Ngozi Nwanoro

Nigerian entrepreneur revolutionizing plastic waste management through community-driven recycling

Ngozi Nwanoro is the visionary founder of RecyclePoints, a Nigerian social enterprise that has transformed waste management through blockchain technology and community incentives. Launched in 2008, her platform uses a mobile app to connect informal waste pickers with recyclers, creating economic opportunities while reducing Lagos' plastic pollution by 30% in key areas.

Nwanoro's model rewards citizens with digital credits for recycling, which can be redeemed for essentials like school fees or medical supplies. This innovative approach has been replicated in cities across West Africa and inspired similar programs in Kenya and Ethiopia. Her 2019 TED Talk "How I made recycling a currency for change" has over 2 million views, positioning her as a leader in circular economy solutions.

The enterprise's partnership with UNICEF and the African Development Bank has expanded its impact to include youth employment programs. Nwanoro's leadership was recognized with the 2020 African Innovation Foundation Prize, and her work features prominently in the documentary "Waste to Wealth". She has pioneered gender-inclusive hiring practices, ensuring 60% of RecyclePoints' staff are women from Lagos' marginalized communities.

Her recent initiatives include the "Plastic Credit Exchange" - a global marketplace for verified plastic waste credits - and partnerships with major brands like Unilever to achieve net-zero packaging goals. Nwanoro's writings appear in GreenBiz and she advises the Nigerian government's climate action task force, demonstrating her transition from grassroots innovator to policy influencer.