Nigeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

This project will enable individuals to dispose used plastic cans through an organized channel. Furthermore it will involve a mobile software technology solution that will keep track of users participation and also give users rewards and incentives.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Plastic waste is a problem because it can clog up our drainage systems, which can then cause flooding in the environment. The Automated Plastic Pet Waste Station is a technological solution that will help the community dispose of plastic waste in an organized manner. This will be achieved through a mobile application that individuals can install on their smartphones. Also at the waste station there will be a console that will enable users scan for access to deposit their waste plastic can. When you deposit plastic cans, the artificial intelligence enabled functionality will be able to capture the progress and convert it to points in your application. These points in turn will be converted to either cash or incentives for the individual, hence alleviating poverty. The waste station will be designed to be self-sufficient in terms of power supply (using solar energy) and will also be connected to the internet, enabling the system to capture and transmit data efficiently.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

The problem of lack of consistency, in an already set practice in my community, due to low motivation and poor planning. The plastic waste collection scheme is already being practiced in my country and community but because it’s not done in an organized way, people were not really seeing the benefits of it. Moreover, people are moved to do certain things in life when they see they will benefit from it. Also, motivate families to actually get involved in disposing of these plastic wastes through the various incentives and cash they will benefit. These incentives will in turn alleviate poverty in my country and community. The problem of environmental pollution, which involves clogging of the drainages and underwater movement will also be solved, when all hands are on deck to keep the plastic waste disposal scheme active.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

- Plastic waste if properly managed, will be reduced thereby keeping the environment safe from hazards and clean. - This project will create an awareness on the importance of proper plastic waste disposal and recycling. Also, sensitize individuals and organizations on the importance of disposing the plastic waste through the right channels. - This project, besides providing incentives for families, job opportunities will also be created for many people in the country such as IT specialists, security personnel and inventory managers. - There will be room for wealth creation in the form of rewards and incentives. Through this project, There will be an organized system of plastic waste collection. This project will promote community awareness on the importance of good environmental hygiene.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

The targeted beneficiaries of this project are individuals, families, plastic producing companies and the government of the various communities in the country. Through this project, every individual in the community will be highly conscious of proper plastic waste disposal. This is as a result of rewards and benefits which will be attached to disposal of plastic wastes through the proper channels. Hence, there will be opportunities for poverty alleviation in the community and country at large. Various families will be relieved a bit through these incentives attached to plastic waste disposal. The various plastic producing companies will be able to gather these wastes which they need for production, through an organized channel. Hence making room for smooth recycling and production. The government in turn will benefit through this project by reducing cost .

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-05-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

4

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

2

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

UGOCHUKWU IHEME : is a software business analyst , a commercial sales expert with a 5years in experience in the brewing commercial sector. CHIOMA IGWE UCHENNA: An Environmental Resource Specialist and a Tutor with a 10years working experience in the Educational sector. AMAKA KENNIS: An entrepreneur and a business owner. Produces healthy drinks, such as Tigernut milk drink, Ginger drink and Zobo drink. All bottled in plastics. ABRAHAM OKOEDOH : A Mac-Tec Specialist with a 5years experience currently working with International Breweries.

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

h) IT (digital services, equipment and software)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

My project contributes to the No poverty goal. The design of this project is such that every individual in the society will benefit from it. When people are sensitized about this project, they all participate fully by making use of their smartphones and plastics which are used on a daily basis to generate wealth, which is in the form of incentives and cash being rewarded at the points of disposing the plastic wastes. Hence, alleviating poverty in the community. No poverty goal will also be achieved through creation of job opportunities. This project will make room for training and employment of many experts who will man the entire process from its conception to the entire functionality.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal. This is evident in the ideology of the project which is “obtaining rewards by disposal of plastic wastes via the right channel”. Plastic wastes are found around us on a daily basis. It could be obtained through direct usage or from others. Hence, it’s something that can easily be obtained and used to obtain incentives and cash. This cash and incentives will in turn be used to purchase food to cater for individual and family needs. Which simply implies no individual in the community at large will be hungry.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

My project makes food and water available for every home which is the first step to good health and well being. Secondly, through gathering and recycling of these plastic wastes, the environment in which we live in will be made safe from erosions and other environmental hazards which clogging of these plastics will lead to.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

Through the rewards and incentives, every child will have the opportunity to attend school. It will only take a little effort of collection of plastic wastes all around homes to obtain rewards which when supported with parents daily livelihood will be sufficient to provide all kids with quality education.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

My project contributes to the gender equality goal because it demands all hands to be on deck. Both men and women will have equal opportunity of collecting plastic wastes all around them, take it to the collection points and obtain rewards for their efforts. It will serve as a form of motivation for all girls and women to partake in doing tasks to yield money.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

My project promotes clean water and sanitation because the main goal of the project is to keep plastic wastes from littering the environment . When every individual in the community participates actively in the proper disposal of plastic wastes, sanitation is maintained because there won’t be wastes littering the environment and clogging drainages. Also, there won’t be pollution of our streams and other water sources from drainages due to clogs. Hence through this project clean water and sanitation will be highly maintained.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Countries all over the world are devising means to encourage recycling of plastic wastes due to the hazard it will bring unto the environment if not properly disposed as well it’s cost saving when plastics are recycled than purchasing of raw materials for new production. My project will make achievement of the recycling easy and the entire nation will benefit from it. It is quite easy to obtain and will lead to poverty alleviation in my community and country. Hence I strongly agree it will contribute to the affordable and clean energy goal.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

My project contributes to decent work and economic growth. It provides decent job opportunities for the youth in my commmunity. This project will keep a lot of youths off the street and away from certain illegal things they’re involved in as a means of survival.. This goal will be achieved either by providing them with jobs or through the incentives and rewards they will obtain from proper disposal of plastic wastes.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

7 - Strongly Agree

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

I strongly agree that my project contributes to the industry innovation and infrastructure, this is because it will serve as an eye opener to a lot of industries, most especially those that deal on plastics to organize the plastic waste collection system to cut costs and achieve targets. It will also lead to increased infrastructure and industrialization because more individuals will begin to put values into the plastic waste collection and recycling system, making the country more developed and richer.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

I strongly agree that my project contributes to the reduced inequalities goal. This is because it involves the introduction of AI machine and creation of wealth through the use of smartphones. Most countries are graded first world due to their level of innovations and development. Through this project some of those gaps will be bridged and every other sectors of the economy will begin to think of such technological growth. This will lead to more development in the country.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

Through my project, most cities and communities that seemed inhabitable due to poor development in them will be made safe. This is because Both the individuals and community leaders will generate wealth through this project which in turn will be used for constructions and restructuring. Hence making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe and sustainable.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

My project regulates the consumption and production pattern, This is because it encourages proper recycling of the plastic wastes after its content has been consumed. Hence, giving back to the production community and yielding benefits from them as well.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

My project contributes to the climate action goal because the proper disposal of plastic wastes clears the air, water and land from pollutions which could come in the form of releasing of toxins into the air by burning of plastics, clogging's which could cause erosions and prevent easy and free flow of water in their various channels.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

My project contributes to the life below water goal because it involves collection of waste which if not properly disposed is harmful to the environment. Hence, it conserves marine resources for other development.

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

My project contributes to the life on land goal because it helps to control and manage plastic wastes disposal. Plastics wastes if not properly managed will cause land degradation. Hence this project will protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

5

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

My project promotes peace and inclusive societies for sustainable development. There is an adage that says, a hungry man is an angry man. When there is hunger in a nation it leads to all forms of immoral behavior and violence among citizens. There won’t be room for justice because everyone is trying to survive by all means. My project will bridge the hunger gap and make the society inclusive for all.

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

Through this project countries will form alliance and partnerships. This is because the AI machines needed to foster this project is not produced in my country, at such will be purchased from other countries thus business partnerships will be formed within these countries all aiming at achieving the goals of sustainable development.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

1 - Strongly Disagree

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

6

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

Plastic waste collection is a system that has been carried out through the manual ways of general waste collection which is managed by the government. But through our initiative we are implementing an automated process which will get roughly 80% of citizens in different locations involved when executed.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

Automated Plastics Waste Collection is an initiative that is yet to be implemented in Nigeria. therefore it is important to know that there is no competition for now.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

In my own little way, i often encourage and support female entrepreneurs by promoting their businesses to people who need them and those I can convince to purchase them. When leading a team I endeavor to assign roles to the females and guide them when needed.