How Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, Balogun, is designing Africa’s clean energy future
A 2025 Forbes Africa 30 Under 30 honoree, Damilola Hamid Balogun is a legal professional turned social impact entrepreneur who has spent nearly a decade transforming how Africa tackles climate and energy challenges—from the grassroots to the global stage.
As Co-Founder and CEO of the Youth Sustainable Development Network (YSDN), he has helped train over 12,000 youth across 50+ countries and implemented sustainability projects in more than 20 nations. In Lagos, he’s led clean energy solutions helping farmers adapt to climate shocks—projects that don’t just sound good on paper but have already reduced over 6,600 tonnes of CO₂e emissions and powered up local livelihoods.
While his voice has echoed through the halls of major UN conferences in over 20 countries, it’s Damilola’s work back home—designing solar-powered systems, driving energy access, and creating green jobs—that defines his impact.
In 2025, YSDN was recognized among notable candidates for the Changemaker Institution Award at the Sustainable Energy for All Global Forum in Barbados, highlighting its growing influence as one of the few youth-led organizations formally engaged with the UN Energy Compact.
Damilola’s approach is simple but transformative: give young people the tools, training, and trust they need—and they’ll build the future. From shaping energy policy to securing over $150,000 in funding for solar projects, he’s proving that youth-led innovation isn’t a buzzword—it’s a working model.
Academically, he holds an MSc in Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and Social Change from Linnaeus University in Sweden, along with an Advanced Certificate (with distinction) in Climate, Energy, and Sustainability Policy from the University of Florence, Italy.
Under his leadership, YSDN has become a respected force in climate advocacy, building partnerships across sectors and continents. And he’s just getting started. With a deep belief that knowledge is power, Damilola is on a mission to ensure the next generation isn’t just invited to the table—but owns it.
