Policy Shapers marks 5 years of driving youth-led policy change in Nigeria and beyond
Policy Shapers, a pioneering youth-led think tank dedicated to equipping young people with the tools and skills to influence public policy, celebrates its 5th anniversary on August 12, 2025, coinciding with International Youth Day.
Over the past five years, Policy Shapers has championed transformative initiatives in foresight, advocacy, and ideation, empowering the next generation to contribute to policy development in Nigeria and globally. The organisation has reported mobilising over 100,000 people within the period, teaching policy literacy classes to more than 1,000 young people, and influencing 21 policy reforms globally.
Its flagship advocacy campaign, #ReformIELTS, has made it easier for millions of young people from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and other Anglophone African countries to pursue a global education by removing the IELTS test barrier. Since 2021, Policy Shapers has collected over 83,000 petition signatures and led engagements with the UK Home Office to drive policy change on this issue, gaining endorsements from Prof Yemi Osinbajo (Former Vice President of Nigeria) and Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Through the Rivers 2050 Vision project, the organisation has set the stage for long-term development thinking in Rivers State, using foresight methodologies to explore possible futures and pioneer a new model of citizen-led foresight in Africa. Meanwhile, its annual policy ideation event, Naija Policy Hack, has become a platform for grassroots policy ideation, bringing together innovators, policymakers, and citizens to co-create solutions to pressing national challenges. The 2025 edition of the hackathon brought together students from 11 tertiary institutions in Nigeria, with the grand finale held at Babcock University in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Speaking to the media, Founder of Policy Shapers, Ebenezar Wikina, said, “When we started Policy Shapers in August 2020, it was simply an attempt to engage youth in policy development, being the missing stakeholder in the public policy process. Five years later, we have shown that youth-led foresight, advocacy, and policy ideation are not just possible; they are powerful.”
Company Secretary and Founding Team Member, Comfort Onyaga, said, “From influencing education policy at a global level to reimagining the future of a state in Nigeria, our journey proves what happens when youth energy meets strategy. This anniversary is not just about looking back at our wins, but also looking forward to the next chapter of bold, youth-driven policy innovation.”
Policy Shapers is led by a team of six young Nigerians, including Chimdi Chukwukere, Kehinde Adebiyi, Oteheri Akinruntan, and Oluwatobi Oseni, who are affiliated with several reputable organisations, including the World Economic Forum, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, UNICEF, FAO, Atlantic Council, British Council, Accountability Lab, Skoll Foundation, Chevening, and Civic Hive, to name a few.
Watch the big strides Policy Shapers has been making via its YouTube channel, youtube.com/@policyshapers
