Announcing the 5th Class of OD Impact Challenge 30 Under 30 Changemakers! – YOA

OPPORTUNITY Desk is proud to announce the 5th Class of the OD Impact Challenge 30 Under 30 Changemakers.

The OD Impact Challenge 30 Under 30 Changemaker List is an annual initiative that acknowledges and amplifies the work of excellent younger changemakers from round the world. Through visibility and storytelling, the listing celebrates younger leaders who’re driving significant affect and creating options to actual social, financial, and environmental challenges of their communities.

The 30 Changemakers had been shortlisted by the OD Impact Challenge 2025, following a rigorous choice course of. They characterize a various group of leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs who’re taking daring steps to resolve urgent issues and add vital worth to the lives of individuals inside their communities and past.

Below is the listing of the OD Impact Challenge 2025 – 30 Under 30 Changemakers, offered in no specific order.

1. Mark Chester Tungcul (Phillipines)

Mark Chester Tungcul is a Filipino youth chief and communications skilled with expertise in challenge administration, sustainability advocacy, and youth engagement throughout native and worldwide platforms. He has labored with authorities our bodies, UN-associated initiatives, and civil society organizations, contributing to applications aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, local weather motion, and inclusive improvement.

Known for bridging grassroots initiatives with world alternatives, Mark leverages strategic communication, digital media, and management to amplify youth voices and drive significant social affect.

2. Melicy Mandala (Malawi)

Melicy Mandala is a group improvement and local weather motion skilled from Malawi, dedicated to advancing girls’s financial empowerment, clear power entry, and environmental sustainability. Her work sits at the intersection of gender equality, local weather resilience, and inclusive inexperienced livelihoods, with a powerful deal with supporting marginalized girls and youth in rural and peri-city communities.

She is the founder and lead of Wala Women’s Social Enterprise, which produces eco-pleasant gas briquettes from agricultural waste comparable to rice husks. Through this initiative, Melicy equips girls with abilities in sustainable manufacturing and small-scale enterprise, enabling them to earn revenue whereas decreasing reliance on charcoal and firewood. Her work immediately addresses deforestation, indoor air air pollution, and family power poverty, whereas creating dignified, local weather-resilient livelihoods for girls.

3. Ogweno Stephen (Kenya)

Ogweno Stephen is a multi-award-successful world public well being professional, researcher, writer, and innovator, dedicated to addressing well being inequities and advancing wellness globally. With a Public Health diploma from Kenyatta University, a Master’s in Global Health from the University of Manchester, and Sustainability in Business Leadership research from the University of Cambridge, Ogweno focuses on enhancing public well being tackling non-communicable ailments (NCDs) and leveraging on well being tech throughout Africa. As the founder and CEO of Stowelink Foundation (2015) and Lifesten Health (2022) , Ogweno has applied transformative well being applications in over 10 African international locations, specializing in enhancing well being literacy, behaviour and entry to care. His advocacy emphasizes the inclusion of marginalized teams in well being and coverage programming.

Globally, Ogweno serves in a number of key roles, together with as a Steering Member at WHO NCD Labs and NCD Alliance, and as a director at the World Obesity Federation, amplifying work in world well being. As celebrated entrepreneur, researcher and writer of six books, Ogweno has acquired prestigious accolades, together with the WHO-AFRO Hideyo Noguchi Prize for Young African Researchers in 2022 and listed as Top 100 Young African Leaders. At simply 29, Ogweno is a trailblazer in public well being, inspiring impactful change.

4. Lawrence Banda (Zambia)

Lawrence Banda is a youth chief, Junior Councillor, and social affect advocate from Lusaka, Zambia, pushed by a deep perception in the energy of younger individuals to rework their communities. He is passionately dedicated to mindset transformation, management improvement, and civic participation, with a powerful deal with amplifying youth voices and galvanizing younger individuals to rise above limitations.

Lawrence actively empowers youths by his work as a Peer Mentor and Schools Project Coordinator with Transforming Youths Mind Era, the place he helps and leads youth-targeted initiatives aimed toward inspiring optimistic change. Through mentorship, advocacy, and group engagement, he encourages younger individuals to imagine of their potential and take significant motion towards constructing a greater and extra sustainable future. He is deeply enthusiastic about utilizing his voice, creativity, and management to drive lasting affect in his group and past.

5. Akpevweoghene Okuse (Nigeria)

Akpevweoghene Okuse is a younger group advocate working at the intersection of ladies’ well being, menstrual hygiene administration (MHM), adolescent sexual training, financial Empowerment, and Second Chance Education. She works with Her Voice Foundation, as the Program Officer the place she helps outreach applications for adolescent ladies and younger moms throughout native communities. Her work focuses on enhancing entry to correct well being data, sanitary merchandise, protected areas, and financial empowerment alternatives for women and younger moms. 

Through the Second Chance Education program, Akpevweoghene helps efforts to reintegrate out-of-school adolescent ladies and younger moms again into formal training, guaranteeing that early motherhood or vulnerability doesn’t completely finish a woman’s studying journey. She has participated in youth improvement and management trainings, together with the Ideation Hub Africa masterclass collection 5 Program, the place she continues to strengthen her capability in group engagement, program implementation, and driving measurable social affect. Akpevweoghene stays dedicated to creating sensible, inclusive options that develop alternatives for women to study, heal, and thrive.

6. Sameer Khan (Pakistan)

Sameer Khan is a digital and group activist from Pakistan working at the intersection of know-how, gender justice, and peacebuilding. He is the founder of Safar Buddies and Collective Pakistan, youth-led initiatives targeted on reclaiming public and digital areas for girls by cultural activism, interfaith dialogue, and grassroots innovation. His work emphasizes protected mobility, girls’s civic participation, and inclusive storytelling, utilizing know-how and artwork as instruments for resistance, belonging, and social change.

Through his initiatives, Sameer has led applications which have engaged and mobilized 1000’s of younger individuals throughout Sindh, amplifying marginalized voices and fostering collective motion. By combining digital instruments, artistic expression, and group organizing, he continues to problem gendered obstacles to participation and promote extra inclusive, peaceable, and equitable public areas for girls and youth.

7. Eunice Adewale (Nigeria)

Eunice Adewale is a clear power innovator and sustainability skilled, and the founder of Smokeless Briqs Energy Solutions. With a background in environmental science and sustainable improvement, she brings over 5 years of expertise advancing inexpensive and scalable clear power applied sciences. Her experience spans renewable power techniques, thermoelectric generator (TEG) know-how, biomass manufacturing, and clear power enterprise operations.

Through Smokeless Briqs, Eunice is driving the adoption of cleaner cooking and power options whereas decreasing dependence on fossil fuels and conventional biomass. Her management has been key to scaling operations, growing technical options, and securing strategic partnerships that strengthen the firm’s affect. She has acquired a number of recognitions for her work, together with the ACT Foundation Changemakers Innovation Prize and the Nigeria Energy Forum Innovation Prize, highlighting her contribution to sustainable power innovation.

8. Hamayun Khan (United States)

Hamayun Khan is a coverage and social affect skilled working at the intersection of training, financial improvement, and fragile contexts. He is the Founder and President of SolaTeach, supporting 500+ Afghan ladies with English and profession-prepared abilities underneath restrictive situations, and he has secured $10,000 in aggressive grant funding to ship measurable programming affect.

He can be an award-successful writer and printed author. His e-book The Death Within acquired the International Impact Book Award (2025), and his training and social affect work earned the Global Recognition Award (2025). He has written coverage articles, e-book chapters, and op-eds on Afghanistan’s improvement, connectivity, and financial restoration. Besides, he has contributed by media options and podcast appearances to lift consciousness on Afghan ladies’ training and youth alternative.

Overall, Hamayun combines expertise in training innovation, improvement coverage, and financial evaluation, together with work on infrastructure, connectivity, and inclusive development. As such, he has based Collective Impact Consulting, offering analysis and coverage advisory throughout the Global South, and beforehand supported USAID-funded work as a Finance Analyst at Counterpart International.

9. Michael Sunmoni (Nigeria)

Michael Sunmoni is a Nigerian maternal-well being innovator and the founder of SerielleHealth, a digital maternal-care platform targeted on decreasing preventable being pregnant-associated problems in underserved communities. With over seven years of scientific and group well being expertise, he has labored carefully with girls in low-useful resource settings throughout Lagos, Nigeria, gaining firsthand perception into the gaps in maternal care, training, and entry to well timed assist.

Through SerielleHealth, Michael is delivering inexpensive, AI-powered maternal care by way of a low-information internet platform that gives personalised being pregnant steerage, symptom monitoring, maternal training, and entry to licensed healthcare professionals. He has led the improvement of the platform’s purposeful prototype, expanded its maternal-training content material library, and coordinated maternal-well being outreaches reaching over 1,200 pregnant girls by training, screening, and referrals. With partnerships established throughout clinics and pharmacies, Michael is now targeted on scaling SerielleHealth to achieve 3,000–5,000 moms, enhancing being pregnant outcomes and decreasing maternal problems throughout Nigeria.

10. Osmar Zaidan (Indonesia)

Osmar Zaidan is a youth social innovator from Indonesia and the CEO of Kita Korban Bullying, a nationwide youth-led motion devoted to eliminating bullying amongst younger individuals. With a background in youth management and social advocacy, his work focuses on creating protected, inclusive environments the place younger individuals can study, develop, and categorical themselves free from violence, worry, and discrimination.

Through Kita Korban Bullying, Osmar leads prevention-targeted anti-bullying training, faculty-based mostly applications, and group empowerment initiatives that promote empathy, inclusion, and peer-led motion. The motion has reached over 100 faculties throughout Indonesia, skilled networks of Anti-Bullying Ambassadors, and constructed partnerships with NGOs, authorities establishments, and group organizations. Under his management, the initiative additionally launched Indonesia’s first Anti-Bullying Declaration, mobilizing younger individuals nationwide to decide to safer and extra respectful areas.

11. Dabri Loïc Nzalakanda-Noble (Congo)

Dabri Loïc Nzalakanda-Noble is a younger Congolese social entrepreneur enthusiastic about sustainable options and social innovation. He is the founder of AquaPlay, an progressive initiative that makes use of video games and interactive instructional instruments to lift consciousness amongst communities about water, hygiene, and sanitation points in each city and rural areas.

With expertise in group engagement, in style training, and advocacy, Loïc is dedicated to reworking water-associated practices by combining playfulness, training, and social affect. Through AquaPlay, he goals to foster collective consciousness and accountability in the face of environmental challenges in Africa. He firmly believes that effectively-knowledgeable communities can grow to be highly effective brokers of sustainable change.

12. Wongani Mulanga (Malawi)

Wongani Mulanga is an environmentalist dedicated to increasing entry to scrub power and training in Malawi. She co-based Green Minds, the place she helps lead youth-pushed efforts that assist college students in rural communities by sensible, sustainable options. Her work displays a powerful perception in group empowerment and significant youth participation. Wongani continues to push for approaches that deliver actual affect to each individuals and the setting.

13. Ideba Edu Ele (Nigeria)

Ideba Edu Ele is a Cross River State born Nigerian storyteller, SGBV and rural training advocate, and the Founder of Bonnicare Foundation, a rural targeted group defending and empowering girls, ladies, and susceptible kids. With over ten years of expertise throughout media, group improvement, and human rights work, she has led impactful interventions together with supporting rural communities to undertake bylaws in opposition to witchcraft branding, SGBV, child marriage, and dangerous conventional practices. Through her progressive Unbranded Lives Project, Edu paperwork underneath-reported human rights abuses and makes use of moral storytelling to encourage motion, group reform, and public sensitization. She is a Royal Arts Academy skilled filmmaker who makes use of movie and content material creation to highlight social points she believes must not ever be advised with levity. Her group has impacted over 1,000 beneficiaries by rural training assist, together with a completely sponsored college beneficiary.

14. Andy Mundori (Malawi)

Andy Mundori is a passionate Malawian changemaker and Director of ClimateClever Organization. He leads group-based mostly tasks that enhance entry to scrub water, strengthen local weather resilience, and empower girls and youth. Andy has helped deliver protected water to 1000’s of individuals whereas selling training and financial alternatives in rural areas. He is devoted to making sure that each Malawian child and household has a greater, extra respectable future.

16. Castrol Waswaya Nzyooma (Zambia)

Castrol Waswaya Nzyooma is a Zambian entrepreneur and co-founder of SignaBridge, a digital connectivity answer enhancing dependable web entry and consumer expertise for communities and companies. He holds a bachelor’s diploma in mechanical engineering, a bachelor’s diploma in commerce, an affiliate diploma in public well being, and a diploma in worldwide relations and diplomatic affairs. Castrol has served as a Theirworld Ambassador, a local weather champion at United People Global, and a world wellbeing envoy at Reimagining Society, contributing to SDG-pushed initiatives. He can be the founder of Gigabridge Energies, a renewable-power startup pioneering inexpensive Bio-CNG and E-methane options. With a powerful file of resilience and innovation, he’s dedicated to advancing Africa’s digital, agricultural, and sustainable power panorama.

17. Halima Tussaadiyah (Indonesian)

Halima Tussaadiyah is an Indonesian youth chief the Founder of EDCation, a group based mostly initiative targeted on literacy and local weather training for youngsters in rural areas. Since 2017, she has led applications which have reached 1000’s of kids and empowered youth volunteers as educators and group leaders. She holds a tutorial background in Elementary Teacher Education with robust experience in child improvement and group studying techniques. Her work has acquired worldwide recognition, together with the Social Impact Seed Funding 2024 by Aspire Leaders (USA) & Winner of Misk 20 Under 30, 2025 by Mohammed bin Salman Foundation (Saudi Arabia). She is enthusiastic about constructing sustainable, youth led options for training and environmental resilience in underserved communities.

18. Felicity Nneoma Okolie (Nigeria)

Felicity Nneoma Okolie is a public well being skilled, youth advocate, and founder of City Safe Space, a digital initiative empowering younger individuals with correct well being data, mentorship, and improvement alternatives. She has over six years of expertise in the improvement sector, specializing in sexual and reproductive well being, digital advocacy, and youth engagement. Felicity has been chosen for a number of nationwide and worldwide fellowships and conferences, and at present serves as the FP2030 Nigeria Youth Focal Point and the Deputy National Coordinator AfriYAN Nigeria. She is a member of Australian Association for Adolescent Health and Officer of IAAH-Emerging Professionals Network. She is enthusiastic about leveraging digital know-how to enhance adolescent wellbeing and develop entry to life-altering alternatives. Felicity is dedicated to serving to younger individuals make knowledgeable choices, unlock their potential, and thrive.

19. Isaac Toluwanimi Olugbenga (Nigeria)

Isaac Toluwanimi Olugbenga is a talented land surveyor and enterprise marketing consultant with a powerful deal with innovation and digital transformation. He combines technical experience in surveying with strategic problemsolving to assist companies and group-targeted tasks. As a finalist in the WIPO National IP Essay Competition, he has contributed thought management to Nigeria’s artistic and innovation ecosystem. Isaac additionally serves as the Chief Strategy Officer on the YIL Fellowship’s Innovation Leadership Track, main a challenge that digitizes casual retail and modernizes the conventional esusu system. He is acknowledged for his readability, strategic perception, and dedication to constructing tech-enabled, future-prepared options throughout sectors.

20. Ahsen Bhatti (Canada)

Ahsen Bhatti holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Diaspora & Transnational Studies from the University of Toronto, and is proud to name Toronto his home. His intensive expertise in working to the profit of Toronto’s disenfranchised communities has taught him an ideal deal about the way to design coverage frameworks that ship fairness and affordability. Through his work with non-earnings together with: Alliance for a Liveable Ontario, Building Roots, Building Up, Sojourn House, Innovative Canadians for Change, the Toronto Community Benefits Netwo and the Moss Park Coalition, he has been in a position to contribute to quite a few innovation social applications centred round meals safety, housing, environmental safety, employment alternatives, refugee points and entry to scrub water. He is a passionate advocate for funding in social infrastructure and equitable city improvement to forestall displacement in Toronto’s most susceptible neighbourhoods.

21. Victoria Chidinma Nwanne (Nigeria)

Victoria Chidinma Nwanne is a Nigerian social affect advocate and the Founder of the Stutter Awareness Foundation (SAF), the first youth-led initiative in Nigeria devoted to stuttering consciousness and incapacity inclusion. She is a graduate of the University of Benin, the place she made historical past as the establishment’s first feminine( SUG) Senate Clerk. Victoria is enthusiastic about amplifying marginalized voices, notably younger individuals who stutter, and advancing conversations round psychological well being and inclusive training. Her work facilities on group empowerment, advocacy, and creating protected areas the place individuals really feel seen and heard. She has been acknowledged for her management and was just lately a finalist for the One Young World Hauwa Ojeifo Scholarship. Driven by religion, compassion, and function, Victoria is dedicated to constructing a world the place each voice—regardless of the way it sounds—is valued.

22. Faith Nzivo (Kenya)

Faith Nzivo is an skilled agricultural economist with confirmed monitor file of 7 years championing meals safety, local weather motion and financial empowerment by worth chain improvement, monetary entry, market linkage and sustainable agriculture. She is a social enterpreneur who strongly believes creating sustainable livelihoods by rural economic system rebuilding is the anchor for nationwide improvement.

23. Osayimwense Imasuen (Nigeria)

Osayi Imasuen is an engineering pupil enthusiastic about utilizing know-how to resolve on a regular basis issues in sensible and impactful methods. Over the previous yr, he has labored on tasks involving robotics, laptop imaginative and prescient, and {hardware} prototyping, with a rising deal with sustainability and sensible techniques. [He enjoys developing solutions that combine engineering with human behaviour, with Autobin being one of his strongest examples. Driven by innovation, curiosity, and a commitment to positive change, Osayi aims to create tools that make communities cleaner, smarter, and more efficient.

24. Moses F. Tengbeh (Liberia)

Moses F. Tengbeh is a young Liberian social innovator, the Founder and Executive Director of Transnovate Liberia, and the Program Chairman of I-Yan Liberia. He leads impactful initiatives focused on digital empowerment, vocational skills training, and youth development. Through his flagship project, Tech To Transform, he has equipped thousands of young people with technology and practical skills to improve their education and economic opportunities. Moses is passionate about creating inclusive pathways for youth to thrive and continues to champion community-driven solutions across Liberia.

25. Ntyam Princia Minko (Cameroon)

Ntyam Princia Minko is a visionary changemaker and Founder & CEO of RENAI Africa, empowering African students with international opportunities. With a mission to equip 10,000 students by 2035, she has impacted over 1200 students across 10 countries. Her initiatives include Motuwa (safety project), GiHoN (foundation to support the needy), and “STEMinism” (girl empowerment in STEM). A recipient of the Top 50 Global Student Prize 2025, Top 10 Young Entrepreneurs 2024, Bizz Award Winner, Rise Global Finalist 2024, and Urega Scholar 2024, Princia is a dedicated leader inspiring a new generation of changemakers through her innovative work and commitment to education and community development.

26. Sulaiman Tanu Bah (Sierra Leone)

Sulaiman Tanu Bah leads Smart Up Africa as the founder and CEO. He holds a degree in “Business and Information Technology.” He is a YALI fellow (2019) and Emerging Public Leader Sierra Leone fellow (2025). Sulaiman is keen on addressing youth and environmental issues in his community. He uses his leadership to drive positive change. Currently, his work has empowered 1,500 marginalized youths with digital and business skills, enhancing their confidence, employability, and community contributions.

27. Ruth Reje (Nigeria)

Ruth Reje (AKA Ruth Bassey Okim) is a Medical Laboratory Scientist, Poet and Climate Activist from Nigeria who uses storytelling to inspire environmental action. Through her organization, Let’s Speak Africa, she has led climate projects for six years, launched 20 Environmental Storytelling Clubs across West Africa and championed tree planting initiatives in Nigeria. Her work bridges the gap between climate science and reality, empowering women and youths to become climate storytellers who make change in their communities.

28. Esther Emejulu (Nigeria)

Esther Emejulu is a product manager and STEM advocate, and the founder of TURNVE, a career-simulation platform designed to help people “experience the job to land the job.” She holds a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and brings hands-on experience in community engagement, youth empowerment, and digital communication to drive meaningful impact across education, sustainability, and career development. Esther specializes in product development, project planning and coordination, community management, STEM education advocacy, and career-readiness storytelling. Her professional experience includes serving as a Communication Officer with the Youth Climate Movement, NYSC CDS President, and an Agricultural Science teacher. She is currently collaborating with her co-founder, Queen, to build and scale TURNVE, creating practical learning experiences that bridge the gap between education and industry.

29. Solomon Tolulope Adedini (Nigeria)

Solomon Tolulope Adedini is a Nigerian social entrepreneur and the founder of Sol-Uniq Green Resources, where he leads a circular economy initiative that converts agricultural and municipal waste into clean charcoal briquettes and energy-efficient stoves. His work focuses on reducing pollution, promoting clean cooking solutions, and creating green jobs for women and youth. He is deeply passionate about environmental sustainability, community development, and empowering vulnerable groups. Through his initiatives, Solomon is committed to accelerating clean energy adoption and contributing to a healthier, more resilient society.

30. Goodness Ajamu (Türkiye)

Goodness Ajamu is a physicist and graduate student at Erciyes University in Turkey, working at the intersection of particle physics, materials science, and human development. His academic journey includes research in particle physics and materials science and engineering, as well as several international fellowships that have strengthened his growth as a scientist. Beyond research, he mentors young people through EduFurther Africa, Paper Airplanes Inc., and Career Associates Foundation, supporting them in academic advancement and the pursuit of meaningful career goals.

Congratulations to the 5th Class of OD Impact Challenge 30 Under 30 Changemakers!