Nigerian tech innovator Stanley Anigbogu has been named the 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year at the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work.
The prestigious ceremony, held in London on Wednesday, celebrated young leaders driving positive change across the Commonwealth.
Anigbogu, founder and CEO of LightEd, was honoured for his groundbreaking work in turning waste into solar-powered innovations, providing clean energy to over 10,000 refugees across Africa.
Selected from a pool of 20 finalists, Anigbogu’s work focuses on sustainability and climate resilience, inspired by his personal experiences with energy poverty.
Since founding LightEd during the COVID-19 pandemic, his team has trained 6,000 students and recycled over 20,000 kilograms of waste, tackling both energy challenges and environmental pollution.
At the awards ceremony in Marlborough House, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland praised Anigbogu for his transformative efforts.
She commended him for bringing hope and light to vulnerable communities while also helping to rid the environment of harmful waste, describing his work as a testament to the creativity and resilience of Commonwealth youth.
Anigbogu also won the Africa regional award, securing a total prize of £5,000.
Expressing his gratitude, he said it was an honour to receive the recognition alongside inspiring young changemakers working to create solutions that transform millions of lives. He added that he looks forward to continuing this journey with the support of the Commonwealth and its partners.
The Commonwealth Youth Awards celebrate young leaders aged 15 to 29 who are advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through education, entrepreneurship, and sustainability.
