The spirit of innovation and climate sustainability came alive at the In-Country YouthADAPT Nigeria Demo Day 2025, a two day event held on October 13–14, 2025, at Black Diamond Hotel, Victoria Island.
The event was organized and hosted in Nigeria by the Nigeria Climate Innovation center through a collaboration between the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and the Kenya Climate Innovation Center (KCIC) as part of the YouthADAPT 2025 Challenge, an initiative dedicated to empowering youth-led enterprises across Africa to drive climate adaptation and sustainability.
The Demo Day served as a platform for young Nigerian entrepreneurs in agribusiness and renewable energy to showcase their groundbreaking innovations aimed at tackling the impacts of climate change while fostering economic and environmental sustainability.
Day One: Igniting Innovation for a Sustainable Future
The first day of the Demo Day set the tone for an inspiring journey of creativity and purpose.
Eight passionate entrepreneurs took the stage to pitch their climate-smart business ideas, presenting diverse solutions ranging from sustainable farming models to clean energy technologies.
Each pitch reflected the urgent need to strengthen food systems, enhance resilience, and promote renewable energy adoption across local communities. The day ended with insightful feedback sessions from the panel of judges, who evaluated the ideas based on their innovation, feasibility, and potential for impact.
The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with curiosity, collaboration, and confidence that Nigeria’s youth have what it takes to lead climate adaptation on the continent.
Day Two: Driving Impact and Investment
The second day continued with more young innovators showcasing their transformative ideas in agribusiness and renewable energy solutions. The panel of
judges and industry experts assessed each pitch with a focus on scalability, environmental impact, and alignment with Nigeria’s sustainability goals.
Beyond competition, the Demo Day also provided a networking bridge between youth-led enterprises and private sector investors, linking innovation with opportunity. This aligns with GCA’s mission to close the financing gap for youth-led adaptation businesses and turn climate solutions into viable, investable ventures.
Toward COP30 and Beyond
The YouthADAPT Nigeria Demo Day 2025 was not just an event, it was a movement showcasing how African youth are redefining climate leadership.
Winners from this round will advance to the final selection stage, where top youthled enterprises from across Africa will be announced and celebrated at COP30 in Brazil (November 2025).
Quoting Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation:
“Africa’s youth are not just victims of the climate crisis; they are architects of the solutions. Through our YouthADAPT challenge, we are turning their ideas into investable, impactful businesses.”
Quoting Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation:
“Africa’s youth are not just victims of the climate crisis; they are architects of the solutions. Through our YouthADAPT challenge, we are turning their ideas into investable, impactful businesses.”
Similarly, Joseph Murabula, CEO of the Kenya Climate Innovation Center, emphasized:
“Africa’s greatest resource is its innovative, youthful population. Through the InCountry YouthADAPT Challenge, we are providing them with the tools, funding, mentorship, and market access to turn their ideas into viable businesses.”
The two-day Demo Day in Victoria island stood as a testament to what’s possible when innovation meets opportunity. As the journey toward COP30 continues, one thing is clear: Nigeria’s youth are not waiting for change, they are creating it.
