Her recognition in the Kofi Annan Changemaker programme stems from co-founding Anondopath in March 2024, a platform she says is designed to make science education interactive through augmented reality (AR). Photo: Courtesy
Nusaiba Binte Mamun, a student at Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology (RUET), has been named a Kofi Annan Changemaker 2025, becoming the first Bangladeshi to receive this global recognition. The award, presented by the Kofi Annan Foundation, highlights young leaders between 18 and 30 years of age who are implementing measurable solutions to social challenges around the world.
The Kofi Annan Changemaker programme is a year-long leadership initiative for a select global cohort of 14 young leaders. It includes two to three online sessions per month, one-on-one mentorship from international experts, skill-building workshops, and an in-person training programme in Geneva, Switzerland, where participants present their work to global policymakers and innovators.
Nusaiba's selection followed a multi-stage process. "I was nominated through the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) network after the Generation Connect Young Leadership Programme (GCYLP) and was invited to apply online," she described. She then submitted a detailed application with her educational records, a short video pitch, a description of her work and its impact, and a full project proposal for Anondopath, the platform she co-founded. The final assessment evaluated candidates based on their commitment, achieved results, and potential for scaling their projects.
Her recognition in the Kofi Annan Changemaker programme stems from co-founding Anondopath in March 2024, a platform she says is designed to make science education interactive through augmented reality (AR). According to Nusaiba, the initiative provides STEM education to students in rural Bangladesh by enabling virtual experiments without requiring internet access or expensive equipment. The team has conducted workshops in 10 schools in Rajshahi, which were positively received, and collaborates with teachers to co-design low-cost, practical lessons aimed at improving student engagement and comprehension.
As a young founder, Nusaiba says she has faced challenges including dismissive attitudes due to her age and gender. "Sometimes people ignore me because I'm young or because I'm a girl. In meetings, some talk to the person next to me or even ask if there's a man on our team who can handle it. It hurts, but I learned to speak up anyway. My parents taught me to believe in myself, so I keep showing up and proving my work," she shares. She adds that limited resources required creative solutions, small prototypes, and steady progress, and emphasised that learning from failure and focusing on practical outcomes have been key to her journey.
Nusaiba attended Viqarunnisa Noon School & College and later Holy Cross College before enrolling at RUET. There, she participated in leadership and entrepreneurship programmes such as the Hult Prize, later serving as Deputy Campus Director and Director of Administration & HR. She also worked as a virtual assistant, which she said improved her communication skills and led to freelance web projects.
As part of the Kofi Annan Changemaker initiative, Nusaiba will also receive a grant to implement her Anondopath project in the community, though the amount has not been disclosed. She will also attend a fully funded in-person training in Geneva this November.
