Three Nigerian Startups Win Big as TRANSFORM West Africa Awards £500,000 to Advance Sustainability

In a major boost to innovation and sustainability in West Africa, TRANSFORM West Africa, a collaborative initiative led by Unilever, the UK Government, and EY, has awarded £500,000 in grant funding to five startups across the region. The funding is part of a wider effort to promote circular economy practices and regenerative agriculture in emerging markets.

At a celebratory event hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, three pioneering Nigerian enterprises were recognized among the five winners. These innovative businesses stood out for their creative and practical approaches to reducing plastic waste and fostering inclusive, sustainable growth in local communities.

The Nigerian startups receiving the grant include:

• Chanja Datti, a trailblazer in decentralizing plastic waste processing through its network of Micro-Recycling Plants (MRPs), positioned near waste collection points to improve efficiency and impact.
• Planet 3R, a social enterprise that equips women and youth with weaving skills to upcycle plastic and textile waste into functional products such as bags and storage boxes, creating both economic opportunities and environmental benefits.
• Scrapays, a digital platform bridging the gap between waste producers and recyclers by connecting them with aggregators and processors for improved waste collection and value recovery.

These startups, selected from over 100 applicants across West Africa, will not only receive financial support but also benefit from a suite of in-kind resources. This includes strategic guidance, business insights, mentorship, and access to the extensive global networks of Unilever and EY.

Mr. Jonny Baxter, the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos, praised the winners for their innovative contributions to solving pressing environmental challenges. “It’s encouraging to see such dynamic solutions to plastic waste management. Initiatives like these drive both economic growth and environmental resilience,” he remarked, adding that the effort aligns with the upcoming World Earth Day celebrations.

Tobi Adeniyi, country managing director of Unilever Nigeria, emphasized the importance of local leadership in the selection process. “At TRANSFORM, we believe the most effective solutions come from those closest to the problem. Our local representatives leveraged their understanding and networks to find the most impactful innovators,” he said.

Ashish Bakhshi, senior partner and Head of Markets at EY West Africa, echoed this sentiment, reaffirming EY’s commitment to empowering changemakers. “We’re excited to support enterprises that are rethinking sustainability and transforming challenges into opportunities,” he noted.

The newly awarded enterprises will join 13 other TRANSFORM-supported initiatives in West Africa, including well-known names like WeCyclers, which incentivizes recycling in low-income communities, and Reeddi Technologies, a company providing clean energy through solar-powered battery generators.

Together, TRANSFORM’s West African grantees have reached over 2 million people, contributing to a larger global community that has impacted more than 18 million individuals across 20 countries.

This partnership signals a promising future for sustainability in Africa—one where local innovation, global collaboration, and community-driven solutions lead the charge toward a more regenerative economy.