Morganable News / communities
Two hundred secondary school students in Lagos have showcased creative solutions to community challenges, with the winning team receiving ₦1.35 million to turn its proposed project into reality.
Lagos —
Young people in Lagos are demonstrating that they can play an important role in community development after a group of secondary school students received ₦1.35 million to support a project designed to address challenges affecting their surroundings.
The award followed the conclusion of the first Lagos edition of the Cities School Programme, an initiative organised by international non-profit organisation Narrative 4 to encourage creativity, empathy, leadership and civic participation among young people.
The six-month programme brought together 200 students from 10 public secondary schools across Lagos. It provided participants with opportunities to identify problems in their communities, exchange experiences and develop practical ideas for creating positive change.
The initiative also highlighted the importance of giving young people opportunities to contribute to conversations about issues affecting their schools and neighbourhoods.
According to a report published by P.M. News on November 11, the overall winning student team received ₦1.35 million to support the implementation of its proposed community project.
The funding was based on the organisation’s $1,000 project grant benchmark, which was designed to encourage students to develop realistic solutions using resources within their reach.
Six Months of Learning and Creativity
The Cities School Programme began in March 2026 with facilitator training, while activities in participating schools commenced in May.
Throughout the programme, students participated in storytelling sessions, inter-school exchanges, learning activities and other exercises designed to improve their understanding of different experiences.
Rather than focusing only on academic performance, the initiative encouraged participants to examine issues affecting people around them.
Students were guided to identify challenges within their schools and communities and consider how their ideas could help address them.
The programme also placed emphasis on empathy, which involves understanding and respecting the feelings and experiences of other people.
This approach helped participants appreciate that community problems often require people to listen to different perspectives before developing meaningful solutions.
For instance, a challenge affecting students in one neighbourhood may require a different response from an issue experienced by families elsewhere.
Through storytelling and group activities, participants had opportunities to understand these differences and learn how cooperation could improve their communities.
The organisers also encouraged students to recognise that meaningful change does not always begin with expensive projects or large organisations.
Sometimes, it starts with identifying a problem, discussing possible solutions and working with others to achieve a common goal.
Winning Team Receives ₦1.35 Million
One of the major highlights of the programme was the opportunity for participating students to present their proposed community projects.
The overall winning team received ₦1.35 million to support its proposed solution.
Narrative 4’s Director of Africa Operations, Buchi Onyegbule, explained that the organisation established the funding benchmark at $1,000, equivalent to approximately ₦1.35 million, to encourage students to develop practical and achievable ideas.
The aim was to help young people understand that they could contribute to solving community problems with the resources available to them.
The students’ proposed projects covered different areas, including environmental and social interventions as well as technology-driven solutions.
Some ideas reportedly included applications designed to improve public safety.
These proposals demonstrated how young people could use creativity and practical thinking to address issues that affect everyday life.
However, the organisers also acknowledged that some students were disappointed because their projects were not selected for funding.
Many participants were eager to see their ideas become reality, making the selection process challenging.
This highlights the need for more support and opportunities for promising student projects, even when they do not emerge as overall winners.
The closing ceremony took place at Galaxy Events Centre in Ojota, Lagos.
It featured inter-school debates, talk-show sessions and other activities that allowed students to discuss empathy, its importance and how it could influence relationships within their communities.
Outstanding participants received awards, while other students and teams received consolation prizes in recognition of their contributions.
Teachers Also Receive Special Training
Beyond the students, the programme invested in teachers who played important roles in guiding participants throughout the initiative.
According to the organisers, 30 Lagos-based teachers received training to become certified Narrative 4 facilitators.
Across Nigeria, a total of 160 teachers participated in the facilitator training.
These teachers guided students through storytelling exercises, learning resources and community-building activities.
Their involvement helped create an environment where young people could express themselves, discuss difficult issues and work together on possible solutions.
Teachers are important to this process because they interact with students regularly and often understand the challenges affecting their learning environments.
With the right training, they can help learners develop confidence, communicate effectively and respect opinions that differ from theirs.
The programme also provided participating teachers with access to a digital library of educational resources to support their activities.
This gives schools an opportunity to continue using some of the learning materials beyond the programme’s closing ceremony.
It also creates room for teachers to introduce more discussions about civic responsibility, cooperation and problem-solving into their learning activities.
Why Youth Participation Matters
Nigeria has a large population of young people whose ideas and contributions can support national and community development.
However, many young Nigerians do not always have enough opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their immediate environments.
Although schools provide academic knowledge, students also need practical experiences that prepare them to understand social challenges and contribute to possible solutions.
Initiatives such as the Cities School Programme provide an opportunity to bridge this gap.
When students are encouraged to examine problems around them, they begin to understand that community development is not solely the responsibility of government officials.
They can also contribute through volunteer activities, awareness campaigns, creative projects and responsible leadership.
For example, students who understand environmental challenges may organise awareness activities that encourage proper waste disposal.
Others may identify safety concerns around their schools and suggest ways to improve communication and cooperation among residents.
Similarly, students with an interest in technology may explore how digital tools can help people access information or report problems within their neighbourhoods.
Although these projects may begin on a small scale, they can encourage wider participation when schools, parents, community leaders and other stakeholders provide the necessary support.
Furthermore, learning to work with people from different backgrounds can help young Nigerians develop the communication and cooperation skills needed in a diverse society.
Programme Expands Beyond Lagos
The Lagos edition forms part of a wider programme involving students in other Nigerian cities.
According to information released by Narrative 4, an additional 600 students in Kaduna and 200 students in Abuja are expected to participate in activities during November.
The wider initiative aims to engage about 1,000 students across Lagos, Abuja and Kaduna.
Participants in these locations will have opportunities to present their ideas, exchange experiences and compete for project funding.
The initiative also operates in other African countries, including Zambia, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya.
This wider participation creates opportunities for young people to learn from experiences beyond their immediate communities.
It also highlights the importance of developing young leaders who can approach social challenges with creativity, empathy and a willingness to work with others.
The organisers have also indicated that they plan to continue the programme in the following year, although expansion will depend on available funding.
This means sustained support will be important if more students are to benefit from the initiative.
Turning Student Ideas Into Lasting Change
While the ₦1.35 million award is an important achievement, the real test will be how successfully the winning team implements its proposed project.
Receiving funding is only the beginning. Students will also need guidance, mentorship and access to the right resources to ensure that their ideas produce meaningful results.
Schools, businesses, community organisations and government agencies can support this process by providing technical assistance, equipment and opportunities for students to develop their projects.
There is also a need to recognise promising ideas from teams that did not win the competition.
A project that does not receive the main award may still have the potential to address an important community problem.
Providing additional opportunities for such ideas could encourage more students to remain interested in community development.
Ultimately, the Cities School Programme sends an important message: young people should not be seen only as beneficiaries of development but also as contributors to it.
By giving students the opportunity to identify challenges, develop solutions and receive support for their ideas, initiatives like this can help build a generation that understands the value of responsibility and collective action.
The ₦1.35 million award may be the immediate highlight, but the greater opportunity lies in what these students can achieve when their creativity receives consistent support.
