Varnessa Kayen Varlyngton is a 14 year old Gen-Alpha leader, artivist, and internationally recognized award-winning writer, poet and author of the book “AMAMA”. She has been dedicated to raising awareness about climate change and other forms of environmental degradation since the age of 7. Varnessa serves as the founder and executive director of one of Sub Saharan’s fastest growing alpha led international civic tech organizations – Egalitarianism For Earth, using it as a medium to advocate for green development, climate education, and children’s participation in the climate space.
Aiming to create a positive change in the world, Varnessa utilizes her skills, creativity, and innovation as part of the current UNICEF GenU 9JA Young People’s Action Team where she recently contributed to the 2025 National Voluntary Reviews and a 2024 UNICEF Nigeria Young Influencer as well as a councillor at the Global Youth Council for Science, Sustainability, and Law. Due to her advocacy work, she was honoured as the first Nigerian and youngest ever United Nations Climate Change Learn Champion by the United Nations institute of training and research and a speaker at COP16, held in Cali, Colombia. Apart from her advocacy work Varnessa is the First West African Girls In Research Scholar as well as the First West African Recipient of the Liu Lanyi Scholarship and a recipient of the YSA Global Impact Awards for Science and Sustainability.
This is her third time participating in the Dawn Essay Competition whereby in 2023 she earned no placement but in 2024 made it to the Top 10 winners.