LONDON, United Kingdom (CMC) – Jamaican Nicholas Kee has been declared the winner of the regional categories as Stanley Chidubem Anigbogu from Nigeria clinched the overall title of 2025 Commonwealth Young Person of the Year.

Kee, along with the winners from Bangladesh, Pacific, Europe and Canada, each received £3,000 (One British Pound= US$1.29 cents) for empowering young changemakers aged 15–29 by scaling local innovations to global impact, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education, entrepreneurship, sustainability, and inclusivity.

The awards were presented at the annual Caribbean Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work here on Wednesday and attended by government ministers, senior government officials, youth leaders, and other stakeholders celebrating the achievements of young people across the Commonwealth.

Anigbogu, the founder and chief executive officer of LightEd, was recognised for transforming waste into solar innovations that provide clean energy to over 10,000 refugees in Africa.

His work draws from his childhood experiences with energy poverty. Determined to create change and promote sustainability as well as climate resilience, he founded LightEd in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a small team of like-minded young people, he has trained 6,000 students and recycled over 20,000 kilograms of waste.

Originally from Anambra State in south-east Nigeria, Anigbogu received the award from the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland KC, who thanked him for his creative and impactful solution to multiple challenges.

“Not only are you bringing hope and light to vulnerable communities and refugees who face many hardships and disadvantages, but you are also ridding communities of harmful waste and pollution, leaving environments safer and cleaner for other young people. This is a testament to the creativity of the Commonwealth’s youth.

“Stanley is training other young people and providing skills for employment in a field that will contribute to the energy transition we need to mitigate against climate change. You are a true revolutionary – a visionary – and I am pleased to award you the title of Commonwealth Young Person of the Year,” Scotland said.

It was a double victory for Anigbogu, who also received the top regional award for Africa, earning him a total prize of £5,000.

“It is an incredible honour to receive this recognition alongside an inspiring group of 20 young changemakers, all dedicated to launching innovative solutions that drive transformative change for millions of young people around the world. I cannot wait to continue this journey with the support of the Commonwealth and its remarkable network of partners,” he added.