Jacob’s Ladder Africa (JLA) is thrilled to announce its expansion into Nigeria, bringing our greenlabs community to the vibrant and dynamic west! This move is a significant step in our commitment to advancing youth-centered green solutions, climate innovation, and sustainability across Africa; a commitment that informs our approach to partnerships. Nigeria’s unemployment challenges, coupled with the potential of the green transition and the demand for valuable youth-led initiatives, were motivating factors for the extension of JLA’s entrepreneurship development opportunities to the country.
Through our climate entrepreneurship development work, we are curbing the startup mortality rate by providing opportunities for young people to access knowledge, resources and networks to build as well as launch startups that address the intersection of climate issues. We aim to increase the pipeline of feasible and scalable green ventures within the African green economy through an early-stage startup incubation program greenlabs. Having piloted the program in Kenya, and admitted our second cohort, we are now headed west!
We have partnered with Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF), an non-governmental organization aimed at providing advocacy and empowerment to consumers on the standardization of goods and services. It acts as a collective voice for the average Nigerian, linking consumers, producers, manufacturers and regulatory bodies. Beyond advocacy, CADEF is at the forefront of entrepreneurship and youth development, recognizing the critical need for entrepreneurial action to drive innovative solutions in the economy. This is the drive behind CADEF’s commitment to launch an incubator that promotes entrepreneurship amongst the youth.
During our initial interactions with the CADEF team, we recognised kindred spirits and began exploring collaborative efforts to achieve our shared visions. On the 25th of April 2024, we embarked on the demanding yet rewarding journey of merging our teams to prepare for the launch of greenlabs Nigeria! Through this partnership, we shall create opportunities for young dreamers, problem solvers, innovators, and aspiring entrepreneurs in and around Lagos State, to build and launch startups. This will begin with the upcoming Renewable Energy Innovation Challenge – Lagos Edition, where we will rally young people to propose solutions that address challenges stemming from climate change and limited energy access, by leveraging renewable energy technologies. The call for applications will go live in early September, so stay tuned to our social media pages for more details!
We anticipate that applicants will propose scalable solutions that not only address immediate pressing challenges, but also contribute to longer-term sustainable economic growth and social development, evidenced in job creation, improved incomes, or advancement of existing technologies. Successful applicants will receive mentorship from experienced professionals and academicians during the Challenge, who will guide them through the complexities of their projects and provide invaluable insights. There will also be prizes awarded for those who emerge at the top that will be issued in the form of pre-seed funding for their startups. Nevertheless, all successful finalists will be offered the opportunity for sponsorship to the greenlabs incubation program.
As we embark on this new chapter in Nigeria, we are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. By combining the strengths of our greenlabs program with CADEF’s commitment to consumer advocacy and youth empowerment, we are poised to make a significant impact on the lives of young entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Together, we will foster a new generation of innovators who will lead the charge in Africa’s green economy, driving sustainable growth and creating lasting change across the continent. The future of green innovation in Africa is bright, and we are honored to be at the forefront of this movement.
