Meet the Changemakers
Laura Alaka — Founder, RaiseNet Initiative (Abeokuta, Ogun State)
Clearing dumpsites, reducing malaria risk, and mobilizing 300 teen environmental watchers.
Divine Akunne — Founder, TIRA Water Project (Kuje, Abuja)
Building community-based hand pumps and supporting farmers with water access.
Dinatu Joseph — Lead, Yara Reader Project (Kayarda & Kuchiyako, Abuja)
Teaching 100 out-of-school children to read in four days through peer-led learning.
Laura Alaka — Founder, RaisNet Initiative (Abeokuta, Ogun State)
Laura Alaka is a student of African Church Grammar School, Ita-Iyalode, Abeokuta, and the visionary behind the RaisNet Initiative, an environmental and community-health project focused on sanitation, waste management education, and youth mobilization.
She recently emerged Winner of the Ogun State Health Debate Competition, earning ₦150,000 and the honor of serving as One-Day Commissioner for Health—a platform that gives her remarkable legitimacy and access to decision makers. Laura is using this influence to raise environmental consciousness among young people and advocate for safer waste practices that align with global health standards.
Her project, RaiseNets Initiative, will reach households, schools, and community leaders—mobilizing 300 “Environmental Watchers” committed to cleaner, healthier communities.
November – DECEMBER, 2025
Impact Highlights
2
dumpsites cleared
300
teen environmental watchers trained
50
residents sensitized on malaria prevention & sanitation
Divine Akunne — Founder, TIRA Water Project (Kuje, Abuja)
Divine Akunne is a young inventor, builder, and designer of a working hand-powered water pump prototype. As a PAYLP participant, he is leading the TIRA Water Project, focused on providing low-cost, teen-assisted water solutions to small-scale farmers whose livelihoods depend on reliable water access.
Farmers in Jeida face major challenges due to unreliable access to water. Divine, an emerging teenage inventor, is building two hand-powered community pumps—each designed to support smallholder farmers, reduce child labor, and improve food production.
Divine and a team of teen science volunteers will co-build two functional hand-powered pumps, install them in farming clusters, and work with community leaders to strengthen child-safe access to water while reducing farm-related child labor.
His resilience and innovation—despite speech challenges—continue to inspire young people across his community.
NOVEMBER – DECEMBER, 2025
Impact Highlights
2
hand-powered pumps constructed and installed
10
farmers supported with irrigation access
20