According to The World Bank Country Census, as of 2021, Nigeria has a population of 213 million people. That’s just 118 million less than the United States. In 2006, Nigeria overtook Russia in population due in part to one of the fasted growing birth rates in the world. As a result, Nigeria also boasts one of the largest youth populations in the world. Accordingly, in keeping with the foundations mission to develop conservation employment opportunities for youth populations, Nigeria was a natural location for GYF Africa’s headquarters on the continent.
In 2017, the Greening Youth Foundation established the first formal Nigeria country office based in the Ikoyi business district of Lagos, Nigeria. For over 5 years, the foundation has continued to improve partnership development and grow the environmental education program despite the economic and social constraints of the COVID 19 pandemic. The Nigerian office would grow to serve as the continental base for the foundation’s Africa work.
In 2022, GYF Africa received a generous in-kind donation of considerably reduced rent from an in-country building development partner. On the current schedule, GYF Africa will move into a new office space located in Victoria Island Lagos by the first week in February 2023. Victoria Island is the business heart of Lagos State. The Island is home to many international embassies, including the US Embassy and several large domestic and multi-national corporations. The new office space will house the entire GYF Africa team and will serve as the hub for all programming and events throughout the continent. The African headquarters will be located at NO 287A, Akin Olaugbade Street, Victoria Island Lagos Nigeria, Unit 1 Flat 1.
GYF Africa continues to carry on the organizational mission established by the foundation’s North American founder Mrs. Angelou Ezeilo almost two decades ago and continued by the current CEO Mr. Lesford Duncan- to engage under-represented youth and young adults, while connecting them to the outdoors and careers in conservation. In addition, GYF’s cultural-based environmental education programing engages children from local communities and exposes them to healthy lifestyle choices in order to create an overall healthy community.
