Nigerian Scholar Pioneers Sustainable 3D Printing Materials from Agricultural Waste in the U.S

By Florence Okebe

In an inspiring story of innovation and sustainability, Nigerian-born researcher , Sodiq Babatunde Yusuf, is making waves in the United States with groundbreaking research that transforms agricultural and industrial waste into eco-friendly materials for 3D-printed housing.

Yusuf, a native of Nigeria and a Ph.D. candidate in Natural Resources and Conservation at the University of Idaho, is working under the mentorship of Professor Armando McDonald, a renowned expert in forest and sustainable products. His work is part of the Printimber Project, which aims to revolutionize affordable housing by using waste-derived materials for additive manufacturing.

“I’ve always been passionate about finding value in what others discard,” Yusuf said. “Back home in Nigeria, I worked on purifying wastewater using groundnut husk during my undergraduate studies at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. That experience sparked my drive to explore waste as a resource for solving environmental and economic challenges,” he explained.

Yusuf’s research portfolio is creating sustainable materials from waste such as biochar, hemp fiber and hemp hurds.
His doctoral work focuses on pyrolysis technology to convert organic waste into both fuel and sustainable materials in a self-sustaining loop, a model he believes can help rural communities in Nigeria and other developing countries manage waste while boosting local economies.

“With pyrolysis, instead of burning waste and releasing greenhouse gases, we can create useful materials and energy in a closed system. This can empower underrepresented and rural populations to build homes and create jobs from what used to be waste,” Yusuf explained.further.

Yusuf is a member of several professional bodies such as American chemical society, Association of Energy engineers, National society of leadership and success, Xi sigma Pi (The forestry honors society in the US) and International biochar initiative among others. His work reflects a broader vision of sustainability that resonates across continents. It represents a compelling model for climate-smart development, especially for countries like Nigeria grappling with housing shortages, waste management issues, and environmental degradation.

As the world turns to circular economy models and low-carbon technologies, innovators like Sodiq Babatunde Yusuf are proving that sustainable solutions can come from places often overlooked—and that Nigeria’s next generation of scientists is ready to lead the charge.