Millennium Park came alive on May 22, 2025, not simply as a venue, but as a gathering place where the spirit of African youth met the urgency of Africa’s energy future. On that day, GIFSEP, in partnership with 350Africa and AfrikaVuka, transformed the park into a vibrant celebration of heritage, hope, and rising climate leadership. What began as an Africa Day commemoration quickly grew into something far deeper: a collective call from young people for a just, renewable energy transition across Nigeria and the continent.
With drums, colours, and the unmistakable energy of youth, students and educators arrived carrying their cultures with pride. The theme, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparation,” set the tone, not as a distant historical reflection, but as a living call for climate justice, fair energy access, and systems that restore dignity to African communities long impacted by extraction, inequality, and environmental harm.
Throughout the park, students from several schools brought the day to life with cultural performances, artwork, poetry, and exhibitions that celebrated African heritage through their own lens. Their creativity became a teaching tool, showing how culture can shape narratives, deepen understanding, and spark conversation around renewable energy and climate resilience.
The event wove together culture and education seamlessly. Through interactive activities, mini-dialogues, and guided reflections, participants explored how energy justice is inseparably linked to African liberation and sustainable development. The day strengthened connections among schools, teachers, and community actors, and amplified the REpower Africa movement, an urgent call for leaders to commit to a clean, equitable energy future.
Africa Day 2025 was more than a celebration; it was a movement awakening. It was young people standing at the centre of climate conversations, not as future leaders, but as leaders now…ready to shape an Africa powered by justice, resilience, and renewable energy. Together with 350Africa and AfrikaVuka, GIFSEP remains committed to ensuring these voices continue to rise and lead the continent toward a just transition.