LEAP Africa Unveils ‘The Nigeria We Want’ Report, Disburses $400,000 Grants

LEAP Africa, a leading non-profit organisation in Africa, through its youth engagement, advocacy and grant-giving programme – Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) unveiled “The Nigeria We Want” Report, highlighting feedback from young people across the six geo-political zones for a prosperous federal nation where all people in every generation are secure, free, happy and dignified”

This is as the organisation has disbursed grants totalling $400,000 to 130 individuals and organisations, comprising the action grants, development grants and the individual grants which are designed to support the initiatives in the civic participation space.

Speaking at the official launch of the report yesterday in Abuja, executive director -, LEAP Africa, Kehinde Ayeni said, ‘The Nigeria We Want’ Report is a step in the right direction as we navigate this pivotal time in our nation’s history.

It invites all stakeholders – government, civil society, private sector, and citizens – to rally together, overcome challenges, and turn aspirations into reality. The report serves as a blueprint for informed decision-making, policy formulation, and collaborative efforts at all levels for “TheNigeria we want.”

The report is an outcome of the National Visioning Process conducted under the auspices of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), a collaborative initiative implemented by LEAP Africa with the support from Ford Foundation and MacArthur Foundation.

The report serves as a culmination of grassroots-led national visioning process, ensuring that the voices of our youth are at the forefront of the development agenda and their aspirations are integrated into the fabric of our nation’s future. Findings highlighted in the report were sourced through an extensive and inclusive consultation process that engaged youth from across the country initiated by NYFF.

Through the regional convergence across the six geo-political zones, group discussions, and expert consultations, the aspirations, concerns, and innovative ideas of the Nigerian youth were gathered and synthesised into a cohesive report for a better Nigeria. This comprehensive document presents a bold vision and actionable recommendations to guide Nigeria towards a sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future.

Ayeni also emphasised that “through the Nigeria We Want report, we aim to ignite a national conversation and inspire collective action towards achieving a future where all Nigerians can thrive. The report offers a holistic framework, covering key sectors such as good governance, sustainable development & Infrastructure, and resolving fundamental questions such as Unity, empathy & patriotism.” In addition, the Director of Programmes, Amabelle Nwakamma, while sharing an overview of the report, stated key highlights of the report, which include: ‘Situation and futures analysis capturing an internal review of the Nigerian context; past, present, emerging trends and driving forces. Scenarios and Possibilities of the Future; A strategic agenda to accelerate change and national transformation; And a call to action to revitalise the systems’.

Hamzat Lawal also called on the new administration to pay attention to “The Nigeria We Want” Report. He stated that the document encapsulates the voices of young people from across the country. Lawal underscored the report’s significance as a blueprint for a better Nigeria.

In his statement, he stressed that the government should not engage in further consultations but rather concentrate on the insights and recommendations in “The Report. With its comprehensive representation of the aspirations and concerns of Nigeria’s youth, the report serves as a valuable resource for informed decision-making.

Zainab Haruna, a member of the Advisory Board of The Nigeria Youth Futures Fund, called on young Nigerians to take ownership of the report. By actively participating in the dissemination and utilisation of the Report, young Nigerians can contribute to building a brighter and more prosperous Nigeria for future generations.

Marwan Gwamba commended the comprehensive and inclusive approach taken during the compilation of “The Nigeria We Want” Report, which involved various stakeholders, and emphasised that this inclusive nature allowed for a more holistic understanding of the challenges and aspirations of young Nigerians.

With this report, LEAP Africa calls upon the government, private sector leaders, civil society organisations, and individuals to engage with the report’s recommendations, adapt them to their respective contexts, and take decisive actions towards building the Nigeria we all desire.

For 21 years, Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability, and Professionalism (LEAP) Africa has maintained its mission to equip a new cadre of African leaders. LEAP Africa achieves this through its training programmes, research publications, convenings, and, most recently, e-learning. Our programme interventions focus on two core thematic pillars—raising talents to actualise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Making Secondary Education Work in Africa.

Through all these, our overall objective is to change youth’s mindset, equipping them to lead ethically, motivating them to deliver positive changes in their communities, and building sustainable social enterprises for socio-economic transformation.

About the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF) Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), a collaborative initiative of LEAP Africa, MacArthur Foundation and Ford Foundation, to strengthen and enable young people for youth leadership, activism and social change. Through this initiative, they seek to empower the over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population who constitute the youth population.