Waste becomes material. Material becomes technology.
Waste2Light Ltd is a Nigerian renewable-energy and innovation company turning plastic and electronic waste into clean-energy technology, practical STEM education and locally manufactured products.
It started with one lantern.
Waste2Light was born from a personal experience with energy poverty. At age 13, Abah Idoko Emmanuel grew up in a community where electricity was a luxury. Rather than accepting the situation, he began experimenting with discarded electronics and built a rechargeable LED lantern.
That first lantern sparked a bigger question: what if waste could become a resource for solving Africa's energy challenges? Waste2Light Ltd was created to answer it, combining waste recycling, renewable energy, technology and education.
The company develops renewable-energy technologies using recycled and locally available materials — particularly plastic waste and electronic waste. Its work spans wind-turbine development, renewable-energy systems, STEM kits and school-based Green Energy Corners.
Today Waste2Light is expanding beyond renewable-energy products into an ecosystem.
- Waste
- Technology
- Education
- Innovation
- Clean Energy
- Enterprise
- Impact
What the work has produced so far.
Figures recorded by Waste2Light across recycling, employment, technology development and community engagement.
- Nigerians directly impacted
- 200+Nigerians directly impacted
- Metric tonnes of plastic waste recycled
- 1,000+Metric tonnes of plastic waste recycled
- Renewable-energy partners and engagements
- 100+Renewable-energy partners and engagements
- Full-time employees (5 women)
- 10Full-time employees (5 women)
- Renewable-energy prototypes developed from 250W to 3kW
- Micro-hydro technology developed in-house
- Practical renewable-energy STEM kits designed and assembled
- The Green Energy Corner model established for schools
The person behind Waste2Light.
Abah Idoko Emmanuel is a Nigerian entrepreneur, inventor and renewable-energy innovator working at the intersection of clean energy, circular economy, waste recycling, local manufacturing and STEM education.
His journey began at age 13, growing up in a community where access to electricity was a luxury. Driven by curiosity and the need for a practical solution, he built his first rechargeable LED lantern using discarded electronic components — the foundation of his vision of transforming waste into useful technology while expanding access to affordable clean energy.
He founded Waste2Light Ltd to address two interconnected challenges: energy poverty and environmental pollution caused by waste. Today he leads the development of renewable-energy technologies, including wind turbines produced using recycled plastic and electronic waste, alongside practical STEM education through Waste2Light Green Energy Corners in schools.
He is a patent holder and has taken part in innovation, entrepreneurship and climate programmes in Nigeria and internationally, including the African Climate Innovation ecosystem in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He graduated from the Federal University of Technology, Minna (FUTMinna) with a B.Tech in Educational Technology, a background that shapes Waste2Light's approach to practical STEM learning systems.
Engineering, research and community.
A core team supported by technical and product advisors in Nigeria and abroad.
Abah Idoko Emmanuel
Founder & CEO
Leads the company's vision, strategy, renewable-energy innovation, partnerships, business development and operations.
Prof. Engr. Caroline Aloneghena
Co-Founder
Provides engineering expertise, strategic support and leadership in technology and innovation development.
Peter Broekmuelen
Technical Advisor
Provides technical expertise and advisory support for renewable-energy technology development.
Simeon Tiefel
Product / Technical Advisory
Supports product development, strategy and technical and product direction.
Ismail Oyelade
Research & EdTech
Supports research, educational technology and the development of Waste2Light's STEM education initiatives.
David Wilson
Community Manager
Supports community engagement, outreach and development of the Waste2Light innovation and education community.
Programmes, awards and selections.
Waste2Light and its founder have been recognised across Nigerian and international innovation, climate and entrepreneurship programmes.
- 2025African Climate Innovation programme, Addis AbabaSelected among 72 African climate innovators, 7–11 September 2025.
- 2025Coderina University Challenge2nd Runner-Up.
- 2025Intellectual Property Awards NigeriaShortlisted in Sustainability, Innovation, Social Impact and Innovative Startup categories.
- 2024TotalEnergies Startupper of the YearRecognised through the TotalEnergies Startupper Challenge.
- 2024Tony Elumelu FoundationSelected for the entrepreneurship programme.
- 2023Ugwumba Enterprise ChallengeSelected for the enterprise programme.
Organisations we have worked with.
Programmes, institutions and agencies Waste2Light has partnered with or participated in.
TotalEnergies
Startupper entrepreneurship programme and recognition
Tony Elumelu Foundation
Entrepreneurship programme, 2024
Projecti2m / UKAID
Prototype development support
Nigeria Wind Energy Council (NWEC)
Renewable-energy engagement and knowledge exchange
Federal Ministry of Environment
Environmental and sustainability initiatives
Niger State Agency for Green Initiatives
Green initiatives and renewable-energy activities
Federal University of Technology, Minna
Innovation, research and student activities
Nigeria Jubilee Fellowship Programme
Partnership and engagement
Afara Initiative / Federal Ministry of Education S-VCG
STEM and renewable-energy support
Coderina
University Challenge 2025
Ugwumba Enterprise Challenge
Entrepreneurship programme, 2023
Vision
To show that waste can become a resource, that renewable-energy technology can be locally developed, and that young people can be equipped with practical skills to solve real problems.
- Waste becomes material.
- Material becomes technology.
- Technology becomes education.
- Education creates innovators.
- Innovation creates businesses and impact.
Waste2Light Ltd — Lighting tomorrow with today's waste.
One vision. Multiple ways to build with clean energy.
Waste2Light works across technology, learning and hardware — each strand feeding the others.
Let's build what comes next.
Whether you're a school, organisation, technology partner or potential collaborator, start a conversation with Waste2Light.