A celebration of young African Sustainability Champions! By Nonso Ikechi
As an African and someone with an understanding of Nigeria, plus the fact that I am deeply committed to empowering young talents and celebrating outstanding persons. I am thrilled to celebrate the incredible achievements of Chief Dr. Chidubem Daniel Gbujie, Silas Kimara Leonard Tabenwa, Delight Chimdiuto, and Chinazaekpere Uchegbu!
These brilliant young Africans have emerged victorious at the inaugural 2024 Sustainability World Cup, informing us all of what we already know: Africans have talents, and many Nigerians are talented beyond argument. These young people continue to show this. Sadly, many youths in Nigeria are drawn away and have gotten addicted to drugs, internet fraud, and sexual perversion. All they want is to sexualize everything from skits to movies and dramas rather than address and find ways to dig us out of our predicament. Notably, I must commend Dr. Chidubem, who I have known for some years, though we have not met. I have reported about him and his impact while a freelance journalist in South Africa. Anyway, I am happy he won the Most Valuable Player Award, which is called the prestigious Best Sustainability Leader Award.
This accomplishment should be in every media outlet in Africa, even in Spain it is celebrated, and it is a big deal. But it’s clear where African priorities lie. Even the Nigerian government has not recognized them or used them as a yardstick. I am aware the African Union and United Nations have acknowledged them but not their respective countries. This showcases the exceptional potential of African youth. Their triumph at the World Cup, competing against diverse backgrounds, highlights the African resilience in us. I can see that they will be great leaders for sure in this space in the future. If we are going to change the world, it will require a strong knowledge base with a practical application process to address our collective shared challenges and unity. See how Africans worked together for eight weeks and they are champions. Imagine if we all work together even at a regional level, we would go far.
I am happy they are interested in bringing this knowledge back to Africa. With their passion and the support of international organizations in the sustainability space, these young African leaders, along with the new generation of serious-minded Africans, have the potential to revolutionize sustainability practices across the continent and in the world. I must commend all the elders that have helped them, like Dr. Nelson Aluya, and I cannot forget the American white lady that sponsored the team, Ms. Gallagher Rhiannon, and the Sustainability World Cup organizers for their support. Africa’s vibrant youth are waiting to be given opportunities to explore. They are technically the only hope as the generation that has come before them has destroyed and indebted the continent. Look at Kenya and the protests. People can’t eat, but you increase taxes. Youths of Africa are the only hope, demonstrating the power of innovation and determination even in the face of obstacles.
Let us celebrate these champions! They join the few thousands of SDGs torchbearers for a brighter, more sustainable future for Africa and the world.
