Fumni Balogun-Ogundimu

Nigerian architect transforming slum housing with recycled plastic bricks

Fumni Balogun-Ogundimu (1978-) created AfriBlock - durable construction materials made from plastic waste and cassava starch. Her Lagos-based initiative has housed 40,000+ residents in flood-resistant homes costing under $2000.

The Balogun Compression Process turns PET bottles into structural bricks 3x stronger than concrete. Featured in ArchDaily's 2023 Innovation Awards, her designs incorporate traditional Yoruba patterns with modern eco-technology. Fumni's Vertical Compound System allows families to gradually expand homes vertically while maintaining community courtyards.

Despite government opposition, her non-profit trained 1200 women in plastic brick production. The Makoko Floating School 2.0 built using her methods survived catastrophic 2022 floods. Controversially, Fumni advocates replacing cement with bioplastics nationwide, challenging Nigeria's construction cartels.