Waste to Wealth: Nigerian Innovator Stanley Anigbogu Named Commonwealth Young Person of the Year

Education is useless if it solves nothing.

A Nigerian tech innovator, Stanley Anigbogu, has been honored with the prestigious 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year award for his groundbreaking work in transforming waste into sustainable energy solutions.

Anigbogu, the founder and CEO of LightEd, was recognized at the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work, held in London on Wednesday. His initiative, which repurposes waste materials to create solar-powered innovations, has provided clean energy to over 10,000 refugees across Africa, addressing both environmental and energy challenges.  Impressive!

In a heartfelt tribute, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland praised Anigbogu’s ingenuity and dedication. She commended his work for not only illuminating homes but also making communities safer and cleaner.

“Stanley, through LightEd, is tackling multiple global issues—energy poverty, environmental pollution, and youth unemployment. His vision embodies the creativity and resilience of Commonwealth youth,” Scotland said.

Also acknowledging his efforts to empower young people, she added: “By training other youths and equipping them with employable skills in renewable energy, you are contributing to the energy transition we need to combat climate change.

It was a double win for Anigbogu, who also received the top regional award for Africa, bringing his total prize money to £5,000. His journey to this milestone has been fueled by personal experience—having grown up facing energy poverty, he became determined to drive change through sustainable solutions.

Anigbogu founded LightEd during the COVID-19 pandemic, rallying a team of passionate young minds to develop renewable energy technologies from discarded materials. His organization has since trained 6,000 students and recycled over 20,000 kilograms of waste, turning discarded items into resources that power homes and schools.

His impact extends beyond Nigeria, influencing communities across Africa. The award organizers highlighted his work as a lmodel for sustainable development, emphasizing its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Anigbogu was selected from a pool of 20 finalists, all of whom were recognized for making significant contributions to development within their countries and beyond. However, his ability to merge environmental sustainability with energy innovation set him apart.