tariq

Tariq Lawal

Nigeria
, 18
Tariq Lawal (he/they) is a multifaceted creative, multimedia journalist, changemaker, and budding social entrepreneur from Lagos, Nigeria. He is constantly evolving and driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and personal growth. An angelic troublemaker and changemaker, Tariq is deeply committed to making a difference in the world. He also believes that art can drive social change, using a wide range of creative mediums to raise awareness about pressing global issues.

As a member of the Youth Advisory Council, he hopes to promote wildlife and ocean conservation in his community and beyond. He believes young people are capable of driving transformative change, so it is crucial that they feel empowered to do so. In the fall of 2023, Tariq took to the streets of Lagos Island to raise awareness about social and environmental issues. The story of his public demonstration was even featured by UNICEF during COP28. Since then, he has been dedicated to community organizing and youth mobilization.

Tariq passionately advocates for social, economic, environmental, racial, and gender justice. He is a UNICEF Nigeria Young Influencer, UNODC Nigeria Young Wildlife Influencer, and 4Ocean Wavemaker. He is also a Global Citizen 2024 Emerging Creative and a Heal The Planet Young Planet Leader. Tariq has won several creativity-related contests, including the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime #BeWildForNature Competition, the Youth Communication Fall 2024 Writing Contest, and the American Sociological Association Student Video Contest.

Tariq is also a recipient of the American Anthropology Association Junior Anthropologist Award and the prestigious Diana Award, the highest honor a young person can receive for social action and humanitarian work. Additionally, he is the Culture Lead Writer at Young Journalists of America and the only African correspondent for FEMINIST, a global hub for intersectional feminism with an audience of over six million. Tariq has also collaborated with various nonprofits as a creative media creator and interned with Ocean Uprise and the Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility Department at Wema Bank.