DAWN Project targets millions of youths in climate competition push

The organisers of The DAWN Project have unveiled plans to expand participation in their annual environmental competition, with a target of engaging millions of young people across Nigeria.

This followed the launch of the 2026 Dawn Project Ambassador Competition held in Lagos on Tuesday, with the theme, “The Power of Us.”

During the event, which was attended by different schools in the state, the facilitators of the project highlighted the growing impact of the programme and the need to deepen youth involvement in climate advocacy.

Speaking, a co-founder, Desmond Majekodumi, said the competition was designed to harness the creativity of young people in promoting environmental sustainability.

He said, “The DAWN Project is actually trying to expand the competition. We’ve had over 200,000 participants, but we want to get millions involved in this competition about nature, using creativity to promote and advocate for protecting nature. The response we’re getting just from launching it is absolutely fantastic.

“We are also consolidating the Green Ambassadors Programme, which will bring people from different institutions, from primary to tertiary levels, to advocate for caring for creation, which is our life support system,” he added.

Commenting on the outcome of the participation, he noted that the response from young people was astounding.

“They are not just doing it for prize money; they want to contribute towards protecting their future and nurturing nature,” he disclosed.

Also speaking, another co-founder, Angela Emuwa, expressed excitement over the turnout and increasing awareness among schools.

Emuwa, who is the Chairman of Punch Nigeria Limited, explained the significance of this year’s theme while addressing the students present.

She said, “We’re very excited about the outcome of the event. Over the years, we’ve seen more engagement from schools, and even with short notice, the turnout has been impressive. People are taking the environment much more seriously.

“It is centred on health. If you don’t have a healthy environment, you cannot be healthy. If you don’t take care of the environment, health will always be an issue,” she added.

She further outlined the competition structure, saying it was about creativity, as participants could express themselves through poetry, music, essays and other creative forms.

“The competition opens today and closes on July 31, after which judges from different fields will assess the entries,” she added.

Founder of the project, Dr Pamela Ajayi, said the initiative continued to focus on climate change awareness and youth development.

She added that the impact of the project had reached nearly 100 schools and over 120,000 people.

“Our main focus is raising awareness about climate change and youth development. This year’s theme is ‘The Power of Us: Keeping the Planet Healthy’ as part of our climate and health challenge. We’ve increased the cash prizes this year to attract more participants.

“We also have categories such as writing, music and creative expressions—grouped by age to ensure fairness. We’ve reached nearly 100 schools and over 120,000 people. The level of awareness and understanding among young people has grown tremendously, and they are now ready to act.”

Ajayi, however, warned about the health implications of environmental degradation, noting that it had become a huge problem.

“Conditions like asthma and even cancer linked to pollution are on the rise. We need to stop the degradation of the planet and restore it,” she added.

On his part, another co-founder, Stanley Evans, said the initiative had sustained its advocacy over the past seven years.

Evans emphasised collective responsibility, while also highlighting the global dimension of the competition.

“For seven years, we’ve been engaging children on the dangers of climate change. We’ve interacted with over 120,000 children across 57 schools, and the message is spreading.

“This year’s theme is about what we can achieve together. Small actions matter. If we stop using plastic straws, we could save thousands of marine animals.

“We have judges from across the world, including Australia, London, Stockholm—and they assess entries in poetry, music, art and other creative expressions,” he said.

The organisers expressed optimism that the 2026 edition would attract wider participation and further strengthen youth-driven environmental advocacy across the country.

The students, during an interactive session, took turns to speak about their interest in the project and the various ways they could contribute to the advocacy.

The programme also marked the commencement of the Green Ambassador Annual Programme.