Dreams Talks: Building Clean Tech Driven Societies – Ifeoma Malo

To put it simply, clean technology encompasses any measures taken to reduce, or preferably eliminate, negative environmental impacts whilst encouraging economic and social development. Clean technology includes a broad range of technology related to recycling, renewable energy, information technology, green transportation, electric motors, green chemistry, lighting, grey water, and more.

In this current climate, many companies are making an active effort to get involved in sustainable technology. Africa only accounts for about 2% to 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions but suffers disproportionately from the results.

When it comes down to it, we all benefit from the implementation of clean technology; each step towards sustainable technology supports the protection of our environment. It may be tricky to envision how you or your company can contribute to the Earth’s wellbeing, but every single step towards sustainability makes a difference.

For this edition of Dreams Talks we discuss the significance of research, data collation and sharing within African communities. Also the complexities and importance of clean and green ideas and technologies in Africa, also their validation for commercial-stage development on the continent.

Our Focus Hub for this edition, is the Clean Technology Hub 

Clean Technology Hub is a pioneering hybrid hub for the research, development, demonstration and incubation of clean and green ideas and technologies in Africa and their validation for commercial-stage development. On this edition of Dreams Talks, we speak with Ifeoma Malo, Founder and CEO of Clean Technology Hub on the journey, data, importance of research and where Africa is in the movement for green energy.

Enjoy !!!

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Dreams Talks: What inspired you to take this path? 

Ifeoma Malo: I’m often asked how I got into this field, and honestly, I’m not quite sure where to begin. My background is in global policy making, and I spent many years working in healthcare and the biotech industry in the United States. It wasn’t until I moved to Nigeria and sought work with the government that I stumbled into electricity, clean energy, and climate change.

I found myself working for the Ministry of Power as a senior advisor to the former minister. At that time, discussions about renewable energy and transitioning to green energy solutions were gaining momentum. Part of my role involved examining new energy policies and renewable energy strategies. It was through this work that I became increasingly interested in energy access and climate change. So, in a way, I stumbled into this sector unintentionally.

Dreams Talks: What are the Hub’s primary objectives towards the African Market? 

Ifeoma Malo: The African market is currently experiencing significant growth when it comes to electricity. It’s important to realise that there are around 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa living without electricity, which highlights both the vast market potential and the immense challenges we face. With several hundred million people lacking access to electricity, productivity remains low, and this lack of connectivity means we’re not fully integrated into the global tech economy. So, there are many layers to consider when examining the African market.

Dreams Talks: How important is Climate change towards the belief and evolution of Clean Technology Hub

Ifeoma Malo: If you think about where we could be if everyone in Africa had access to electricity, the possibilities are truly remarkable. With the renewed focus on energy transition, this is a fantastic opportunity for African countries to move from their limited resources to greener and more sustainable energy solutions. Utilizing mini-grids and microgrids to bring electricity to rural communities could greatly benefit local farmers and support green agriculture initiatives.

Additionally, we can apply green technologies to construction and architecture throughout the continent. Since we’re starting from scratch in many ways, there’s not much to transition from. This means we can rapidly adopt innovative solutions, much like we did with mobile technology.

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 Dreams Talks: How important is research to Innovation hubs in Africa?  

Ifeoma Malo: Research is undoubtedly the single most important factor in shaping an industry and defining a market. We cannot achieve an energy transition or implement clean technologies without thorough research on pricing and other aspects. Without this baseline, it’s difficult to determine the type of infrastructure we need to build or to estimate the costs involved.

Considering the financial implications and conducting a financial analysis are essential steps; without them, it’s a nonstarter. Beyond providing data, research can also help us identify market opportunities. This is crucial when building an ecosystem and an industry, especially in the power sector.

Dreams Talks: Though there are varying opinions towards the Authenticity of data collation in Africa, still it is true many are untrusting of what they call “Dubious Data” what’s your take on this ? 

Ifeoma Malo: Data collection on the continent can be quite challenging, and even when data is available, it can be difficult to get people to share it. While I agree that it’s tough to obtain reliable data, I wouldn’t necessarily label it as ‘dubious.’ We need to consider the unique circumstances and external factors that affect data collection in Africa.

That’s why we always encourage researchers from outside the continent to involve African researchers who live and work here in their data collection and research design processes. If you don’t include local perspectives from the outset, it can be difficult to adapt and revise research methodologies later on.

Involving researchers and data analysts living on the continent is essential because they can provide valuable insights into the realities of conducting research here, ultimately improving the research design and outcomes.

Dreams Talks: Challenges towards belief in Climate change on the continent? 

Ifeoma Malo: That’s a crucial question. One of the challenges we face is that many people perceive climate change as an abstract issue affecting other countries, not necessarily Africa. It’s vital for everyone in the tech ecosystem to emphasize its importance on the continent. There’s currently a lot of discussion about greening technologies, infrastructure, and communities. We must explore how these topics intersect and ensure that climate conversations lead to concrete actions. Our goal should be to create a sustainable climate future defined by Africans for Africans while ensuring it meets global standards across all industries. After all, climate change is already impacting every sector.

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Dreams Talks: Some issues are first the difficulty of data collation, and then when said data has been collated, there’s also an unwillingness to share said data within different communities – why is this a problem?   

Ifeoma Malo: There’s still a low level of trust in Africa, which is unfortunate, and it’s tied to the fact that we’re dealing with a high poverty continent. When poverty is pervasive, people tend to be less willing to trust one another, seeing everyone as a competitor and scrambling for limited resources. This winner-take-all mentality makes collaboration less appealing.

However, we can change this mindset, and we’re already seeing some progress in the tech sector. When people view the “pie” more holistically, they realise that by collaborating, they can achieve more than just a small piece. If we know that working together will lead to greater success, collaboration becomes a more attractive option.

Promoting collaboration and encouraging people to see the bigger picture is essential. The poverty I mention isn’t just physical; it’s also a poverty of mindset that can limit people’s ability to envision the future, recognise opportunities, and realise their full potential.

Dreams Talks: How has Clean Technology Hub Tailored Support Programs influenced the incubation startups in Nigeria 

Ifeoma Malo: That’s an interesting question. Our initiative was funded by several entities, including the Rockefeller Foundation, which allowed us to run incubation and accelerator programs for clean energy and climate tech companies in Nigeria. We initially conducted bootcamps across various universities, targeting young entrepreneurs and students.

When we opened the call for applications, we received around 2,000 submissions, but we could only accommodate 50 participants in our incubation program. This presented a challenge but also revealed many promising individuals with great ideas. This pattern continued in subsequent program iterations.

Over the past four years, we’ve run incubation programs and hackathons, and we’re proud to have at least 100 companies in our portfolio, with 35 of them receiving funding. We’re also planning to launch tailored programs for women and people with disabilities, aiming to foster an inclusive hub that supports a diverse range of individuals in the climate tech and clean tech sectors.

Dreams Talks: What are the Challenges Facing Clean Technology Hub and EcoSystem Building in Africa and how is Clean Technology Hub solving these problems, inturn creating a format that younger hubs can follow on as an example

Ifeoma Malo: One of the primary challenges is related to partnerships and financing. While access to finance is a widespread issue, we believe in starting projects even without initial funding, hoping that investors will eventually support us. This approach works for us 65% of the time, while the remaining 35% may not receive funding, but we proceed regardless. Staying relevant is essential.

For newcomers to the sector, our advice is to start somewhere and build partnerships along the way. It might take three or four years to establish legitimacy, but that’s crucial for gaining trust and attracting investment. Begin small and grow from there.

The third lesson is to utilise social media to share your accomplishments. Nobody will know about the fantastic work you’re doing if you don’t promote it. We rely heavily on social media to showcase our stories and attract interest in our projects.

Dreams Talks: Tell us about your proudest moments and achievements the Hub gained thus far ? 

Ifeoma Malo: The proudest  moment is still ongoing, but we’re excited to announce that on April 27th this year, we’ll be opening our new co-working space and incubation center. Just like we were incubated in someone else’s basement, we want to provide a space for other businesses looking for a supportive community, networking opportunities, and partners for co-creation.

Our newly completed center is a source of pride for us, as it represents the realization of a goal we’ve had since the inception of our company. We’re eager to help others grow and develop their ideas in this vibrant, collaborative environment.”

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Dreams Talks: 20 years from now, what do you expect Clean Technology Hub  to mean to the next generation of African innovators ?  

Ifeoma Malo: Twenty years from now, we hope to have expanded our operations to at least 15 to 20 other African countries, focusing on bringing electricity to rural and small communities across the continent. Our aim is to significantly reduce the current number of 600 million people without electricity, ideally to around 100 million or fewer.

By supporting smaller businesses and collaborating on electrification projects, we want to leave a lasting legacy of providing access to electricity in previously unelectrified communities. Our ultimate goal is to build a productive societies on the continent, and the first step towards achieving that is ensuring widespread access to electricity.