Solomon Daramola

Solomon Daramola (12), from Nigeria, turned a deeply personal experience into a public mission. Growing up with an empty seat at his school plays and dinner table, he felt something was missing—but instead of waiting for a grown-up to fix it, he decided to become that leader himself.

With mentorship from the founder of WAVEHI, Solomon has taken his voice to public platforms, speaking out for children’s education and the protection of vulnerable kids in Nigeria. Through the WAVEHI youth-led model, he empowers other young people to understand and stand up for their rights, following the “WAVE” (Voice of African Youth) approach to build a grassroots movement led by children themselves. He also works directly with communities, educating parents and leaders about the dangers of child labor and the value of keeping kids in school.

Solomon is especially vocal about bullying, highlighting how it can hurt a child’s ability to form relationships and lead to social withdrawal. He encourages communities to see bullying not as a private issue between two kids, but as something everyone shares responsibility for solving.