Saviour Iwezue was just 15 years old when she began to ask how a young person like herself could influence environmental action in her community of Lagos, Nigeria. Now 20 years old, Saviour is proving to herself just how influential she truly is through her various roles as a Planeteer, Founder of Team Illuminate, and member of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) Tide Turners Plastic Policy Cohort.
“Over time, I have developed a deep concern about the disconnect between young people and the environment. Knowing that it will be difficult for young people to address environmental issues unless they feel connected to nature,” shares Saviour. Her work is focused on eco-consciousness and encouraging young students to lead the way towards sustainability.
Currently a political science student, Saviour has become interested in how policies can bring about greater change and foster collaborations between the public sector, private sector, and non-profits in the environmental field. She completed the 6-month-long UNEP Tide Turners Plastic Policy Training this July 2024. This program, created in collaboration with the Captain Planet Foundation and the UNEP, helps young people identify a need for policy enforcement in their community, and then create a campaign to address that issue.
“I believe grassroots initiatives are crucial in creating behavioral change and impacting communities. But, environmental policies drive systemic change that will have a long-term effect and even help to scale grassroots efforts,” she says.
Through the cohort, she focused on the Lagos State Styrofoam Ban and is campaigning for support from consumers, market vendors, distributors, schools, and communities. Through this program, Saviour gained knowledge surrounding the policy cycle, how to effectively influence policies within her current scope of influence, and how to use tactics and power mapping to identify where the strongest support and challenges could potentially come from.
As a Planeteer with Captain Planet Foundation’s Planeteer Alliance, Saviour has found the community of young environmentalists to be equally inspiring and rewarding saying, “Being a Planeteer has exposed me to a network of amazing, supportive, driven and forward-thinking young changemakers. I’ve been able to connect with so many of them and receive their support for several of my projects.”
In regard to her future in the field, Saviour shares that she hopes to make reliable data and information resources on environmental issues accessible and available for young people.“I aim to empower young minds to develop sustainable solutions at the local level and foster partnerships and collaborations that drive environmental action. Building on my academic field in politics, I look forward to advancing environmental policies and frameworks that support youth-led action and better implementation strategies,” says Saviour.
Saviour wants fellow young changemakers to know, “As you keep on taking action, you’ll begin to see the vision clearer and the real needs for your idea or solutions in your community and the world – That’s real impact! So be bold, document your process, innovate, review, and improve on your strategies for better results.”