The 2025 Cohort of Young Leaders for the SDGs. /PHOTO ; UN Youth Office
The UN Youth Office unveils its fifth cohort of Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), celebrating 17 young changemakers, aged 16 to 33, whose work drives progress toward the 2030 Agenda.
Announced on UN Day, October 24, 2025, the selection follows a record-breaking pool of more than 33,000 applicants and features artists, activists, scientists, and entrepreneurs from across the globe.
Among the 17, five leaders from Africa stand out for their contributions to culture, mental health advocacy, policy, and sport, demonstrating how locally led initiatives can achieve global impact.
The African Contingent: Leaders in the Spotlight
Hafsat “Havfy” Abdullahi (25, Nigeria) — Performance Poet
Hafsat Abdullahi, widely known as Havfy, is bringing the power of art to the global SDG stage.
As a multi-award-winning performance poet and a Global Youth Leader for Education by the Global Partnership for Education, Havfy commands a social media following of over one million.
She leverages her platform and her membership in the GRAMMYs Recording Academy to advocate passionately for women, girls, and youth in underrepresented communities.
Her work, which has drawn recognition from the World Bank, UNICEF, and the UN Security Council, uses poetry and storytelling to “disintegrate complex social topics,” sparking crucial conversations that lead to tangible solutions.
By partnering with major commercial brands like Coca-Cola and Indomie, Havfy proves that creativity and commercial viability can fuel sustainable advocacy.
Her role as a Young Leader is set to bring cultural currency and youth relatability to high-level SDG campaigns.
Tanatswa Amanda Chikaura (26, Zimbabwe) — Mental-Health Advocate
Tanatswa Chikaura represents the rising movement of African youth prioritizing mental health. As a PhD researcher at the University of Cambridge, she focuses on critical public health issues like autism, mental health, and suicide prevention.
Her direct action is channelled through the Ndinewe Foundation, a youth-led mental health organization she founded in Zimbabwe.
Tanatswa’s dedication to social action was previously recognized with the prestigious Diana Award.
As a Young Leader, she brings an evidence-based approach to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities), ensuring that mental health is treated as an indispensable component of youth empowerment and sustainable development strategies.
Jacques Kwibuka (26, Rwanda) — SRHR Advocate
Jacques Kwibuka is at the forefront of health and policy advocacy in Rwanda.
The founder and Executive Director of Informed Future Generations (IFG), Jacques empowers young people to make informed decisions regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), HIV/AIDS prevention, and substance abuse.
With a background in nursing and ongoing studies in Public Policy and Management, Jacques uniquely combines clinical expertise with leadership strategy.
His organization provides youth-friendly, evidence-based services that directly address key targets under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being).
His commitment as a Young Leader is to ensure that youth voices are integrated into inclusive, evidence-based health policies across Rwanda and beyond.
Stephane Kulimushi Mutanda (19, DRC Refugee based in Uganda) — Founder of Refugee Basketball Academy (RBA)
Stephane Kulimushi Mutanda, a refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo now based in Uganda, is a powerful symbol of resilience.
At only 19, he founded the Refugee Basketball Academy (RBA), an initiative that uses sport to empower refugee and marginalized youth with mentorship and education.
RBA transforms basketball from a game into a “bridge for peace, resilience, and social inclusion.”
Stephane’s work is a model for achieving SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions) in humanitarian contexts.
His recognition as a Young Leader amplifies the urgent need for global support for youth-led solutions in refugee and displacement settings.
Mariam Solika (26, Egypt) — Founder & CEO of THE GOOD NEWS (TGN)
Mariam Solika is a media disruptor who founded and leads THE GOOD NEWS (TGN), the Arab world’s leading positive news platform.
Launched at 21, TGN reaches over 20 million people monthly, shifting the regional narrative by focusing on youth ambition, resilience, and creativity.
Mariam bridges digital storytelling and policy engagement, having connected thousands of young people to learning opportunities.
Crucially, she served as a Youth Communications Consultant for COP27, COP28, and COP29, ensuring youth perspectives shape global climate discussions (SDG 13).
As a UN Youth Advisory Board Member and now a Young Leader, Mariam is leveraging her digital influence to foster positive narratives and drive global climate action.
Global Acknowledgement of African Agency
The selection of these five individuals signals a significant global acknowledgment of African youth agency and innovation.
In the press release announcing the cohort, Felipe Paullier, the UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, affirmed the significance of their work:
“The 2025 cohort of Young Leaders for the SDGs is a powerful testament to the courage, creativity and commitment of young people driving real change in every corner of the world.”
He added, “At a time of deep division and uncertainty, they embody the very spirit of the United Nations: unity, action, and hope for a better tomorrow.”
Over the next two years, these leaders will:
- Participate in global UN events and advocate for youth priorities.
- Amplify community-level solutions to the SDGs.
- Collaborate with UN partners to implement projects and campaigns.
- Serve as role models, demonstrating youth leadership in action.
Their recognition signals a global acknowledgment of African youth agency, highlighting how locally grounded initiatives can inform international development strategies.
From poetry to public health, and basketball to digital media, these leaders are already contributing to a more just, equitable, and sustainable world.
