Hauwa ali
In the bustling streets of lagos, nigeria, where waste management has long been a
Significant challenge, one woman has found a way to transform trash into treasure.
Bilikiss adebiyi-abiola, a tech-savvy entrepreneur, saw an opportunity where many only
Saw problems. As the founder of wecyclers, she has built a business that not only
Addresses the waste crisis in lagos but also empowers local communities by creating
Wealth from discarded materials.
Bilikiss’ journey began far from the streets of lagos. Born in nigeria, she left for the
United states, where she earned degrees from fisk university and vanderbilt university
Before attending the prestigious mit sloan school of management. While at mit,
Bilikiss focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. It was during this time that she
Started developing the idea for wecyclers, a recycling business model that would later
Transform waste management in her home city.
Understanding the unique challenges faced by low-income communities in lagos,
Where waste collection services were inadequate, bilikiss saw an opportunity. She knew
That waste, particularly plastics, could be recycled and repurposed, turning it into a
Valuable commodity. What was needed was a system to collect and process the waste
While involving the community in the process.
In 2012, bilikiss returned to lagos and launched wecyclers, a company designed to
Tackle the city's growing waste problem while creating opportunities for local residents.
Using low-cost cargo bicycles, known as "wecycles," her team collects recyclables such
As plastic bottles, aluminum cans, and paper directly from households in densely
Populated areas.
Wecyclers operates on a simple yet effective model: families register with the service
And receive points based on the amount of recyclable waste they contribute. These
Points can then be exchanged for various rewards, such as food, household goods, or
Cash. By incentivizing recycling, wecyclers has created a system that benefits both the
Environment and the local population.
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The company's success lies not only in its innovation but in its community-centric
Approach. Wecyclers empowers people living in some of lagos’ poorest neighborhoods
By offering them an opportunity to participate in—and profit from—recycling. This has
Helped create jobs and build a culture of sustainability in areas where waste
Management was previously neglected.
Since its inception, wecyclers has collected thousands of tons of recyclable material
That would otherwise have clogged the streets or ended up in landfills. The company
Now works in partnership with government agencies and private organizations to
Expand its reach and impact. It employs dozens of workers, many of whom come from
The very communities wecyclers serves.
Beyond its environmental benefits, wecyclers is also creating economic value. By
Turning waste into a resource, bilikiss has shown how recycling can be a sustainable
Business model. Collected materials are sold to recycling plants, where they are
Transformed into new products, feeding into the circular economy and reducing the
Demand for virgin raw materials.
Bilikiss adebiyi-abiola's work with wecyclers has not gone unnoticed. She has received
Numerous awards and recognition for her innovation and commitment to social
Entrepreneurship, including being named a **schwab foundation social
Entrepreneur**. Under her leadership, wecyclers has become a symbol of hope and
Progress in lagos, demonstrating that waste can indeed be turned into wealth.
Today, wecyclers continues to expand, inspiring other african cities to adopt similar
Models. Bilikiss’ story serves as a powerful example of how a local solution to a global
Problem can drive both environmental and economic progress. Through her
Determination and vision, she has not only improved waste management in lagos but
Also transformed the lives of thousands of people who now see value in the materials
They once threw away.
In a city where waste was once considered a nuisance, bilikiss adebiyi-abiola has
Shown that with the right mindset, even the most unlikely challenges can be turned into
Opportunities for growth and innovation.
