How 2016 TEF Alumni Olamide Ayeni-Babajide Is Transforming Waste Into Wealth

The Solution to Africa’s Waste Challenge May Already Exist

Across Africa’s rapidly growing cities, waste has become one of the defining environmental challenges of our time.

From overflowing landfills to blocked drainage systems, urban centres generate millions of tonnes of waste annually. Yet hidden within this crisis is another reality: much of what is discarded still holds value.

Plastic bottles, tyres, textile scraps, agricultural by-products and other materials often end up as waste long before their useful life is truly over.

For Olamide Ayeni-Babajide, this represented more than an environmental concern.

It represented an opportunity.

Today, through HOPCYKU, formerly known as Pearl Recycling, Olamide is proving that waste can become furniture, home décor, educational tools and sustainable livelihoods. Her work is helping redefine what recycling means in Africa while creating opportunities for women, youth and underserved communities.

But the inspiration for the business came from an unlikely source: a decorative piece purchased thousands of kilometres away from home.

How a Decorative Wall Piece Sparked a Business Idea

Before building an internationally recognised social enterprise, Olamide was a technology professional with a passion for solving problems.

A graduate of Computer Engineering from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, she built expertise through multiple professional certifications, including Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Design Associate (CCDA), Cisco Security Solutions and Design Specialist and Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA).

Her career could easily have followed a traditional technology path.

Instead, a chance discovery altered her direction.

During an official trip to the United Arab Emirates, Olamide purchased an expensive decorative wall piece and brought it back to Nigeria.

Later, she discovered that the premium décor item had been made from corn husk, a material commonly discarded as waste in many parts of Nigeria.

The revelation was transformative.

“If a simple agricultural waste product could be converted into a premium product and sold internationally,” she realised, “what other opportunities were being overlooked?”

That question would become the seed for Pearl Recycling.

Building a Business Around Creativity and Sustainability

What began as curiosity soon evolved into a mission.

“I have always wanted to solve a problem,” Olamide once explained. “I have always wanted to add value. I noticed that waste is a major problem and someone needs to do something, so I decided to take up the mantle of creativity and be the someone.”

That determination led to the establishment of Pearl Recycling, a social enterprise focused on transforming waste materials into valuable products.

The business later evolved into HOPCYKU, reflecting a broader vision centred on sustainability, technology and circular economy innovation.

The company develops furniture, home décor products and educational materials using upcycled waste while encouraging Nigerians to rethink their relationship with discarded materials.

Through an innovative incentive-based model, HOPCYKU collects waste, processes it and converts it into functional products that are both environmentally responsible and commercially viable.

Its products range from home and office décor to affordable furniture and educational resources designed for schools and communities.

Changing Perceptions About Waste

One of the biggest challenges Olamide faced was not technology, funding or manufacturing.

It was perception.

People loved the idea of sustainability, but many struggled to embrace products created from waste materials.

“There was an acceptance issue,” she explained. “People are receptive to the idea of converting waste into useful products, but subconsciously they still believe it is waste.”

Changing mindsets became an important part of the company’s mission.

Through education, advocacy and hands-on demonstrations, HOPCYKU has helped communities understand the value hidden in discarded materials.

For Olamide, sustainability is as much about changing behaviour as it is about recycling products.

The goal is to help people unlearn outdated assumptions and embrace more environmentally responsible ways of living.

How the Tony Elumelu Foundation Helped Olamide Ayeni-Babajide Scale the Vision

Like many entrepreneurs, Olamide faced challenges securing both capital and mentorship during the early stages of her journey.

The breakthrough came through the Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Programme.

An initial US$5,000 seed grant provided the resources needed to formally launch operations, register the business and begin serving customers.

The Foundation’s support extended beyond funding.

Mentorship, strategic guidance and exposure to a Pan-African entrepreneurial network helped Olamide refine her business model and strengthen her leadership skills.

Additional support arrived through the Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (WE4A) Programme, which provided a further US$10,000 in seed funding.

According to Olamide, TEF’s support helped transform the business from a promising idea into a globally recognised enterprise.

“Starting our entrepreneurial journey with TEF opened doors for us to become a global organisation with international features and collaborations,” she noted. “The exposure and opportunities provided by TEF have been instrumental in our growth and success.”

Olamide Ayeni-Babajide from Local Startup to Global Recognition

The impact of Olamide’s work has attracted international attention.

She was selected as one of only five Nigerian recipients of the 2017 TechWomen Emerging Leaders Programme, an initiative of the United States Government that connects women leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

The programme included a professional exchange and mentorship experience in Silicon Valley, exposing her to global innovation ecosystems.

HOPCYKU has also been recognised by the Obama Foundation, featured by Al Jazeera and named among the 100 Social Innovations in Africa by the World Youth Forum.

These recognitions reflect the growing importance of African-led solutions addressing environmental and social challenges.

Creating Environmental and Social Impact

The true measure of HOPCYKU’s success lies in its impact.

To date, the organisation has:

• Diverted more than 255 tonnes of waste from dumpsites and drainage systems.
• Prevented over 100,000 kilograms of waste from reaching landfills.
• Sold more than 10,000 upcycled products.
• Trained over 15,000 people, mainly women and girls, in vocational and digital skills.
• Empowered more than 2,500 individuals across Lagos, Kano and Kaduna states.
• Educated 1,500 students on environmental sustainability.
• Donated 818 study chairs manufactured from recycled tyre waste.
• Achieved a 65% self-employment rate among programme beneficiaries.
• Maintained 55% female participation and 15% inclusion of persons with disabilities across programmes.

These outcomes demonstrate how environmental enterprises can create widespread social and economic value when designed intentionally.

Olamide Ayeni-Babajide is Investing in People, Not Just Products

Training remains at the heart of Olamide’s mission.

Through specialised programmes, HOPCYKU equips women, youth and low-income earners with skills in waste upcycling, entrepreneurship and sustainable living.

Particular attention is given to widows, young women and underserved populations who often face barriers to economic participation.

The organisation also operates a “Catch Them Young” initiative that introduces students to environmental sustainability and circular economy principles from an early age.

One of Olamide’s proudest moments came when students she trained transformed discarded plastic waste into furniture and successfully presented their work at the EcoSchoolsNG competition.

For her, these successes represent something bigger than environmental conservation.

They represent empowerment.

What’s Next for Olamide Ayeni-Babajide and HOPCYKU?

As HOPCYKU continues to evolve, Olamide’s vision remains ambitious.

She aims to expand the company’s sustainable waste management model globally while leveraging technology to increase efficiency and market reach.

The company is also exploring new innovations that can address waste management challenges while creating economic opportunities for communities.

At its core, however, the mission remains unchanged:

To reduce environmental degradation while creating wealth, opportunity and hope through innovation.

Building a Future Where Waste Creates Opportunity

The story of Olamide Ayeni-Babajide demonstrates what happens when innovation meets purpose.

By combining engineering expertise, entrepreneurial thinking and a commitment to sustainability, she has built a business that transforms one of society’s biggest challenges into a platform for impact.

Through HOPCYKU, she is helping communities see waste differently.

Not as a burden.

But as a resource.

A resource capable of creating jobs, empowering women, educating young people and building a more sustainable future.

One recycled product at a time.