On the 10th of October 2025, the greenlabs Incubation Program, powered by Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) in partnership with Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA), celebrated a major milestone with the graduation of its inaugural cohort. Thirteen young innovators, organized into seven teams, successfully completed the nine-month journey designed to equip them to build transformative solutions at the intersection of sustainability, renewable energy, and technology.

Held in a hybrid format, the ceremony brought together innovators, mentors, partners, and representatives of the Lagos State Government from the Ministries of Environment and Water Resources, Innovation, Science and Technology, and Youth and Social Development. Their presence underscored growing institutional support for youth-led climate innovation and Nigeria’s transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.

The graduation marked the culmination of an intensive incubation experience that challenged participants to design solutions addressing climate change, energy access, and community-level environmental challenges. Over nine months, the young innovators received expert-led training, mentorship, and structured support that enabled them to refine their ideas, build prototypes, develop business models, and pitch real-world solutions. 

In her welcome address, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, Executive Director of CADEF, called on the innovators to see themselves not just as storytellers of possibility but as the very proof that excellence can emerge from Nigeria. She urged them to continue creating solutions and to lead confidently in shaping Nigeria’s green economy.

The Chief Executive Officer at Jacob’s Ladder Africa, Sellah Bogonko, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to climate action and youth empowerment. She expressed confidence in the cohort’s ability to scale their innovations and emphasized the importance of stronger collaboration across the ecosystem to amplify impact and accelerate sustainable development.

Meet the Innovators

The graduates presented seven innovative solutions, spanning clean energy, agriculture, e-waste, and community electrification:

• AgroFlow – A solar-powered, IoT-enabled smart irrigation system enabling smallholder farmers to improve yields while conserving water.
• Grevego – A green-tech ecosystem promoting sustainable and healthy living through a bridge-to-core growth model.
• EWaste-2 EAccess – A circular economy model converting electronic waste into affordable, custom-built solar systems.
• Prysmic – Providing affordable and durable outdoor solar lighting solutions for underserved communities.
• Community Solar Hub – Deploying clean, reliable solar-as-a-service systems for low-income households and small businesses in Lagos.
• Sunpod – Designing and distributing portable solar power stations for SMEs and households.
• Hydro Electric Core Generator (HECG) – Developing a modular water-pressure-cycle generator offering scalable, eco-friendly electricity solutions.

Together, these innovators represent a new wave of youth leadership shaping Nigeria’s green economy and building solutions that work.

As the first cohort of the greenlabs Incubator, their achievements set a strong foundation for future cohorts and reaffirm our mission to empower young minds to lead the transition toward a cleaner, more inclusive, and sustainable Africa.

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