Opportunity Desk Picks Three UNIJOS Students Among 30 Under 30 Changemakers

Three students from the University of Jos were named among the 30 under 30 Changemakers list curated by the Opportunity Desk. The list, which recognises young people who are solving problems and adding significant value to the society, named Israel Smart, a 200 level student of Civil Engineering, Peter Yawe of the Department of Medicine and Surgery and Joshua Ichor of the Faculty of Natural Sciences amongst 27 other young changemakers across the world.

According to the Opportunity Desk (OD), the 30 changemakers were shortlisted during the OD Impact Challenge 2021. 

Mr Smart is actively working in the education and health sector to ensure the execution of Sustainable Development Goals and the wellbeing of society. Mr Yawe, through his initiative, Healthy Livercare, is responding to the high prevalence of viral hepatitis and other preventable liver diseases in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Mr Ichor founded Geopika to make clean water available to communities throughout sub-Saharan Africa. According to him, the organisation plans to drill 1000 boreholes for underserved communities before the end of 2022.

Responding to the recognition, Smart Isreal said: “This is my first international recognition and the feeling is surreal, it an honour that the international community is recognising our efforts at the grassroots.”

He further explained that “Being a Changemaker comes with a lot of sacrifices and this recognition is an inspiration to me and the rest of the young people.”