Joshua Ebin from Nigeria was one 16 finalists for this year’s Commonwealth Youth Awards. The 29-year-old is the co-founder of Jumela Ltd., an agro-technology venture that specializes in the production of plant-based compost for crop farmers in Nigeria. Jumela also tackles poor food waste management, pollution problems and low agricultural yield in Africa. Sola Abe, …

One man’s trash, another man’s treasure Read More »

Rinesh Sharma is turning obstacles into opportunities by farming in under-utilised spaces around Lautoka City in Fiji. One of the 16 finalists of this year’s Commonwealth Youth Awards, Rinesh is the founder of Smart Farms Fiji, an initiative that aims to provide a sustainable food production system by growing fruits and vegetables in a controlled …

Farming smart in Fiji Read More »

On May 4, Nigeria’s federal government gradually started easing a five-week lockdown in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos State, along with Ogun State and the Federal Capital Territory. The aim was to gradually reopen some businesses, with a view to eventually fully re-opening critical sectors of the economy. Laila Johnson-Salami, a 23-year-old Correspondent from Lagos, Nigeria, …

Lagos: Lock down or open up? Read More »

This has not been the best of times for Africa’s largest economy. Even before the Coronavirus pandemic and low oil prices hit them, Nigerians knew that Vision 20:2020 would not be realized this year. Omeye Chimaobi Kenechukwu, a 24-years-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Nigeria argues that it is unacceptable that yet again, his country has failed …

Nigeria’s lost 2020 vision Read More »

Can any good come from a global pandemic that has devastated economies, crippled the health sector, left more than 380,000 dead and thrown millions into poverty? Erandi Thanippuliarachchi, a 27-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent from Sri Lanka, looks at some of the silver linings coming out of COVID-19 in her home country, including an initiative cultivate paddy …

COVID-19: The silver lining Read More »

It may sound bizarre for one to say that the coronavirus pandemic has a positive side, but it does. How about we take a small break from discussing the negative effects of COVID-19 and examine the flipside of the pandemic on Nigeria, writes Commonwealth Correspondent Folmi Yohanna, 29, from Abuja in Nigeria. What gains can COVID-19 provide to …

COVID-19: Time to reboot in Nigeria? Read More »

Coronavirus has brought more than the risk of physical illness. It poses a real threat to mental health due to the fear, panic, stress, and anxiety, that many people are suffering from, writes Omer Fayshal Pavel, 25, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Dhaka, Bangladesh. Since its discovery in November 2019, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has spread to …

Staying mentally fit for the fight Read More »

Education and skills-building have been among the first casualties of the coronavirus pandemic. As social distancing continues to challenge training and learning, and with unemployment at an all-time high, 28-year-old Commonwealth Correspondent Sherita Sharma from Suva, Fiji, explores what opportunities young people have for skills-building both during and after COVID-19. Investing in youth by building …

Youth skills in a post COVID–19 Pacific Read More »

Securing a job is often daunting even for those with the requisite skills and qualifications, but it gets worse if you’re applying for a job for which you are not trained. 27 year old Wathsaridu Karunarathna, a Commonwealth Correspondent from Sri Lanka argues that more young people in his country need to be trained to …

Sri Lanka’s youth falling into the skills gap Read More »