Waste littering in many countries around the world has caused numerous kinds of pollution which are highly dangerous to health. However, in order to curb the waste pollution in Nigeria, a Nigerian entrepreneur, Oscar Ekponimo has decided to work on an app that will reduce food waste in Nigeria by getting stores to donate groceries they don’t need to poor families.
In addition, reports confirmed that the software engineer has developed a web app known as Chowberry which enables charity organisations shop for products that are about to expire at a discounted price and also people could donate unwanted goods to these organisations.
As part of his inspiration, Ekponimo said his own experiences growing up without enough to eat, inspired him to come up with the technology:
“There was a phase in the family where my dad was temporally ill and out of work and I remember vividly during that time period the challenge at home was access to wholesome meal or quality meal, we could go a day or two without having a quality meal and this was something that affected me psychologically and also impacted on my academics and I always said sometime in the future I would resolve this problem.”
According to U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), About a third of food produced around the world is never eaten because it is spoiled after harvest and during transportation, or thrown away by shops and consumers.
However, the app allows charities access products ranging from cereals, cooking oil, powdered milk to snacks among other groceries. It also allows for clothings and foot wears which covers up for the part of good shelter.
Research revealed that throwing out food contaminates the water thereby leading to the release of harmful greenhouse gases. Boko Haram militants in the northeast has left over 4 million people without access to enough food according to the World Food Programme.
Further more, one of the beneficiaries receiving groceries from the Hold my Hands Women and Youth Development Foundation, Chizoba Ugwu said she has been struggling to fend for the family:
“It is so difficult for me to get food to feed my family because I don’t have work to do, so it was people’s help that I manage to feed my children but now things will be better for me.”
Ekponimo won the 2016 Rolex award for enterprise, which recognizes extraordinary projects that benefit communities around the world. He is working to develop his app further to help cut waste in more parts of the country and enable those in need to get them.
Many Nigerians said it is a good step that will ensure a pollution free environment and at the same time, help the charity organisations in providing food for the poor. The innovator received commendations from many with the hope that it will enhance good health and reduce poverty in the country.
