(Commonwealth)__A Nigerian entrepreneur at 25 is mapping a path on the global map for using innovation and sustainability to transform lives in underdeveloped societies. Co-founder of LightEd, Stanley Anigbogu, is addressing Nigeria’s energy shortage problem with innovative technology that converts waste plastic into solar-powered charging stations. His venture has already impacted more than 10,000 refugees across the African continent, a giant stride towards bottom-up renewable energy solutions.
Anigbogu’s work was recently rewarded at the Commonwealth Youth Awards for Excellence in Development Work, a yearly celebration by the Commonwealth Secretariat, which recognises young leaders of excellence. The high-profile award placed Stanley in the spotlight among youth-led development initiatives in the 56 Commonwealth member states. The awards serve to highlight the efforts of young people in international development and foster the development of the next generation of transformative leaders.
In Onitsha, the cosmopolitan southeastern Nigerian city where he grew up, Stanley saw firsthand the realities of spotty electricity. For the majority of individuals as well as his own household, there were regular outages that meant electricity was present for hours at a time, every week. These were experiences that would make him a lover of energy technology and push him to invent long-term solutions to issues that had bedevilled his neighbourhood for generations.
In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, Stanley brought LightEd to market with a vision to deliver clean, renewable energy to everyone, especially locations remote from the national grid power. It was the right time since the pandemic also uncovered additional vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s electricity supply. An estimated 85 million Nigerians are still without access to the national power grid, according to World Bank estimates. Stanley’s action was a timely step as he came up with an exponential long-term solution.
LightEd has made an enormous difference. It recycled plastic waste weighing over 20,000 kilograms and converted it into solar-powered infrastructure that is already lighting and powering people who lead difficult lives. The organisation has already educated more than 6,000 students in its operations and is hence also empowering the youth and educating them on the environment. LightEd has raised over $500,000 from partners, allowing it to expand into other parts of Africa.
The LightEd solar charging stations are tailored to meet the specific needs of the hosting communities. There are pre-installation consultations with community people to identify the best locations, the power needs, and management systems. Community artwork is also integrated into every station, reflecting the identity and vision of the community. The finalised stations are then handed over to local stakeholders so that the installation can last and the community can take ownership.
In displacement camps and refugee camps, LightEd’s technologies are making a tangible difference. In two of Nigeria’s largest camps, solar stations now provide convenient access to light, making it safer for the residents, mostly women and children, to venture out in the evening. Solar lamps are also provided as part of the project, enabling children to study in the evenings and families to eliminate their use of toxic and expensive options like kerosene or candles. This not only maximises learning achievements but also reduces respiratory health issues and general well-being.
Stanley is not only focussing on energy provision, but also exploring ways to utilise the stations as public spaces for peacebuilding. Stanley, in collaboration with other young Nigerian leaders who have won Commonwealth Peace Prizes, is developing innovative designs for solar stations that serve as forums. These platforms will aim to promote interreligious and intergenerational exchange, mainly in the religious and ethnic conflict-wracked regions of Nigeria. Drawing from energy infrastructure as a social cohesion model, Stanley will close gaps and craft collaboration among the communities.
