Lagos, Nigeria
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation is hosting a major global forum in Lagos, Nigeria, this week, marking a historic achievement for the youth programme as it announces that the social value generated by participants worldwide has exceeded £1 billion for the first time.
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, will chair the series of events running from November 17 to 23, 2025, championing the expansion of the Award globally, particularly across Africa.
Global Leaders and Youth Convene
The week will see nearly 200 young people from more than 50 countries gather in Lagos for an intensive three-day youth leadership programme. They will be joined by hundreds of leaders delivering the Award worldwide, policymakers, and representatives from global youth movements for the triennial Forum.
The location highlights the increasing interest in non-formal education across West Africa:
- Participation Surge: In Nigeria, the host nation, participation in the Award has surged by 37% over the past year.
- Global Reach: Last year, almost 1.2 million young people took part in the Award across more than 130 countries. The UK accounts for roughly half of all participants, with Kenya having the second-highest number globally.
£1 Billion Social Impact
Ahead of the Award’s 70th anniversary next year, new analysis shows the cumulative social value generated by young people completing the programme has surpassed £1 billion.
This social value, calculated through a methodology developed by PwC, quantifies the impact of activities like volunteering, improved mental and physical health, and social cohesion resulting from the experiential learning framework.
Martin Houghton-Brown, Secretary General of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, emphasised that the Award is helping young people develop the “human edge” skills like resilience, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are increasingly prioritised by global bodies like the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Diplomatic Engagement
During the week, Prince Edward is also scheduled to meet with the President of Nigeria in Abuja and convene senior ministers and international development agencies in Lagos to foster deeper collaboration on youth empowerment and non-formal education.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, Jonny Baxter, applauded the choice of Nigeria, stating: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award exemplifies the potential of Nigeria’s young people… The UK stands ready to work together to drive growth, stability, and prosperity for the benefit of both our countries.”
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