From Scrap Metal to Clean Energy: How Two Lagos Teenagers Are Powering Africa’s Future
Two weeks ago at Igbobi Junior College in Lagos, two determined students, Olaonipekun David Boluwatife (Grade 11) and Tiamiyu Israel Iyanu (Grade 10), transformed what many would consider waste into a symbol of possibility. Using an old ceiling-fan motor, PVC pipes, and plenty of creativity, they built a DIY Wind Turbine—a mini generator that powered a mobile phone.
It wasn’t just a project. It was proof that African ingenuity is alive and thriving, waiting for the right platforms to be seen, scaled, and supported.
Their wind turbine will be showcased at STEMite-NAFESS 2025, West Africa’s largest science fair, happening on 29 November at Landmark Centre, Lagos. They will stand alongside 300+ other student innovators presenting bold solutions to real-world challenges—eco-friendly water purifiers, algae-biofuel units, pizza-delivery drones, solar ovens, and even traffic-light gloves.
And here’s the most powerful part: over 70% of these innovators come from public schools where resources are scarce, yet their ideas are limitless.
A Shared Vision: African Impact Initiative x STEMite Zone
This year, the African Impact Initiative (AII) is proud to co-headline the fair, as part of our continued commitment to nurturing young African changemakers. The event will also serve as a preview of our 2026 African Impact Challenge Nigeria Programme—a bold step toward expanding opportunities for African innovators across the continent.
Our conviction is simple but urgent:
By 2030, a wave of homegrown innovation will ripple from Africa to the world, driven by young minds solving challenges with local solutions that have global relevance.
Why This Fair Matters
Scale & Access
500+ guests—including investors, educators, and policymakers—will be in the room, ready to nurture ideas that can change the continent.
Pathways, Not Just Spotlights
Winning teams will go on to mentorship, tuition support, and even represent Nigeria at the International Science & Engineering Fair (ISEF) 2026 in the USA.
Equity at the Core
Public-school students will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with peers from private institutions, showing that brilliance has no postcode.
How You Can Build Africa’s Future With Us
Every contribution fuels these projects, pays school fees, and ensures Nigeria’s champions reach global stages.
Align your brand with the next generation of African problem-solvers. From keynote slots to bespoke collaborations, there are endless ways to partner.
Interested in sponsorship? Email: stemitezonefair.lagos@gmail.com
At the African Impact Initiative, we believe—like these young pioneers—that Africa does not lack talent, only opportunity. From a scrap-metal wind turbine in Lagos to world-shaping innovations, this is the generation that will light the way.
Join us. Believe with us. Build with us.