Startups Showcase AI, Green Building and Recycling Solutions at Sustainability Forum

Nigerian entrepreneurs have called for increased investment in technology-driven agriculture, green construction and recycling to tackle food insecurity, reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable economic growth.

The call was made at the 10th anniversary of the Sustainability Table Discourse Series (STS @10), held on October 15 and 16, 2026, at the Balmoral Convention Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The two-day event, themed “People, Planet and Development,” brought together business leaders, policymakers, investors, financial institutions, development partners and sustainability advocates to explore practical solutions to environmental and economic challenges.

The investment-focused second day featured an innovation pitch competition involving 20 enterprises seeking to connect with potential investors and scale solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Speaking at the event, Favour Okikijesu Adeleke, founder of QiQi Farms, said Nigeria’s food security challenges required sustainable agricultural systems capable of ensuring consistent production throughout the year.

He identified seasonal farming, inadequate infrastructure, insecurity and inconsistent government policies as major obstacles to agricultural productivity.

Adeleke also highlighted the potential of artificial intelligence to help farmers forecast harvests, understand market demand and identify production challenges early.

Similarly, John Oamen, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of CutStruct Technology, said digital procurement platforms could reduce emissions associated with transporting building materials.

He disclosed that his company had achieved an estimated 38 per cent reduction in the number of trucks used to transport building materials for demand managed through its platform over the past two years.

Oamen added that CutStruct was working to introduce carbon-emissions tracking to help developers assess the environmental impact of construction materials and generate data that could support access to green financing.

Meanwhile, Wunmi Ogunde, co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Pakam Technology, called for greater adoption of circular economy principles, stressing that waste materials should be treated as valuable resources rather than discarded.

She noted that plastics, aluminium cans and other recyclable materials could create economic opportunities when effective recovery and reuse systems were established.

The convener of the Sustainability Table Discourse Series and Chief Executive Officer of Avant Garde Limited, Kayode Olaniyan, said the initiative was increasingly focused on connecting entrepreneurs with the capital needed to expand sustainable businesses.

“Nigeria doesn’t have a shortage of ideas, Africa doesn’t have a shortage of ideas, and the world certainly doesn’t have a shortage of capital,” Olaniyan said, highlighting the need to bridge the gap between innovative businesses and investors.

The anniversary forum also examined environmental governance, social inclusion, economic investment and institutional capacity, with participants emphasising collaboration, accountability and effective policies as essential to sustainable development.

The event ended with calls for stronger public-private partnerships, increased investment in green innovation and practical measures to integrate environmental protection, social progress and economic growth into Nigeria’s development agenda.