AIIDEV Africa Ignites Youth Innovation at Abuja SDG Bootcamp

Empowering Changemakers to Design Scalable Solutions for Sustainable Development…

The Advance Initiative for Innovation and Development (AIIDEV Africa) successfully hosted the Abuja SDG Innovation Bootcamp, a hands-on and intensive program designed to foster collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving. The Bootcamp provided participants with expert mentorship, practical training, and a platform to develop scalable solutions that drive real impact. This edition was hosted in collaboration with NASENI Innovation Hub and SDSN Nigeria.

Speaking at the event, Emmanuel Ola-Olowoyo, Regional Lead of AIIDEV Africa, emphasized that despite the growing awareness of sustainable development and social impact, many young people still lack the knowledge, tools, and mentorship needed to transform their ideas into actionable solutions. He highlighted the urgent need to equip young changemakers with the skills to innovate and implement SDG-aligned initiatives capable of creating meaningful change in their communities.

The SDG Innovation Bootcamp is designed to address this gap by offering an intensive, hands-on learning experience for Nigerian youths on designing transformative innovations. It creates an enabling environment for collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and mentorship, helping participants refine their ideas into practical, scalable solutions that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The event began with a goodwill message by Mr. Abdulkarim Umar, Chief Technical Officer to the EVC/CEO of NASENI, who reiterated the organization’s commitment to promoting and developing science, technology, and engineering infrastructure in Nigeria. He noted that NASENI was established to address the country’s scientific and technological challenges and continues to play a pivotal role in fostering indigenous solutions that drive economic growth, industrialization, and technological self-reliance.

The Bootcamp featured a rich lineup of sessions, including technical training, design thinking and innovation sprints, advisory and mentorship clinics, SDG-themed games and icebreakers, as well as networking and career opportunity sessions.

Also speaking at the event, Bukola Beckley Perez-Folayan, Head of NASENI Innovation Hub, spoke extensively on Driving Innovation for Sustainability and Social Impact, inspiring participants to build solutions that are both impactful and scalable.

The Abuja edition follows the earlier Oyo and Osun SDG Innovation Bootcamps held in April and May 2025. AIIDEV Africa plans to implement the program across all 36 states of Nigeria and extend it to tertiary institutions across Africa. Partnerships and collaborations are welcomed to scale the training and multiply its impact.

The Bootcamp ended on a high note, with participants sharing powerful testimonials:

• “The technical sessions were enlightening, and the atmosphere made networking easy. I always love being among like-minded individuals, and the Bootcamp gave me that opportunity.” – Abubakar T.I
• “I came almost empty-headed, but left equipped, informed, and prepared to make the change I dream of. I gained clarity on how to act on my ideas and collaborated with other participants to scale impact.” – Surajo I
• “It is by far the best Bootcamp I’ve ever attended. The organizers, interactive sessions, and participants made networking easy. Well done!” – Oluwapatan A.E
• “The Bootcamp was truly transformative. It strengthened my leadership and advocacy skills, and I gained confidence in pitching ideas and developing solutions, particularly in climate action, waste management, and renewable energy.” – Ibrahim N
• “Each session was captivating and delivered with depth. As someone still building capacity, this Bootcamp gave me direction on how to tackle problems and design solutions.” – Ogungbayi S

The SDG Innovation Bootcamp continues in other states and universities, as only a fraction of the 2025 target has been achieved.

To partner, collaborate, or join the movement: sdginbootcamp@gmail.com