Miss Amanda Amaeshi, an acclaimed activist and campaigner, has been honored as My Life My Say’s ‘Changemaker of the Year’ for 2024. A final-year LLB Law student at University College London (UCL), Amaeshi has actively utilized her voice to shape policy and champion social justice.
A statement released to the media on Wednesday by Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi, Amanda’s father, noted that the award, determined by public vote, was presented during My Life My Say’s ‘Next Generation Conference’.
The event took place on November 22, 2024, at the Barbican Centre in London. This annual conference, organized by the youth-led, non-partisan charity My Life My Say, gathered hundreds of young individuals along with prominent speakers, activists, and politicians to discuss innovative solutions to societal challenges.
Prof. Kenneth Amaeshi shared that his daughter Amanda, a native of the Amaimo community in Ikeduru, Imo, won the award after being shortlisted among several inspiring changemakers, including youth leader Yahye Abdi, social enterprise founder Abdirahman Ahmed, TV personality Georgia Harrison, climate activist Clover Hogan, and artist Jordan Stephens.
Prof. Amaeshi highlighted Amanda’s longstanding commitment to activism, noting that she began her advocacy work at a young age. In 2017, she won the Young Reporters for the Environment competition for her writing on food waste solutions in Scotland, and her efforts gained momentum in 2018 when she became an ambassador for the Year of Young People, focusing on youth participation in politics and advocating for young people’s rights in Scotland.
“As a member of Girlguiding’s National Advocate Panel, Amanda advocated for issues impacting girls and young women across the UK.” She reached out to CEOs, politicians, and decision-makers through speeches, blogs, and live radio interviews.
Currently, Amanda holds the position of Young Spokesperson for Girlguiding Scotland and also serves on Scotland’s First Minister’s National Advisory Council on Women and Girls (NACWG), where she participates in collaborative, intersectional policy review.
Her contribution provides a vital youth perspective, ensuring that the NACWG’s efforts in holding the Scottish Government accountable effectively support girls and young women, according to Amaeshi, the Chief Economic Adviser to Gov. Hope Uzodinma of Imo.
Additionally, Amanda’s guest articles for the Scottish newspaper The National have further enhanced her advocacy.
Amanda challenged societal norms with her fresh perspective, inspiring readers to take collective action against injustices. She collaborates with organizations such as the Young Women’s Movement Scotland, Intercultural Youth Scotland, and the National Youth Agency in England, demonstrating her commitment to inclusive and intersectional practices across various fields.
In 2020, Amanda was recognized on the Young Women’s Movement’s 30 Under 30 list, featured in the WOW Foundation’s Young Leaders Directory in 2022, and named Glasgow Times Young Scotswoman of the Year. While accepting her award at the Next Generation Conference, Amanda expressed her gratitude to her supporters and reflected on the broader impact of her advocacy work.
Amanda is dedicated to using her platform to inspire and motivate others to contribute to positive change and work towards creating a better world.