LEAP Africa to announce ‘social innovators’ on Nov 12

LEAP Africa, a non-profit organisation, will announce emerging social innovators finalists at the Social Innovators Programme and Awards (SIPA) 2015 on November 12, 2015.

LEAP, coined from Leadership, Effectiveness, Accountability and Professionalism, also revealed that the programme would focus on “Rage for Change: Creating Impact”.

Iyadunni Olubode, executive director, LEAP Africa, said social innovation is a way to improve the world by addressing social problems creatively.

“Nigerian youth live through these challenges, they understand them and are therefore uniquely positioned to develop solutions that are effective, easily replicable and sustainable,” she said.

The awards aimed at celebrating young social innovators, who have crafted solutions that improve the quality of life in rural communities and urban cities in Nigeria is funded by Union Bank and supported by the embassy of the People’s Republic of China.

LEAP Africa believes that through interventions in health, agriculture, environment, ICT and other sectors, these innovators are creating value and contributing to Nigeria’s development.

The SIPA platform is to showcase and recognize the efforts of the young minds, while giving most outstanding fellows awards for astounding work in 2015.

Iyadunni further adds, that “the SIPA 2015 is bringing together individuals and organizations from six geopolitical zones of Nigeria and hosting them in Abuja to celebrate diversity, creativity, excellence and social change by these young changemakers”.

In collaboration with the International Youth Foundation (IYF), the social innovators programme through a one year fellowship provides capacity building and networking opportunities to selected group of young Nigerians, to enable them become sustainable.

LEAP will also announce the new of 20 young social entrepreneurs from over 455 change makers who applied for the 2015/2016 fellowship.

Leading the conversation at the events are LEAP’s past awardees and other notable social entrepreneurs in Nigeria.

Former recipients of LEAP awards include Michael Iyanro, Esther Agbarakwe, Gbenga Sesan, Toyosi Akerele, Tolu Sangosanya, Oladipupo Ajiroba, Idris Abdullahi, Bosun Abayomi and Okelola Olumayokun.

The SIPA 2015 in its third edition continues to inspire larger communities of youth in Nigeria and beyond.