Winners, finalists of HKA Changemaking Fund to drive grassroots innovation nationwide —Organisers

ORGANISERS of the HKA Changemaking Fund have said winners and finalists of the initiative will play a critical role in driving grassroots innovation and community-led development across Nigeria.

The fund, founded by Hammed Kayode Alabi, unveiled its top 20 finalists and selected winners, spotlighting young leaders developing scalable solutions in underserved communities across sectors such as education, healthcare, gender justice, green energy and disability inclusion.

According to the organisers, the initiative targets young innovators who have built proof-of-concept projects with limited resources and require support to scale their impact. Through a combination of £500 grants, $100 seed funding and a three-month mentorship programme, the fund aims to bridge the gap between early-stage ideas and sustainable community impact.

Speaking on the initiative, Alabi said the fund was designed to challenge prevailing narratives about African youth dependence on external funding.

“There is a narrative that young Africans cannot fund their own change and that it must always be externally led. I wanted to challenge that,” he said, noting that he committed £1,100 of his personal earnings to support young Nigerian changemakers.

He added that additional support from Alex Tsado, co-founder of Alliance4AI, has strengthened the initiative’s capacity to fund emerging leaders, with eight beneficiaries currently supported in the ongoing cycle.

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The organisers identified Rabiat Muhammad, founder of LiteraKonnect, and Edidiong Willie, founder of Legendville Energy, as winners of the £500 grant category. Their projects focus on improving literacy among underserved children and developing affordable alternative energy solutions for small businesses, respectively.

Six other innovators emerged as recipients of the $100 seed awards. They include Favour Nwabueze of Thrive Beyond Fibroids; Muhammed Husseni of Sick Kids Hospital Foundation; Motunrayo Sanyaolu of NeoBlankey; Precious Eniayekan of The Stellar Initiative and Boycode Africa; Oluwanifemi Olatunji of Redefining Narratives; and Joy Oluwatoyin Adeboye of Leadership and Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.

The remaining finalists were also recognised for their contributions to community development and innovation, with organisers noting that their projects reflect a growing movement of youth-led solutions grounded in lived experiences.

For the top two winners, fund disbursement will be administered in partnership with Peace First, providing access to global training opportunities and support networks.

Organisers emphasised that the HKA Changemaking Fund goes beyond financial support as it positions itself as a platform to nurture leadership, dignity and long-term social impact.

They added that the initiative reflects a broader shift towards empowering young Nigerians to take ownership of development challenges and deliver locally driven solutions at scale.