When Tariq Lawal took to the streets of Lagos in 2023 demanding climate action, he wasn't just another voice in the crowd. He was a teenager armed with poetry, purpose, and an unshakeable belief that his generation could move mountains—or at least stop them from crumbling into the sea.

In a world where young people are often told to wait their turn, Tariq Lawal refuses to stay in his lane. At just 19 years old, this Lagos-born writer, artist, and social entrepreneur has amassed a portfolio that would make seasoned diplomats envious: a UNODC competition winner, Diana Award recipient, National Geographic honoree, Global Citizen Emerging Creative, and Youth Advisory Council member for World Ocean Day and TikTok.

But what makes Tariq truly remarkable isn't the accolades—it's the philosophy that drives him. He calls himself an "angelic troublemaker," a term borrowed from legendary civil rights organizer Bayard Rustin, who helped orchestrate the 1963 March on Washington alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. For Tariq, being an angelic troublemaker means causing the right kind of disruption: speaking truth to power, challenging corrupt systems, and refusing to accept that poverty and environmental destruction are inevitable.

Awards, Achievements & Global Recognition

Described by World Ocean Day as "the most accomplished and globally awarded teenager in Nigeria and one of the most in Africa," Tariq's journey from Lagos Island to international recognition reads like a masterclass in turning passion into impact.

Tariq serves as a UNICEF Nigeria Young Influencer, UNODC Nigeria Young Wildlife Influencer, 4Ocean Wavemaker, and sits on the Youth Advisory Council for both World Ocean Day and TikTok. He's also the founder of the Lagos Island Literacy Project, teaching environmental and civic literacy to underserved youth, and the creator of the Let's Conserve app—proving that solutions to the climate crisis can emerge from a teenager's smartphone in Nigeria.

"My art is basically my way of reimagining a better way to be in the world. It is what makes me feel like the world is not enough but it can be." — Tariq Lawal, Global Citizen Emerging Creatives Interview

Watch the Full Interview

In this powerful conversation on The World's Mayor Experience, Tariq shares his journey from scribbling poems in school notebooks to standing before the United Nations. He discusses the Ubuntu philosophy, the crisis of Gen Z disillusionment, and why environmental literacy should be treated as a fundamental human right.

On Gratitude: The Blessing of Being Alive

When asked what he's grateful for, Tariq's answer cuts through the noise of modern cynicism with startling simplicity: life itself.

"I'm definitely grateful for being alive. Often times we do not appreciate the shared blessing of just being alive—being able to dream, to live, to experience things. There are so many young people like me who did not get to wake up today. I get the opportunity to breathe, to live, to dream, to aspire towards something, and to create." — Tariq Lawal

This grounding in gratitude isn't passive acceptance—it's rocket fuel. For Tariq, recognizing life as a gift creates an obligation to use that gift meaningfully. It's a philosophy rooted in his upbringing in Lagos, where the contrast between privilege and poverty is impossible to ignore.

How Did Lagos Shape Tariq Lawal?

The world often sees Lagos through a lens of chaos and poverty. Tariq sees it through a lens of possibility. Growing up between the residential estates of Lagos Island and Lekki, he witnessed both the hustle of ambitious Nigerians striving for better lives and the generational wealth of families who'd built businesses from nothing.

"It is common knowledge that the most ambitious Nigerians are in Lagos. The city pulses with so much ambition and drive. People here are constantly striving for social mobility, constantly striving to put food on the table. Living in a place so diverse as Lagos exposes you to so much—I realized there are people living entirely different lives from me. Some in total struggle, some living glamorous lives." — Tariq Lawal

That exposure, Tariq argues, was his first education in possibility. Watching relatives run nonprofits and tech startups normalized the extraordinary. Unlike many Nigerian children who lack access to such examples, Tariq grew up seeing what was possible—and that raised the bar for his own ambitions from a young age.

When asked if he could exist anywhere else, Tariq's answer reveals a truth about creative souls: they thrive on diversity. "I feel like I was born to live in big cities. I would thrive in New York, in Dubai—anywhere with so much diversity and people from all walks of life. I really love engaging with people different from me. It expands your knowledge of the diverse range of human experiences."

The Angelic Troublemaker: Disrupting the Status Quo

Nigerian society, like many traditional cultures, emphasizes conformity. Don't rock the boat. Don't challenge elders. Stay in your lane. For Tariq, these expectations became the very walls he needed to break through.

"Nigerian society is very traditional. People here are often told don't do anything that gets you in trouble, don't step out of line. So many people are afraid to engage in activism or raise awareness about issues that affect them. People here don't even want to challenge corrupt political leaders—which is devastating because they keep the corrupt leaders in power." — Tariq Lawal

The term "angelic troublemaker" comes from Bayard Rustin, who said every community needs a group of people willing to cause righteous disruption. For Tariq, this isn't about chaos for chaos's sake—it's about strategic disturbance in service of justice. Raising awareness about environmental destruction. Demanding accountability from leaders who've failed their people. Using poetry and art when traditional protest felt too dangerous.

His timing for this interview was poignant: Martin Luther King Jr. Day 2026. Tariq reminded listeners that Rustin was one of the key organizers behind the March on Washington—a reminder that angelic troublemakers have always been the architects of history's turning points.

Taking to the Streets: The UNICEF-Featured Demonstration

In 2023, against the backdrop of post-EndSARS Nigeria—where the government had cracked down hard on public protests following the 2020 massacre—Tariq and his friends did something most Nigerian youth considered unthinkable. They took to the streets of Lagos for a climate demonstration.

"We were a bunch of kids and of course we were very scared. We're like, 'Oh my god, what are we doing? What if we get in trouble?' But I still felt we should do it anyway. We felt like we looked a bit crazy—walking through different parts of the city. But having my friends behind me gave me the confidence." — Tariq Lawal

What transformed anxiety into empowerment was the response. People stopped them to ask questions: What is climate change? Why are you advocating? How does it affect them? Before they knew it, UNICEF had reached out. The demonstration was featured during COP28. A moment of youthful courage became an international story.

For Tariq, this was a lesson in the power waiting to be unlocked within every young person brave enough to act. "If I did not do that, I would not know the power within me as a young person with a voice."

Listen to the Full Podcast Episode

Prefer audio? Catch the complete conversation on your favorite podcast platform. This episode covers everything from the Ubuntu philosophy to practical advice for young activists worldwide.

Beyond Awareness: Building Real Solutions

Tariq's evolution as an activist mirrors a broader shift in climate advocacy. He started with awareness campaigns—writing letters to politicians, public demonstrations, social media activism. But he realized something crucial: information alone doesn't change behavior.

"People are more aware than ever. Social media has made information ubiquitous. We're seeing disasters on our phones constantly. But knowing about issues doesn't solve anything. We need to go beyond just knowing—we need to get our hands dirty. Recycle, plant trees, clear up our environment, participate in collective action." — Tariq Lawal

This realization drove Tariq toward tech entrepreneurship. His winning UNODC entry, the iConserve app (now evolved into Let's Conserve), represents a shift from talking about solutions to building them. It's the kind of bold, Silicon Valley-style thinking he believes the climate movement needs more of—taking risks on grand ideas rather than waiting for consensus.

Tariq is also critical of how youth voices are often tokenized rather than empowered. He's met young people building robots and water purifiers, developing solutions that could transform communities—but they lack funding and are dismissed because of their age. "I've met really wise children and not so wise adults," he notes. "Age should not determine how much wisdom somebody has."

Why Environmental Literacy Is a Human Right

The Lagos Island Literacy Project, founded by Tariq, isn't just about teaching children to read books. It's about teaching environmental and civic literacy—understanding why humans need to protect nature as a fundamental part of education.

"The reason why I prioritized environmental literacy is I realized that the fact that we never really got to understand nature and why we need to protect it in our schools is why everything is so messed up now. We cannot repeat the mistakes of past generations by separating nature from humans." — Tariq Lawal

Tariq traces humanity's disconnect from nature to industrialization and hyperconsumerism. We've replaced gardening with Amazon deliveries, parks with scrolling, and authentic connection with cheap dopamine. The result is a generation that doesn't understand why nature matters—and therefore doesn't fight to protect it.

His prescription is radical reconnection: teaching children to garden, to understand where food comes from, to bask in the warmth of grass and appreciate butterflies. It sounds simple, but in a world where screens dominate childhood, it's revolutionary.

Ubuntu: I Am Because You Are

When discussing how to combat the modern epidemic of apathy, Tariq reaches for ancient African wisdom: Ubuntu. The philosophy means "I am because you are"—a recognition that human beings exist in interconnected relationships, not isolation.

"People who are privileged often say, 'I'm not affected, so why should I care?' But Ubuntu teaches us that we exist to take care of one another, to respect each other, to show common basic humanity. The fact that you exist is because I exist—we are interconnected." — Tariq Lawal

This philosophy stands in stark contrast to the individualism that dominates modern society—the constant messaging to prioritize yourself, your status, your happiness above all else. Tariq argues this hyper-individualism creates the conditions for both environmental destruction and social fragmentation.

His antidote: developing an abundance mindset. "The world we live in is a world of abundance," he says, "but the systems we exist in try to convince us we live in a world of scarcity. There's not enough for you, so make sure another person doesn't take what belongs to you. That makes people greedy, selfish, pulling others down."

Advice for Young Changemakers: Your Voice Is Your Power

For the 13-year-old who's angry about the world but feels small—without an app, without UN awards, without resources—Tariq's advice is disarmingly simple: use your voice.

"Your voice is the most powerful thing you have. When you're a kid, you're often scared. But as a young person, when you speak up, you force those who are older to listen. It is very rare for a young person to speak up and say 'this is not right, something needs to be done.' So whenever that happens, adults are forced to listen." — Tariq Lawal

Beyond speaking up, Tariq encourages young people to inventory their talents—poetry, dance, art, fiction writing, design—and deploy those gifts in service of change. Every human being has unique abilities that can be channeled toward social impact. The key is finding your medium and using it relentlessly.

A Message to the World: "Aiyé Dùn, Ènìyàn Ló Soro"

Given the hypothetical opportunity to broadcast one message to every person on Earth—world leaders, corporations, students, and communities in every corner of the globe—Tariq chose to speak in Yoruba, the tongue of his ancestors.

"Aiyé dùn, ènìyàn ló soro."
Translation: "The world is very sweet, but we humans make it very difficult." — Tariq Lawal

In this simple proverb lies the heart of Tariq's worldview. The Earth, with its mountains and butterflies and warming grass, is a gift. The crises we face—climate destruction, inequality, conflict—are not nature's fault. They're the result of human choices. And if humans created these problems, humans can unmake them.

That's the radical hope of the angelic troublemaker: not naive optimism that ignores suffering, but fierce determination that refuses to accept suffering as inevitable.