Three Nigerian Startups have been awarded the sum of $32,500, for their innovative solutions in tackling climate-related challenges at the second cohort of the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP).
The GCIP is a United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO)-led programme, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), promoting cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship to address the most pressing climate and environmental challenges. In Nigeria, GCIP is implemented in collaboration with the Co-Creation Hub (CcHUB) and the government of Nigeria, represented by the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
The startups are Schrodinger Technologie Limited, clinching the first position, with the sum of $10,000; Followed by Givo Africa, as first runner up, with the sum of $7,500 and E-Sam Energy Solutions Limited, as second runner up with the sum of $5,000. FabriThread Cycle Limited emerged the Best female-led startup with the sum of $5,000 and E-Sam Energy Solutions Limited, as Best Climate Mitigation Startup, with the sum of $5,000.
National programme officer, UNIDO in Nigeria, Mr. Reuben Bamidele, at the National Forum and Award Ceremony 2024 under the Project GCIP Nigeria, in Lagos averred that Nigeria’s economy is heavily reliant on fossil fuels and petroleum, which represents a huge percentage of its total exports revenue.
Despite the importance of energy to the country’s economy, low access to modern energy
services remain one of the principal constraints to Nigeria’s economic development, Bamidele lamented, as the country has one of the highest energy poverty rates in the world. “For instance, about 47 per cent of its population does not have access to grid electricity and those who do have access, face regular power cuts.
The economic impact of unreliable grid operations is estimated to be around $28 billion,” he added.
In terms of climate change vulnerability, Bamidele disclosed that Nigeria is particularly vulnerable to climate change, as it is classified as one of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world, according to the 2017 Climate Change Vulnerability Index.
To reverse trend, Bamidele averred that the GCIP platform was put in place to aggregate and enhance efforts to strengthen and connect the ecosystems of partner countries namely Nigeria, Cambodia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Morocco, South Africa, Turkey, Ukraine and Uruguay, and at the same time connect them to a truly global innovation ecosystem.
“The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology (FMIST) has recognised that a resilient and effective innovative system which caters for all the diversities in the country requires the right conditions for innovation and entrepreneurship development where people have the motivation, resources, creativity and timing to absorb, generate and apply new ideas that have value. Hence, this project is helping SMEs and identifying Start-ups to compete on the global market and connect them to potential investors, customers and partners through the global Cleantech network. The GCIP will help Start-ups and SMEs in Nigeria to focus on promoting low carbon technologies in order to achieve Sustainable Development Goals 7 and 13 among others,” he averred.
He however commended the winners of the GCIP cohort 2, adding that, “You have been through a rigorous period and we hope what you have learnt starting from the pre-accelerator training to the National Academy and finally the judging session will be significant to the development of your innovations, and help you to achieve a highly competitive status.”
While applauding the Nigerian government through the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Global Environment Facility (GEF) for their roles in this project and Co-Creation Hub for taking up the challenge to organise the National Forum, however reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to working with the Nigerian government and the Nigerian private sector towards achieving an Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development without compromising the quality of the environment.
On his part, the minister of Innovation Science and Technology, Dr. Chief Uche Nnaji commended the winners for their resilience to making sure that they undertake the processes and come out victorious in the selection processes. “I must also commend the efforts of UNIDO for mobilising resources to
pilot this project; GEF for providing the seed financial resources; the Department of Environmental Sciences and Technology of FMIST for conceptualising the
Nigerian CleanTech Innovation Programme (NC-TIP) that provided the national platform for this partnership with the Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) being piloted by UNIDO and of course the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and Co-Creation Hub for providing the technical services within the project. I am glad to know that Nigeria became the tenth member of GCIP through the efforts of FMIST and UNIDO,” he added.
Meanwhile, the founder of FabriThread Cycle Limited, Sidikat Folami, while receiving her award, thanked the federal government and UNIDO for the empowerment programme, even as she vowed to put skills into tackling climate-related challenges in the fashion industry.
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