"Youthful and Useful": LEAP Africa’s Call to Action for 2025 Youth Day of Service
As part of the 2025 International Youth Day (IYD), LEAP Africa hosted the 2025 Youth Day of Service (YDoS) Press Conference, focusing on the youth and their potential impact on the country and Africa at large.
LEAP (Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability, and Professionalism) Africa, a pan-African non-profit organisation committed to leadership development and youth empowerment, in partnership with Dow, a global materials science company, and a dynamic network of regional collaborators, launched the Youth Day of Service (YDoS) 2025 campaign on Tuesday, August 12, in Lagos, with the theme "From Ideas to Impact."
L-R: Hembadoon Inyamkume, Communications and Public Relations Manager, LEAP Africa; Adebisi Adeoti, MD Dow West Africa; Amabelle Nwakanma, Director of Programmes and Partnerships, LEAP Africa; Oluwaseyi Simeon, Senior Programmes Coordinator, LEAP Africa at the launch of the 6th Edition of Youth Day of Service (YDOS).
YDoS, an annual celebration of youth agency and volunteerism driving sustainable change across Africa, during its sixth edition, saw Hembadoon Inyamkume, Communications and Public Relations Manager at LEAP Africa; Adebisi Adeoti, MD of Dow West Africa; Amabelle Nwakanma, Director of Programmes and Partnerships at LEAP Africa; and Oluwaseyi Simeon, Senior Programmes Coordinator at LEAP Africa, addressing the press on the impact of youth-led service and galvanizing support for the YDoS campaign.
The Youth Day of Service coincided with International Youth Day (IYD), a global observance that celebrated the power, purpose, and potential of young people in advancing sustainable development.
Youths were encouraged to take action, especially on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through community-based projects that could create wealth, employment, and service to society, both in the country and beyond Africa.
Under this year’s theme, “Youthful and Useful,” the campaign amplified the role of African youth as active contributors to sustainable development and agents of positive transformation in their communities.
“The Youth Day of Service is more than a campaign. It’s a continent-wide call to action that recognises the power of young people to drive transformation where it’s needed most. It’s about shifting from potential to impact, and from moment to movement,” said Kehinde Ayeni, Executive Director of LEAP Africa.
One of the grant beneficiaries, Olamide Asharuola, spoke during the press conference on the need to tackle climate change and how she and her team of volunteers have achieved success with plastic waste management, with plans to expand to more communities.
She said: “It is a true honour to stand before such distinguished individuals—leaders who are deeply committed to fostering positive youth engagement across Africa—as well as the organisers who have guided us through this bootcamp in preparation for a week of impactful service.
"Today represents a pivotal moment: a transition from being dreamers to becoming agents of change.
"In Lagos alone, approximately 270,000 tons of plastic waste are generated each year, yet only 10% is recycled. This is deeply concerning, as the remaining 90% often ends up in waterways, is ingested by marine life, clogs drainage systems, and contributes to flooding and other environmental disasters. Beyond these immediate effects, the health implications, such as endocrine disruption, and the broader impact on climate change are alarming.
"Tackling climate change is especially urgent in regions like ours, where plastic consumption is among the highest globally. Through this bootcamp, we have learned the value of self-leadership. As a project lead, it begins with me taking initiative, followed by our team of volunteers, and together we aim to extend this action into our communities, turning knowledge into meaningful change.”
How to Get Involved
Young people, youth groups, NGOs, schools, corporate partners, and civic organisations are invited to lead a project or volunteer for one through the official campaign website: www.youthdayofservice.org.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
Adunni Amodeni (Content Editor) Adunni Amodeni is a journalist with ten years of working experience in the media industry. She graduated from Babcock University in 2012 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communication. Adunni previously worked with Encomium Magazine (2012-2015). Email: shoyemi.adedolapo@corp.legit.ng
Olumide Alake (Entertainment Editor) Olumide Alake is a Lifestyle and Entertainment Journalist with 7 years of experience in news media. He holds an awarded certificate from the Editorial CDS during his service year. He has worked with some online media outfits notable are Naijaloaded, Jaguda, Kemifilani. Olumide bagged an award for the best exclusive article at Legit.ng and Best Entertainer Editor 2023. Contact: olumide.alake@corp.legit.ng
