Rivers 2050
Rivers 2050 Vision is a bold, youth-led initiative that seeks to co-create a long-term development blueprint for Rivers State, Nigeria, anchored in its people's voices, aspirations, and experiences.
Spearheaded by The Public Policy Shapers Ltd/Gte (RC 1964422), the project brings together over 100 young professionals and citizens from across the 23 LGAs of the state to collectively shape a vision for what Rivers State should look like by the year 2050. Our goal is simple but profound: to build a people-powered roadmap for sustainable growth, inclusive governance, innovation, and resilience over the next 25 years.
This vision is being developed through statewide surveys, community town hall meetings, focus group discussions with experts, and key informant interviews. All of these inputs will culminate in a landmark publication titled “Rivers 2050: Our Vision” — a strategic and visual guide to the future we imagine together.
Why It Matters
For too long, development planning has happened without direct input from the people most affected by it. Rivers 2050 challenges the status quo by placing young people and everyday citizens at the center of long-term statecraft. Through this project, we are not only planning for the future, we are also building a generation of civic leaders who are equipped to shape it.
We hope that this Vision book will become an advocacy document to engage and inspire the State government to come up with a holistic development plan for the next 25 years.
Looking Back in History
The last time Rivers State had a plan was in the 1980s. The Rivers State Development Plan was part of Nigeria’s Third National Development Plan from 1975–1980. The plan aimed to improve the standard of living in rural areas by providing social services, such as schools, hospitals, and clean water.
Key features
- The plan aimed to close the gap between food demand and domestic industry supply
- The plan included policies, projects, and programs to help rural dwellers
- The plan was launched by Commander Alfred Papapereye Diete-Spiff, the military governor of Rivers State, in May 1975
The Steering Committee: Guiding the Vision
A Steering Committee was appointed from within the Task Force to ensure strong coordination and strategic oversight. These are the young leaders helping to steer the ship, provide accountability, and connect all the moving parts of the initiative.
Ebenezar Wikina
Convener
Ebenezar Wikina
Convener
Udokanma Georgewill
CHAIR, BOOK COMMITTEE
Udokanma Georgewill
CHAIR, BOOK COMMITTEE
Wisdom Chapp-Jumbo
PARTNERSHIPS LEAD
Wisdom Chapp-Jumbo
PARTNERSHIPS LEAD
Awajimimam Egop
CHAIR, LAUNCH COMMITTEE
Awajimimam Egop
CHAIR, LAUNCH COMMITTEE
Birah Zorbai Jr.
CHAIR, FOCUS GROUP COMMITTEE
Birah Zorbai Jr.
CHAIR, FOCUS GROUP COMMITTEE
Mmesoma Augustine
Chair, Survey Committee
Mmesoma Augustine
Chair, Survey Committee
Policy Shapers
Policy Shapers is a civic tech organization that empowers young people with the knowledge, skills, and tools they need to engage with public policy.
The Rivers 2050 Vision builds on our legacy of impactful citizen-led advocacy and ideation over the past 5 years. We led the #ReformIELTS campaign, which has mobilised over 85,000 people and influenced changes in over 30 universities around the world, ensuring that Anglo-Africans do not have to write English proficiency tests while seeking study opportunities abroad; and convened the Naija Policy Hackathon, a first-of-its-kind youth policy innovation lab which has been attended by over 800 young people from across Nigeria focused on solving local problems through participatory governance.
Laying the Foundation
Ebenezar Wikina
Founder/Executive Director
Ebenezar Wikina
Founder/Executive Director
Oteheri Akinruntan
Policy Literacy Lead
Oteheri Akinruntan
Policy Literacy Lead
Oluwatobi Oseni
Policy Ideation Lead
Oluwatobi Oseni
Policy Ideation Lead
Chimdi Chukwukere
DIRECTOR/POLICY DIALOGUE LEAD
Chimdi Chukwukere
DIRECTOR/POLICY DIALOGUE LEAD
Comfort Onyaga
DIRECTOR/POLICY COMMUNITY LEAD
Comfort Onyaga
DIRECTOR/POLICY COMMUNITY LEAD
Kehinde Adebiyi
Policy Advocacy Lead
Kehinde Adebiyi
Policy Advocacy LeadThe Rivers 2050 Vision is built on the foundation laid by the Founding team of Policy Shapers that has championed youth-led policymaking across Nigeria and globally. From the #ReformIELTS campaign, Policy Saturday, and the Naija Policy Hackathon, the Policy Shapers team brings years of experience in strategic coordination, digital advocacy, and inclusive governance, forming the backbone of this visionary project. Their guidance, tools, and values continue to shape every step of the Rivers 2050 journey. Furthermore, team members Ebenezar and Oteheri have in the past been project managers for Long-Term Development Plan projects in Abia, Cross River, and Edo States in Nigeria.
The team possesses up to 60 years in combined work experience across multiple sectors; has been educated at the Harvard Kennedy School, Indiana University, University of Sussex, Seton Hall University, Walden University, Founder Institute, London School of Journalism, National Institute of Legislative Studies, to mention a few; and are affiliated to several global and continental organisations including the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, US Department of State, US Department of Defence, Open Government Partnership, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, Atlantic Council, DCAF, British Council, FCDO, Government of Australia, etc