LAGOS, NIGERIA — May 1, 2025 — As Nigeria grapples with widening gaps in healthcare, education, and economic equity, a quiet revolution is being led by community builders—the real architects of social change. Yesterday, 20 of these unsung heroes were honored at The Luminary Awards 2025, held in an intimate ceremony at Pitstop Lagos, Victoria Island. One changemaker received a ₦5 million impact fund to scale social development work.
Themed “The Architects of Social Change,” the event was hosted by The Luminary Project, an initiative committed to providing funding, visibility, and support to Nigerian changemakers tackling the country’s most urgent social issues.
After a rigorous process involving over 230 nominations, evaluation by a panel of sector leaders, and a public voting process, Ivory Emeka-Oguagha, founder of Youth Sculptured in Palace Style (Y-SIPS) Foundation, emerged winner of the ₦5 million Luminary Impact Fund.
“We’re definitely going to expand what we currently do, which is to provide scholarships,” said Ivory during an interview at the event. “We’ll onboard more students and empower early-stage entrepreneurs through our entrepreneurship program. I’m grateful to The Luminary Project for this recognition and financial support.”
Founded by Napa Onwusah, a former executive at Amazon, Google, Visa, Cisco, and Microsoft, The Luminary Project addresses a gap in Nigeria’s impact ecosystem—supporting grassroots changemakers often overlooked by large funding bodies.
“Today isn’t just about awards; it’s about honoring selflessness, resilience, and the everyday courage it takes to drive change that lasts,” said Napa. “We believe those building in underserved communities deserve to be seen, celebrated, and supported. If you have a heart for change, partner with us to keep this work going.”
Stacy Ketiku, Programs Lead at The Luminary Project, also added:
“Change happens faster when changemakers aren’t building alone. Through our Impact Xcelerator program and alumni network, we’re creating a system of support where social development ideas are implemented, leaders feel equipped, and their impact is sustained. We’re excited to walk alongside these bold builders.”
The event also featured a keynote by Chiebuka Ukwunna, an international development specialist who has supported over 40 social enterprises across Africa and the Middle East. He encouraged changemakers to prioritize sustainability, noting:
“The work of social change is deeply rooted and often unseen. But when we build solutions to last—not just impress—we create legacies that outlive us.”
He also emphasized the need for social enterprises to embrace commercialization and adopt revenue-based models, given the unstable nature of grants.
Other highlights included certificate presentations to all 20 changemakers, a heartfelt passing-out speech from 2024 Impact Fund winner Vera David-Emesiobum,
“The Luminary Project didn’t just believe in us, they walked the journey with us. Their year-long support helped us reach over 50 seniors and prepare a farmland where we’ve now planted over 200 plantain trees to support our food program later this year. That kind of backing is rare.”
As the initiative deepens its reach and impact, The Luminary Project calls on partners, donors, and impact-driven organizations to join in fueling sustainable social transformation—one changemaker at a time.
Media Contact:
Stacy Ketiku, Programs Lead, The Luminary Project
📱 Instagram: @the_luminaryproject
🔗 LinkedIn: The Luminary Project
🖥 Website: www.luminaryproject.africa