Nigeria - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

Africa relies heavily on firewood as an energy resource, which is detrimental to the environment due to its high carbon footprint and its contribution to deforestation. Biofuels such as avocado briquettes have a promising potential to solve this problem.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

Our objective is to produce a sustainable and environmentally biofuel, that solves the problem of deforestation and reduction of carbon gases. The production of avocados globally has seen a tremendous increase, especially in Africa as the fruit is grown and exported internationally. The fruit is also processed to make avocado oil, which is considered healthier than other available edible oils. This leaves the waste product (pomace and avocado pit) discarded in most cases, but it can be converted to biofuel by mixing it with materials such as sawdust or rice husks to produce avocado briquettes which can be used as an alternative fuel source for African homes and businesses.

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

The project aims to solve deforestation and contribute to the reduction of human carbon footprint on the planet by producing biofuel made from sustainable agricultural byproducts.

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

Research has demonstrated that avocado briquette is environmentally friendly and emits far less carbon dioxide compared to firewood or coal when burned for energy sources. Avocado briquette is cost-efficient as it is cheaper than firewood and coal. We would be able to convert agricultural waste into a viable product, therefore creating new demand within the continent and jobs within our community of operation.

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

African small businesses and homes. - Restaurants - Bakery - Homes

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2023-10-01

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

3

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

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

Ada Emeka-Ogbonna As a teacher, I've developed strong communication skills and the ability to break down complex concepts in ways that resonate with students of all kinds. I thrive on creating engaging and inclusive learning environments tailored to diverse learning styles. In customer experience roles, I've further cultivated my ability to connect with people on a personal level. Listening actively, understanding their needs, and finding solutions that leave them satisfied have been central to my approach. It's about empathy and problem-solving, ensuring every interaction is positive and productive. Transitioning into website coordination, I've brought my knack for organization and attention to detail to the fore. Managing content, optimizing user experiences, and ensuring everything runs smoothly behind the scenes has been my focus. I enjoy using feedback to continuously improve website usability and functionality.

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?

a) Energy (equipment, services, sustainable energy and fuel)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

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

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

3

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

3

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

3

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

Our Avocado briquette is an affordable alternative to coal and firewood. Since the product is made from waste products the cost is drastically reduced. Our product also emits considerably lower CO2 making it environmentally friendly.

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

We would be creating new jobs for individuals within our community of operation, This would result in increased activity within the entire value change of the products starting from the production of avocados, processing the avocados into avocado oil and obtaining the avocado pomace to create the avocado briquette.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

Harnessing agricultural waste products to create biofuel, this would encourage other individuals to identify opportunities to embark on similar journeys to create new products.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

2

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

The better we adopt a zero-waste ideology in Africa the more productive and efficient we are with our resources. Our avocado briquettes would be used in homes, restaurants, and bakeries.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

3

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Our project would contribute to the reduction of CO2 emissions from the use of fire wool and coal as energy sources, and promote the use of avocado briquette which is environmentally friendly and safer.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

1 - Strongly Disagree

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

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

2

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

2

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

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

2

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

1 - Strongly Disagree

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.

4

05.08 Justification

There are currently no sustainable environmentally friendly biofuels available in the Nigerian market. By running operations in Nigeria and satisfying the market, the business can further expand to other African countries where the product can be produced to supply the local population.

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

Charcoal briquette Firewood Charcoal Avocado briquette is more sustainable and cheaper as it's made from agricultural waste. It also has lover CO2 emissions compared to firewood and charcoal

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

Via this project, we aim to empower females to get into the cultivating of improved avocado trees whose fruits fetch higher market value. We would be giving out grafted hass avocado seedings to females.