Salubata Technologies, a Nigerian start-up has emerged as one of the top four winners of Kigali Startup Festival 2022 at the Commonwealth Youth Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.

The start-up transforms plastic wastes into customised shoes.

Salubata COO Yewande Adebowale received a prize of $10,000 at the closing ceremony of the forum.

The forum is one of the four that took place ahead of the main Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM).

According to the organisers, no fewer than 400 entries were received for the start-up awards which are in four categories: green innovation, inter-trade, agricultural innovation and digital geeks.

Ms Adebowale’s entry was selected in the Green Innovation Guru Award category.

“We wanted to do something that impacts the everyday part of our lives. We’ve always seen plastic wastes around us and have always looked for ways to help the environment. We believe these customizable shoes from Salubata could help stamp out plastic wastes in its entirety,” she explained.

Ms Adebowale added, “We believe we are making a very significant change, particularly from an environmental viewpoint, because the volume of plastic wastes in our environments keeps growing every year.”

Meanwhile, the Nigerian High Commissioner to Rwanda, Aishatu Musa has congratulated the Nigerian youth delegation to CHOGM 2022 for representing the country well.

Ms Musa, who hosted the delegates at the chancery in Kigali, urged them to continue to portray Nigeria as a country of innovators and entrepreneurs.

“It is great to see young people from Nigeria doing great things. I must commend your efforts and contributions in trying to address some of the challenges facing the commonwealth countries,” said the Nigerian envoy. “Nigeria is blessed with lots of talents and the youth are the country’s pride, so I urge you to be passionate about your dreams and aspirations and continue to push them to make the world a better place.”

(NAN)