...award £500,000 in grant funding to five pioneering startups
West Africa’s sustainability scene just received a major lift. TRANSFORM West Africa—a collaboration between Unilever, the UK Government, and EY—has awarded £500,000 in grant funding to five pioneering startups committed to driving innovation in circularity and regenerative agriculture. Among them, three standout Nigerian companies are leading efforts to combat waste and promote green solutions.
The funding announcement was made at a celebration hosted by the British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos. More than just financial support, the selected enterprises will receive tailored mentorship, strategic guidance, and access to Unilever and EY’s global networks to help grow their impact.
Meet Nigeria’s Sustainability Stars
The three Nigerian grantees are tackling waste challenges with fresh ideas and community-driven solutions:
Chanja Datti is deploying Micro-Recycling Plants (MRPs) close to waste collection hubs, making it easier and more efficient to recycle plastic.
Planet 3R empowers women and youth to turn discarded plastic and textiles into useful products like bags and containers.
Scrapays operates a tech-enabled platform that connects waste generators with aggregators and processors, streamlining the recycling chain through digital tools.
“It’s very promising to see so many strong candidates working to reduce, collect, and process plastic waste. We’re proud to support these Nigerian enterprises—Scrapays, Chanja Datti, and Planet 3R—who are demonstrating how digital networks can tackle recycling challenges, drive economic growth, and support the global net-zero agenda,” said Mr. Jonny Baxter, British Deputy High Commissioner in Lagos.
Locally Led, Locally Built
One of TRANSFORM’s standout features is its homegrown approach. The selection process was driven by leaders in Nigeria—drawing from over 100 applications through local partnerships and networks—to spotlight solutions grounded in local knowledge and experience.
Tobi Adeniyi, Country Managing Director at Unilever Nigeria, underscored the importance of this model: “We strongly believe that the best solutions are those developed by those closest to the challenge. With our local lens, we were able to identify innovators making a real difference.”
Scaling Impact with Expert Support
Alongside funding, each enterprise will receive strategic growth support from EY experts, equipping them with the tools to scale efficiently and sustainably.
Ashish Bakhshi, Senior Partner and Head of Markets, EY West Africa, shared his enthusiasm: “At EY, we’re excited to collaborate with Unilever and the British High Commission on TRANSFORM. We saw inspiring solutions from across the region. Our goal is to harness this ecosystem and build a better future together.”
A Growing Network for Change
These new grantees join a regional cohort of 13 other TRANSFORM-supported startups, including WeCyclers, a rewards-based recycling platform, and Reeddi Technologies, providers of affordable solar energy solutions.
Since launch, TRANSFORM has impacted more than 18 million people across 20 countries, with over 2 million lives touched in West Africa.
With strong local partnerships and a clear focus on sustainable innovation, TRANSFORM West Africa is showing how scalable, circular business models can flourish across the continent.
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