How Nigerian Teen Saviour Iwezue is Mobilising Thousands for Climate Solutions

Changemaker’s Journey 

Saviour Iwueze grew up surrounded by the beauty of nature in Amuwo Odofin, Lagos, Nigeria. Her love for nature heightened her sensitivity to climate change and its effects, which enabled her to connect several childhood experiences to its impact. For instance, she frequently witnessed flooding in her community, which disrupted mobility. She also dealt with health issues that made her acutely sensitive to air quality and loud noises. These experiences motivated Saviour to educate others about how their actions affect the environment—and, in turn, how environmental changes impact their lives. 

At just fifteen, Saviour began tackling climate change issues in her immediate community. She found like-minded allies who joined her in carrying out clean-up activities, organising rural impact programmes, and raising climate awareness in schools. 

To broaden her impact, Saviour approached the Lagos State Ministry of Education to propose a climate education workshop aimed at sparking students’ passion for addressing environmental issues. She also partnered with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to organise a Green Students Workshop in 2023. 

Saviour is a firm believer in collaboration, she views it as a vital skill for any changemaker. She has applied it throughout her journey, and it has produced remarkable results. 

The Initiative 

Team Illuminate, founded by Saviour, is dedicated to climate education and mobilising young people for climate action. Its vision is to extend climate education to every corner of the globe, empowering young people to lead interventions and inspiring them to take tangible steps towards addressing environmental challenges. 

Saviour drives impact through three key approaches: 

1. Climate Education: Bridging the gap between formal education and climate education by supporting green clubs and equipping educators. 

2. Climate Leadership: Empowering young people to take charge by leading initiatives and advocating for change through workshops and training programmes. 

3. Youth Mobilisation for Action: Encouraging young people to take measurable actions to protect the planet while championing advocacy efforts. 

Impact

By observing Saviour’s journey, many in her community, including her family and loved ones, have been introduced to the climate change space. Her efforts have transformed them from being uninformed to understanding climate change and discovering how to contribute as changemakers themselves. 

Through its activities, Team Illuminate has reached over thirty schools and directly impacted more than 3000 students. The initiative has also successfully removed and recycled over twelve tonnes of waste from the environment. 

Future Aspirations

Looking ahead, Saviour plans to deepen and expand her initiative’s reach, scaling her impact both locally and globally. Her vision is to build a global network of young people who are empowered to make sustainable choices and influence environmental action in their communities. 

She is currently studying Political Science and hopes to combine this with her passion for the environment to make sure young people—especially in Africa—have a stronger voice in shaping environmental policies. Her goal is to promote youth-led action and improve how these policies are put into practice. 

A key part of her dream is to cultivate a deeper connection between young people and the environment that sustains them. To support this, she envisions creating a trusted, youth-friendly source of accurate and accessible data on environmental issues—locally and globally. This resource will be tailored for teenagers and designed to integrate seamlessly into high school curricula and learning materials, helping young minds understand and care about the planet from an early age. 

Everyone a Changemaker 

Saviour urges Generation Alpha to actively engage in sustainability and climate change efforts. 

“Everyone needs to be a changemaker. Changemaking goes beyond trying to get the whole world to embrace your ideas. Changemaking really starts with you, your home, your friends, and your community.” 

Saviour believes that being a changemaker requires integrity, kindness, resourcefulness, and a sense of responsibility. For her, changemaking transcends running an organisation; it is a way of life. To truly become a changemaker, one must find their purpose, live it authentically, and strive to be their best self. 

“Your life only means something when you add value to someone else,” she says. 

Can young people truly lead the fight against climate change? Saviour Iwueze’s story emphatically says yes and shows how.