Nicholas Kee from Jamaica was named the Caribbean regional winner of the 2025 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work. Stanley Chidubem Anigbogu from Nigeria was awarded the overall title of Commonwealth Young Person of the Year for his solar innovation project. The awards celebrate young leaders’ contributions to global development. The Khalili Foundation also presented PEACE Awards to five other exceptional youth during the event.
Nicholas Kee from Jamaica has earned the distinguished title of Caribbean regional winner for the 2025 Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work. The announcement was made during a ceremony in London on March 12, 2025. Kee is one of five regional winners, each receiving a prize of £3,000 for their significant contributions to development initiatives.
The other regional awardees include Murad Ansary from Bangladesh (Asia), Zubair Junjunia from the United Kingdom (Europe and Canada), and Bethalyn Kelly from the Solomon Islands (Pacific). The overall honor of Commonwealth Young Person of the Year for 2025 was awarded to Stanley Chidubem Anigbogu from Nigeria, recognized also for his exceptional work in Africa.
Anigbogu, who is the founder and CEO of LightEd, has been acknowledged for his innovative transformation of waste into solar energy solutions that benefit over 10,000 refugees in Africa. His remarkable achievements culminated in a total prize of £5,000.
Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland commended Anigbogu for his impactful endeavors, highlighting how he fosters not only hope and empowerment among vulnerable communities but also ensures environmental safety. She described Anigbogu as a visionary, underscoring the necessity of youth contribution to overcoming challenges such as climate change.
Upon receiving the award, Anigbogu expressed profound gratitude for the recognition he shares with his fellow change-makers, emphasizing their collective mission to initiate innovative solutions that inspire transformative change in youth lives worldwide.
The Khalili Foundation also awarded the PEACE Awards to five outstanding young individuals from Cameroon, Uganda, Tanzania, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. Executive Director Waqas Ahmed acknowledged the achievements of these remarkable youth, while Professor Sir Nasser David Khalili emphasized the importance of youth-led initiatives for fostering peace and unity in the Commonwealth.
In support of the initiative, Shem Ochola from the Commonwealth Foundation remarked on the limitless potential of youth leadership, recognizing the event as both an achievement and a herald of legacy for future generations. From an impressive pool of over 800 submissions, the finalists were selected by a pan-Commonwealth adjudication panel, each receiving a trophy, certificate, and £1,000 as recognition of their efforts.
The Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work have celebrated young leaders like Nicholas Kee from Jamaica and Stanley Chidubem Anigbogu from Nigeria. The recognition of these individuals illustrates the vital role youth play in driving impactful change and offers a platform for their invaluable contributions to the global community. These awards foster ongoing dialogue and support for innovative initiatives aimed at improving lives and promoting sustainable development across the Commonwealth.
Original Source: jamaica.loopnews.com
