2025 Winners: Eco Kano Takes the Crown
Team Eco Kano
Government Secondary School Kebbi
Energy & Environment
Eco Kano
4 Members
An innovative mobile application promoting environmental awareness and sustainable practices in Kano communities.
The Team
Team Eco Kano consists of 4 talented young women from Government Secondary School Kebbi:
- Fatima Abdullahi Yusuf
- Aisha Muhammad Sani
- Zainab Haruna Ibrahim
- Hadiza Kabiru Abubakar
The Challenge
Kano State faces significant environmental challenges including improper waste disposal, plastic pollution, and lack of awareness about sustainable practices. Many communities lack access to information about recycling programs and environmental initiatives, leading to increased pollution and health hazards. The team witnessed firsthand how waste was accumulating in their neighborhoods, affecting both the environment and public health.
The Solution
Eco Kano is a comprehensive environmental platform that educates users about sustainability through interactive content in Hausa and English. The app features a waste sorting guide that helps users properly categorize their waste, an interactive map showing recycling centers and collection points across Kano, a community events calendar for clean-up activities, and a rewards system that incentivizes eco-friendly behavior. Users can report illegal dumping sites directly to local authorities and track their environmental impact over time through a personal dashboard.
Prizes Won
- $60,000 Clarkson University undergraduate scholarship for each team member ($240,000 total)
- N1,000,000 cash prize for the team
- Gold medals for each team member
- Featured in national media coverage
- Mentorship from industry leaders
Impact
- Over 5,000 app downloads within the first three months
- 20+ community clean-up events organized through the app
- Partnerships with local waste management companies
- Featured in regional environmental conferences
“We wanted to make environmental action accessible to everyone in our community. Growing up, we saw how waste was affecting our neighborhoods and decided to use technology to create change. Winning STEMify Africa showed us that young people can truly make a difference.”
— Fatima Abdullahi Yusuf, Team Lead
Where Are They Now?
All four team members are preparing to begin their undergraduate studies at Clarkson University in New York in Fall 2025. They plan to study Environmental Engineering and Computer Science, combining their passions to continue developing solutions for environmental challenges. The Eco Kano app is being expanded to other Northern Nigerian states with support from environmental NGOs.
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