A Nigerian law student has captured international attention by winning a $2,000 grant at the prestigious Innovate Conference 2025, held in Berlin, Germany, with a groundbreaking business idea that transforms plastic waste into eco-friendly paint.
21-year-old Chiamaka Okonkwo, a final-year student at the University of Lagos Faculty of Law, emerged as one of the standout innovators at this year’s event, which attracted over 1,000 young entrepreneurs and change-makers from across the globe. Her startup, EcoCoat, focuses on converting recycled plastics into durable, sustainable paint products a solution aimed at tackling both environmental pollution and the high cost of construction materials in Africa.
“I’ve always believed that innovation doesn’t have to come from tech hubs alone,” Okonkwo said during her acceptance speech. “As a law student, I wanted to show that we can also use legal thinking to create scalable, impactful businesses that address real-world problems.”
Okonkwo’s pitch stood out for its dual approach to sustainability and social entrepreneurship. By sourcing waste plastic from underserved communities and training locals to participate in the production process, EcoCoat also aims to provide jobs and reduce plastic pollution in urban slums.
Judges at the Innovate Conference praised her for blending legal insight, environmental responsibility, and business acumen. The $2,000 grant will go toward expanding her pilot facility in Lagos and conducting further research on non-toxic, affordable paint formulations.
Organized annually, the Innovate Conference highlights the best emerging ideas in sustainability, technology, and entrepreneurship. This year’s theme, Rebuilding the Future, emphasized grassroots innovation and inclusion.
Chiamaka’s win adds to the growing recognition of African youth in the global innovation space, reinforcing Nigeria’s rising profile as a hub of socially driven entrepreneurship.
source: businessday.ng
