IUB’s Ive Sithi to represent Bangladesh at Global Youth Forum in Nigeria

Ive Sithi Chambugong, an undergraduate student of Biochemistry and Biotechnology at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has been selected to represent Bangladesh at the International Gold Event (IGE) and Forum 2025 in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 16 to 22, 2025.

A Duke of Edinburgh's International Award (DEA) Gold Award holder and the first elected female President of DEA IUB, Ive will attend the prestigious global event with USD 3,000 funding from the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation (IAF). Rizwan Bin Farouq, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DEA Bangladesh, will also join the Forum as an official delegate.

Originally from Madhupur, Tangail, Ive has been pursuing her degree at IUB on a full scholarship as a student from an ethnic community. A passionate advocate for youth leadership and community engagement, she ranked 16th among 360 Campus Ambassadors nationwide in the National STEAM Olympiad Bangladesh and was part of the student-led Team BloodBridge Project, which received World Bank funding under the University Innovation Hub Programme (UIHP). She is currently completing a research internship in Computer-Aided Drug Design at Biolab.

At the International Gold Event, Ive will be the sole participant from Bangladesh, joining Gold Award Holders from 55 countries for leadership training, workshops, and cross-cultural networking. Following the IGE, she will attend the International Forum, where leaders from the global Award community will engage in strategic planning and collaboration to shape the future direction of the program.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Foundation Bangladesh currently operates 125 Award Centres nationwide, fostering leadership, confidence, and community engagement among youth. DEA IUB, one of these centres, has 212 active Awardees and over 800 members, offering non-formal education and experiential learning opportunities aligned with the Award's global mission.