Nkasi Obollo

Nigerian material scientist transforming plastic waste into construction-grade biopolymers

In Lagos' sprawling slums, where plastic pollution chokes waterways, Nkasi Obollo has engineered a low-energy enzymatic process converting mixed plastic waste into structural building materials. His BioPoly Solutions factories now process 47 tons daily - creating weather-resistant bricks cheaper than concrete through proprietary microbial consortiums detailed in Science.

Obollo's biopolymer domes - hurricane-resistant emergency shelters assembled from interlocking plastic units - recently housed 12,000 flood victims across Anambra State. This UNHCR-adopted design represents a paradigm shift in disaster response architecture, combining indigenous building techniques with advanced material science.

The Plastic-for-Tuition program, his most radical social innovation, allows students to pay school fees through plastic collection. This ECW-recognized model has kept 8,900 girls in classrooms while diverting 3,100 metric tons from landfills - a circular economy breakthrough now expanding to Ghana and Cameroon.