By Awyetu Asabe Hope
Organisers of the DAWN Project have unveiled plans to expand participation in their annual environmental competition, targeting millions of young Nigerians as part of efforts to strengthen climate advocacy.
The initiative was announced at the launch of the 2026 DAWN Project Ambassador Competition held in Lagos, themed “The Power of Us.
Co-founder, Desmond Majekodumi, said the competition aims to harness the creativity of young people in promoting environmental sustainability.
He disclosed that over 200,000 participants had been engaged in previous editions, with plans to significantly scale up participation nationwide.
Majekodumi added that the project was also consolidating its Green Ambassadors Programme to involve students across primary, secondary, and tertiary institutions in environmental advocacy.
Also speaking, co-founder Angela Emuwa said growing participation from schools reflected increasing awareness of environmental issues among young people.
She emphasised the link between environmental sustainability and public health, noting that a healthy environment is essential for overall wellbeing.
Founder, Pamela Ajayi, said the initiative had reached nearly 100 schools and over 120,000 individuals, with a focus on climate change awareness and youth development.
Ajayi warned that environmental degradation posed serious health risks, including rising cases of pollution-related illnesses, and called for collective action to protect the environment.
On his part, co-founder Stanley Evans said the project had sustained its advocacy over the past seven years, engaging thousands of young people across the country.
He noted that entries for the competition, which include poetry, music, essays, and other creative expressions, would close on July 31, after which submissions would be assessed by an international panel of judges.
The organisers expressed optimism that the 2026 edition would attract broader participation and deepen youth-driven environmental action nationwide.