Adenike Akinsemolu - The startup story of a social entrepreneur in Nigeria building a new generation of environmentally conscious student leaders

February 20, 2016 Melanie Hawken

Adenike Akinsemolu, founder of The Green Campus Initiative (Nigeria) — **Adenike Akinsemolu**, founder of The Green Campus Initiative (Nigeria)

Like many parts of Africa, Nigeria has a number of environmental challenges that need to be addressed by innovative thinking and action. The Green Campus Initiative is entrepreneur Adenike Akinsemolu’s solution to getting young people in the country thinking green and becoming eco-conscious citizens.

Meet 20 African women EcoWarriors building companies and community projects to save the planet

February 14, 2016 Melanie Hawken

The world is facing more environmental challenges today than ever before, and Africa is feeling the harsh impact of many of these problems, from environmental degradation and deforestation, to shrinking water supplies, threats to biodiversity, lack of affordable green housing, and waste management issues. Innovative and effective solutions are needed and increasing attention is now being paid to the role that women entrepreneurs are playing on the continent in helping to provide possible solutions to many of these environmental problems, whilst at the same time creating jobs and opportunities for communities to thrive.

Yolanda Ndhlovu - The startup story of a South African entrepreneur combining a love for recycling, jewellery design and fashion into a business

November 16, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Yolanda Ndhlovu, co-founder of Green Mat Designs (South Africa) — **Yolanda Ndhlovu**, co-founder of Green Mat Designs (South Africa)

Green Mat Designs is the inspiration of young South African entrepreneur, Yolanda Ndhlovu, who is passionate about going ‘green’ and thinking more about taking an environmentally friendly approach to design. Her jewellery, fashion and interior decor pieces reflect her love of recycling, particularly for vintage beads and clothing.

Chinwe Ohajuruka founder of Comprehensive Design Services in Nigeria speaks about entrepreneurship - 2015 Cartier Awards finalist

October 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Chinwe Ohajuruka is one of three Sub-Saharan Finalists of the 2015 Cartier Women’s Initiative Awards will be joining 17 other inspirational women entrepreneurs selected from over 1700 applications from more than 100 countries in Paris this month to hear the announcement of this year’s Laureates. The Laureates will be announced at the Awards Ceremony on October 15, 2015 in France. In this video she speaks about her experience as an entrepreneur.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to Achenyo Idachaba, founder of eco-preneneur venture MitiMeth in Nigeria

August 24, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Achenyo Idachaba, founder of MitiMeth, Nigeria — **Achenyo Idachaba**, founder of MitiMeth, Nigeria

Lionesses of Africa had the pleasure of meeting the inspirational Achenyo Idachaba at the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards Nominees Sub-Saharan Press Conference in Johannesburg this month. She took time out of her busy schedule to share some of her insights on the challenges for women entrepreneurs in Africa. Listen to our interview.

PODCAST: LoA speaks to Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder of Comprehensive Design Services in Nigeria, about green building solutions

August 19, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Podcast: Listen to LoA's interview with Chinwe Ohajuruka, founder Comprehensive Design Services, Nigeria. Recorded at the Cartier Women's Initiative Awards finalists press conference in Johannesburg on 28 July 2015.

Juanita van der Merwe - The startup story of an award winning South African social enterprise up-cycling billboard ads into funky bags!

August 12, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Juanita van der Merwe, co-founder of Little Green Number (South Africa) — **Juanita van der Merwe**, co-founder of Little Green Number (South Africa)

Little Green Number is the brainchild of a passionate young social entrepreneur, Juanita van der Merwe, who is aiming to change the world for the better by not only creating unique, really funky handmade bags from up cycled advertising billboard posters thereby helping the environment, but also creating much-needed local jobs for young people in her community.

Ashley Heather - The startup story of an innovative jewellery designer reclaiming precious metals from computer circuit boards as source materials

May 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Ashley Heather, founder of Ashley Heather Jewellery — **Ashley Heather**, founder of Ashley Heather Jewellery

When LoA heard about South African jewellery designer, Ashley Heather, and how she is creating beautiful, handcrafted and contemporary jewellery pieces from, of all things, precious metals reclaimed from computer circuit boards, we just had to find out more.

Monica Umwari and Maria Mayanja – The start up story of a unique Rwandan eco-brand that is creating trendy accessories from upcycled waste

January 15, 2015 Melanie Hawken

Monica Umwari, co-founder of Angaza, Rwanda — **Monica Umwari**, co-founder of Angaza, Rwanda

Two young Rwandan eco-preneurs are showing the world that great design combined with a passion for finding environmentally friendly ways of dealing with the country’s non-biodegradable waste, can create something beautiful. Monica Umwari and Maria Mayanja have founded a young and funky eco-brand, Angaza, producing fashionable and highly desirable accessories made from upcycled waste products.

7 Young African women entrepreneurs drive a new eco-spirit on the continent

January 7, 2015 Melanie Hawken

WeCyclers, Nigeria

MitiMeth, Nigeria

Afrocentric Bamboo, Ghana

EcoPost, Kenya

Repurpose Schoolbags, South Africa

An adventurous, new eco-spirit is emerging from Africa and it is being spearheaded by a young generation of women entrepreneurs who are committed to making a difference to the sustainable future of the continent. Meet 7 such women who are making a major impact on society.

Wendren Setzer - The startup story of a woman crafting beautiful bags from recovered and repurposed materials

November 17, 2014 Melanie Hawken

Wendren Setzer, founder of The Wren Design — **Wendren Setze**r, founder of The Wren Design

This creative woman quit her job as a textile designer at a clothing factory to pursue a passion for creating beautiful and functional bags from discarded materials.

Lorna Rutto - The startup story of an ecopreneur who is making a difference in the urban slums of Kenya through plastic waste recycling

October 17, 2014 Melanie Hawken

This leading woman eco-preneur is recycling the vast amount of waste plastic in Kenya and turning it into an environmentally friendly alternative to wooden fencing products.

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