Two startups have emerged as grand winners at the maiden Climate Innovation Ecosystem Development (CIED) Program in Kano, each receiving £1,000 in prize money. Ten other startups won £500 each. The winners are Beta Agric Ventures Ltd, founded by Adaora Akojuru, which pitched value-added processing of fresh tomatoes to curb post-harvest losses and ensure year-round availability, and HerEcoSpace, founded by Safiyya Daba, which focuses on upcycling and recycling of tyres into durable furniture.

The Pilot Incubation program was organised by the Startup Kano Centre for Innovation Development with support from the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) under its PACE programme. Speaking at the pitch event, Executive Director of Startup Kano, Aisha Tofa, said the programme was designed to nurture climate-focused enterprises and equip them with tools and frameworks to be able to secure and compete for Climate Finance. “We selected 12 startups from 120+ applications and took them on a six-week intensive bootcamp where they learned how to build their businesses from ideation to market readiness, integrate ESG frameworks, and position themselves for investment,” she explained. Tofa noted that the initiative underscores their ambition to position the state as a hub for climate-smart solutions, linking innovation to economic growth, job creation and environmental sustainability.