We represented Türkiye in Nigeria at IGE & Forum 2025!
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and Nigeria National Authority hosted a significant global gathering focused on the worldwide development of the Award as part of IGE & Forum 2025, held in Lagos, Nigeria, from 17 to 23 November 2025.
Throughout the events in Lagos, approximately 200 young people from over 50 countries, alongside hundreds of volunteers and international stakeholders working in the youth sector, came together. As part of the programme, young people participated in an intensive three-day youth leadership programme, followed by the Award’s triennial Forum, where discussions focused on expanding global access to the Award and identifying ways to engage more young people in this journey.
Over the past year, nearly 1.2 million young people in more than 130 countries have taken part in the Award Programme.
The international gathering was also actively represented by The International Award for Young People – Türkiye. Our National Coordinator Leyla Nilüfer Yılmaz, Training Coordinator Kıvanç Aker, and award holder Bora Tezkan, who successfully completed all three Award levels and qualified to participate in the International Gold Event (IGE), took part in sessions, strategic discussions, and Award Practice Visits held in Lagos. Within this scope, key topics such as youth empowerment, inclusion, accessibility, volunteer training, international cooperation, and enhancing the global impact of the Award were discussed. In addition, meetings with Award participants in Nigeria once again highlighted how the programme acts as a cross-cultural bridge, creating meaningful transformation in the lives of young people.
IGE & Forum 2025 powerfully demonstrated that the Award contributes not only to individual development but also to global social impact, solidarity, and a shared vision for the future.
