Mohammed Bah Abba

A Nigerian inventor who revolutionized food preservation in arid regions through his clay pot cooler design

Mohammed Bah Abba (1964-2010) created an ingenious clay-based refrigeration system that transformed lives across sub-Saharan Africa. Born in rural Jigawa State, this physics teacher turned social entrepreneur developed the "Zeer Pot" - two nested terracotta pots separated by wet sand - which uses evaporative cooling to keep vegetables fresh for weeks without electricity.

His invention directly addressed post-harvest losses estimated at 50-60% in Nigerian farming communities. By extending the shelf life of tomatoes from 2 days to 21 days, the $2 device boosted farmers' incomes and improved nutritional security. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported 30% reduction in food waste in communities adopting this technology.

What makes Abba's contribution unique was his insistence on using local materials and traditional pottery techniques. Unlike Western-designed solutions requiring complex infrastructure, the pot-in-pot cooler embodied "frugal innovation" principles. By 2005, over 100,000 units had been distributed across Nigeria, Sudan and Chad.

The Rolex Awards for Enterprise recognized his work in 2000, providing crucial funding for scaling production. His legacy lives on through modified versions used for insulin storage in remote clinics and vaccine preservation during COVID-19 outbreaks.