Favour Ochuwa Eragbie empowers African youth to lead climate action through education, advocacy, innovation, and community-based conservation.
Favour Ochuwa Eragbie is a Nigerian environmentalist leading one of the most youth-driven climate movements on the continent. She founded the Youth for Environmental Conservation Initiative, a nonprofit based in Lagos, in 2021 while studying at the University of Benin. What started as a student-led network called Friends of Nature has expanded into a regional force reaching over 25,000 youths across 18 African countries.
The brand. The purpose. The mission.
YECI was created to equip young people, particularly in marginalised and rural communities, with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to drive local climate action. It uses a participatory approach that combines indigenous knowledge with youth-led innovation. The organisation focuses on environmental education, citizen science, policy advocacy, and community conservation. Core programmes include climate literacy, sustainable farming training, biodiversity protection, leadership development, and peer mentorship, aimed at building a generation of environmental stewards ready to address Africa’s climate challenges.
One of its notable campaigns is #CampusAgainstPlastic, which mobilises students across African universities to combat plastic pollution through awareness, behavioural change, and sustainable waste management. The campaign has sparked student-led initiatives that directly address environmental degradation in campus communities and surrounding areas.
YECI has impacted over 25,879 people, trained 786 youth leaders, and reached 18 African countries. With over 58,301 social media impressions and 3,000+ volunteer hours, they’ve removed 700kg of waste, planted 2,500+ trees, and delivered more than 80 projects across the continent.
In addition to her role as YECI’s founder, Favour serves as Team Lead at Friends of Nature Network, where she connects young environmentalists across Africa to amplify their voice. She also holds the position of Campus Director at RACE AFRICA, where she leads university-based programmes promoting climate literacy and action. Through these roles, she influences how African youth engage with climate justice, environmental policy, and green innovation.
YECI’s model is based on inclusive, community-driven engagement. The organisation runs capacity-building programmes teaching rural youth and farmers eco-friendly practices, supports grassroots conservation projects, and trains young advocates to participate in climate policy and development dialogues. It also partners with governments, academic institutions, and NGOs to improve access to funding, technical resources, and platforms for youth-led environmental work.
Beyond engaging over 25,000 individuals, YECI has raised environmental awareness, supported economic empowerment via sustainable agriculture, and strengthened community cohesion through collective action. In areas where it operates, it has also enhanced access to natural resources and reduced environmental health risks.
Awards and recognition
In 2024, Favour Ochuwa Eragbie received the Diana Award for her leadership in youth development and environmental advocacy. In 2025, she was listed on the EE 30 Under 30 by the North American Association for Environmental Education, recognising her as one of the world’s leading young sustainability advocates.
Eragbie’s work is focused on creating a long-lasting impact. She is building a network of young Africans who understand climate change and actively respond with solutions suited to their realities. Her work demonstrates that when young people are given knowledge, leadership, and trust, they can become powerful agents of environmental change.
