Esther Oluwasomade

Nigerian entrepreneur revolutionizing sustainable paper production through agricultural waste

Esther Oluwasomade is a visionary entrepreneur from Lagos, Nigeria, whose company Bamfo Paper has pioneered an innovative solution to environmental waste while addressing socio-economic challenges. Founded in 2021, Bamfo Paper converts agricultural waste like cassava peels and banana stalks into high-quality paper products through a zero-waste process. This groundbreaking approach tackles two major issues: the estimated 50 million tons of agricultural waste burned annually in Nigeria, and the import dependency for paper products in West Africa.

Her patented production method uses 70% less water than traditional papermaking and creates jobs in rural communities through partnerships with over 200 farmers. By 2023, Bamfo had diverted 120 tons of waste and supplied 30% of Nigeria's school exercise books. Esther's work has been featured in World Economic Forum and BBC News, earning her recognition as a Young Champion of the Earth by the UN Environment Programme (2022).

Beyond her business innovations, Esther co-founded Agritech Hub Nigeria, a training platform teaching 2,000+ farmers circular economy practices. Her TEDx talk "Waste to Wealth: Nigeria's Circular Future" has over 500,000 views. Current projects include developing biodegradable packaging materials and expanding into Ghana and Ivory Coast markets through partnerships with UNDP and the African Development Bank.