PRME Students’ Ambassadors Present Bold Solutions to Africa’s Sustainability Challenges

In May, the PRME Chapter Africa Student Ambassador Programme wrapped up its 10-week training designed to equip emerging leaders with the tools, networks, and knowledge to take tangible action toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through expert-led workshops, collaborative learning, and hands-on project development, students from across Africa explored real-world sustainability challenges — and co-created bold, locally grounded solutions.

Below are the final projects presented by the cohort and reflections from group members:

OASIS: Optimizing Aquatic Sustainability in Scarcity

Group One: Sara Nemsia, Question Jaden Ramontsho, Nour Chouchane, Sondos Madhi, Waad Ahmad, Syrine Raies

Project: Water scarcity in Africa stems from interconnected issues: overuse in agriculture, outdated irrigation, poor infrastructure, and weak water policies. These shared challenges threaten food security, health, and development. The group’s project aims to analyze and address these core problems by promoting awareness and collaborative solutions to build long-term water resilience.

“This Programme has deepened my understanding of sustainability as a holistic approach that goes beyond the environment, integrating social impact and ethical leadership. It inspired me to think more critically about the long-term effects of decisions and strengthened my commitment to lead with purpose,” shared Syrine Raies, noting the deepened sense of leadership the project sparked in her.

Waad Farouk emphasized the semester’s professional impact: “[The Programme] reshaped my perspective on my career path. I would like to pursue a sustainability-related career right now after I wasn't sure how I'd proceed forward in my career.”

Egyptian Integrated Agriwaste Development Initiative (EIADI)

Group Two: Ahmed Kenawy, Amen El Sayed, Menna Tallah Yasser, Ziad El Sayed, Mohamed Hatem, Malak Sayed

Project: Egypt generates approximately 30 million tons of agricultural waste annually. This waste poses environmental challenges, contributes to pollution, and affects soil quality. The group proposed a solution that efficiently manages this waste while promoting sustainable agriculture. By developing an all inclusive network of agri-waste management and transforming collected agricultural wastes into valuable resources, they believe it can create a more sustainable and resilient agricultural sector in Egypt.

“This Programme has taught me the beauty of teamwork,” said Malak Sayed, who previously preferred working independently. She encouraged future participants to fully engage: “Be present and participate in every session you’re able to attend because you’ll find that one session that can really change your perspective.”

Leveraging AI to ensure better post-school education and skills development in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA)

Group Three: Idowu Adegelu, Ian Assam, Sibusiso Ngcwangu, Norah Kimathi, Gloria Wambui

Project: Sub-Saharan Africa faces a growing crisis in post-school education and skills development due to rapid population growth, a persistent mismatch between skills and labor market needs, and deep digital and educational inequalities. Infrastructure gaps, gender disparities, and low AI and digital literacy further hinder progress. Leveraging AI offers a transformative solution enabling personalized, cost-effective, and scalable learning pathways to equip youth with relevant skills for the 21st-century economy.

“I’ve come to understand that sustainability is deeply human. It’s about the systems we build, the voices we center, and the choices we make every day,” said Norah Kimathi. “I’ve learned that real change begins when young people like us stop asking for permission to lead, and start rethinking what’s possible.”

Empowering Communities Through Sustainable Development

Group Four: Leonard-Harry Soibifaa Stephanie, Martin Oyare Esther, Noah Emmanuel Udoh, Ojo Mosunmola Josephine, UcheMartins Godsfavour Adaeze, Okakpu Chikamso Francis

Project: Poverty remains a significant global challenge, affecting millions of people and hindering sustainable development. Despite economic progress in some regions, many individuals still lack access to basic needs such as food, clean water, education, healthcare, and decent housing. Unemployment, inequality, and poor governance limit opportunities and trap people in cycles of poverty. Addressing poverty requires comprehensive and targeted solutions that consider its complex causes. Without urgent and coordinated action, poverty will continue to threaten social stability, economic growth, and human dignity around the world.

In reflecting on the most important thing he learned during the programme, Noah Emmanuel Udoh shared that it was “consistency and teamwork.” For the next cohort of Ambassadors, he urges them to “take it seriously as it is really impactful.”

Looking Ahead

The Ambassador Programme not only deepened students’ understanding of global sustainability frameworks, but also ignited a sense of agency, leadership, and innovation. As the cohort graduates, they leave behind a legacy of hope and action - and join a growing network of young changemakers across the PRME global community.

2025 PRME Student Ambassadors:

Ahmed Kenawy, The British University in Egypt

Amen El Sayed, The British University in Egypt

Gloria Wambui, Strathmore University

Ian Assam, University of Stellenbosch

Idowu Adegelu, University of Stellenbosch

Leonard-Harry Soibifaa Stephanie, Nigerian British University

Malak Sayed, The British University in Egypt

Martin Oyare Esther, Nigerian British University

Menna Tallah Yasser, The British University in Egypt

Mohamed Hatem, The British University in Egypt

Noah Emmanuel Udoh, Nigerian British University

Nour Chouchane, South Mediterranean Institute of Technology

Norah Kimathi, Strathmore University

Ojo Mosunmola Josephine, Nigerian British University

Okakpu Chikamso Francis, Nigerian British University

Question Jaden Ramontsho, University of Michigan

Sara Nemsia, Mediterranean School of Business

Sibusiso Ngcwangu, Stellenbosch Business School

Sondos Madhi, The British University in Egypt

Syrine Raies, South Mediterranean University

UcheMartins Godsfavour Adaeze, Nigerian British University

Waad Ahmad, The British University in Egypt

Ziad El Sayed, The British University in Egypt