At just 17 years old, Amara Nwuneli, a Nigerian-American activist, is rewriting the script for urban as she emerged as the first Nigerian to win The Earth Prize 2025 in Africa.
Her brainchild? The eco-transformative initiative, Preserve Our Roots, a project turning underserved urban sites into green community hubs.
From Lagos to the world, Amara’s journey is deeply rooted in her environment, proving that the future of urban sustainability is in the hands of passionate changemakers like her.
Growing up in Lagos, Nigeria, a sprawling metropolis of over 17 million residents, she witnessed the harsh reality of a city where only 3% of the land is graced by green spaces. The consequences? Scorching urban heat, dwindling air quality, vanishing biodiversity, and adverse mental and physical health effects.
Inspired to take action, Amara founded Preserve Our Roots, a youth-driven NGO with a powerful mission: to redefine urban sustainability through “green sustainability parks.”
The prototype park was established in Ikota, Nigeria, using recycled materials and the combined efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donors. These eco-parks are not just serene sanctuaries—they’re living classrooms where urban youth are educated on climate resilience and equipped with the tools to dream big.
The Earth Prize is no ordinary accolade. Dubbed the world’s premier environmental competition for teenagers, it blends mentorship, incubation, and funding, offering Seven Regional Winners representing the regions of North America, Africa, Asia, Central and South America, Oceania and Southeast Asia, Europe and the Middle East $12.5K each to transform their vision into reality.
Amara excelled during the mentorship phase and captivated the expert jury with her final pitch. Now armed with this recognition, she plans to scale Preserve Our Roots and bring three more parks to underserved Nigerian communities, reaching tens of thousands with climate education, sustainable infrastructure, and revitalized green spaces.
For Amara, the mission is personal. As she explains, “Millions, including myself, have grown up where nature is a luxury. Thanks to The Earth Prize, this vision is no longer just a dream—it’s becoming a reality!”
Since its inception in 2021 by The Earth Foundation, a Geneva-based non-profit, the prize has empowered over 15,000 young visionaries from 160 countries and territories. By awarding $500K to outstanding teams, it has catalysed bold, transformative solutions for our planet’s most urgent challenges.
This year’s winners are hailed by Peter McGarry, founder of The Earth Foundation, as beacons of hope and creativity in the fight for environmental sustainability.
Amara Nwuneli’s story is a stirring reminder that the fight for greener cities begins not with protests, but with action. Armed with ambition, innovation, and an indomitable spirit, she’s turning concrete jungles into ecosystems of hope.
