Country of Residence
Nigeria
Age
13
Project title
Drone rangers Nigeria
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
Imagine we were a world where even our ignorance is ignored, indeed it will be dangerous. A catastrophic flood in mokwa Niger state Nigeria killing over 250 people and destroying over 10000 properties ,caused by blocked caught our attention,for this reason we created Drone rangers Nigeria a youth led initiative where a group of passionate and innovative youths fly drones for environmental monitoring, detecting blocked drainages early etc. So as to prevent future reoccurrences.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
Project Category
My project is an existing project that I started
Project Stage
Pilot-Stage (We’ve tried an activity or two)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
Actually my project was built on the tragedy faced by my people. In May 2025 there was a devastating flood that swept through the cities of Mike's indeed it was devastating lives were lost over 250, properties were destroyed over one thousand.hmmmmmm to think that the flood even happened one day after I passed through the area what a tragedy . The aftermath of the flood traced the cause to BLOCKED DRAINAGES a true product of our ignorance further research made me learn that it didn't even start now it started long time ago over cities have been flooded from this kind of overflow ever before, the causative agent also serves as a breeding ground for mosquitoes spreading diseases .
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
It's very painful to know that I am part of the problem. that single plastic bottle I dumped in the drainage last two years, the single act of ignorance of not picking it up, now I have learnt I take responsibility . The problem? Oh yes the problem! ; My people's ignorance ,my own ignorance, I'm trying to fix my own mistakes now. Every year tons of plastic waste and all kinds of waste fills our drainages breeding mosquitoes while causing floods in the sight of the rain as if that is not enough this floods takes life from my people yes it does. I don't have a problem statement I have a problem call, I have a problem story.
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
Drone rangers Nigeria. Combining technological literacy with perpetual problem solving skills the first step to solve a problem is to detect a problem . We are innovative and passionate youth who fly drones weekly to monitor and detect blocked drainages early and then we report to the relevant authority or voluntarily organize clean ups . This alone is not a solution to the problem as it will be mopping the floor while leaving the tap running so in order to make sure we fulfill our aim we also use drone taken images for storytelling so as to encourage our people to become more conscious of our environment highlighting the consequences.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
In future times ,we hope to train about 50 students to map over 100 km of blocked drainages every year. We also aim at taking massive cleanups and then organizing awareness campaigns to further encourage our people to stop this act of clugging up are drainages. Of course impact goals beyond plans but results. So we aim to create branches all over Nigeria and have all functional units needed in the 36 States to reduce the reoccurrences of rural and urban flooding in Nigeria.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
I have seen how young people especially in my country are left out when it comes to problem solving skills. we do not want to wait for technology to come to Africa we want african children to own ,it build it and use it to solve real world problems in their community. And that is why we created drone rangers Nigeria, a peculiar organization run by passionate and innovative teenagers building the future of technology and problem solving instead of using technology for destruction we stand for change.
How many people are on your team?
15
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
We hold weekly meetings where every member gets to contribute and share ideas in order for the project's I also mentored by Naomi inwe the founder of trash to treasure initiative and an ambassador of Nat Geo slingshot challenge.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
The next prominent and immediate steps that can be taken for further development of this project goals are getting the necessary equipment then what we already have getting drones with better distances. We also hope to partner with the local government of wherever will be taken any clean up and then we hope to get registered as a formal rangers society in Nigeria further improving and enlarging are impact as we will then be authorized to take surveillance in any part of the Nation.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
Indeed this has been the most challenging aspects of my project, trying to encourage others to join. But after revealing the unknown impact of every of our negative actions towards the environment I got 15 teenagers in my community to join this protest towards change.
