, empowering voices, and creating dialogue where silence once lived. Rachael builds pathways for others to find their art.
Her journey is a reminder that creativity is at its strongest when it connects people. Your vision, creativity, and heart for impact

Art4Democracy Champions
When six of our ambassadors travelled from Benin, Lagos and Awka to join the Art4Democracy Lab by Yiaga Africa, they carried with them the hopes of communities and the power of art as a civic force. Their participation was not just an achievement, it was an act of commitment to Nigeria’s democratic future.
Together, they explored how storytelling, performance, visual art and activism can shape political consciousness and strengthen participation. They learnt, exchanged, grew, and returned with renewed determination to use creativity as a tool for justice.
Their journey shows that democracy thrives when young people choose to show up.











































