Evelyn Eyo, Founder, SHADEF
Nigerian climate activist and founder of the nonprofit organization Safe Space Development Foundation (SHADEF), Evelyn Eyo, has said that through her initiative, the Young Environmentalists Club (YEs Club), they have transformed secondary school students into changemakers and successfully equipped over 5,000 youths across 10 local government areas in Nigeria.
Miss Eyo stated this during an exclusive interview with CSR Reporters on Thursday.
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She said her journey into climate advocacy began as a personal calling, driven by witnessing the direct impact of environmental degradation on children, communities, and the collective future.
“Seeing how environmental breakdown directly affects children, communities, and our collective future, it became both a calling and a responsibility,” she said.
The SHADEF boss identified deforestation, plastic pollution, rising food insecurity, and a growing disconnect from nature as the biggest environmental challenges facing Nigerian communities.
“Deforestation, plastic pollution, rising food insecurity, and a deep disconnect from nature between people and the ecosystems sustaining us form some of the biggest environmental challenges in most Nigerian communities,” she noted.
Speaking on how these challenges can be addressed, the climate activist emphasized the importance of collective action. According to her, individual efforts, no matter how small, play a vital role in combating environmental issues.
“People can contribute to a safer, greener society if everyone starts small, stays consistent, reduces waste, grows their own food, educates others, holds leaders accountable, and lives the change they preach,” she said.
Eyo, who is also a certified early childhood educator, expressed hope for a future led by a climate-conscious generation that drives policy, innovation, and grassroots change across all sectors.