Chioma Ukonu founded RecyclePoints Nigeria, an organization dedicated to tackling growing environmental and health challenges, and addressing the waste crisis in her home country of Nigeria. A team of 28 full-time workers runs household, corporate and school recycling programs. With nearly 10,000 subscribers on their platform, the organization recycles or diverts 75 tons of waste every month, using an incentive model that offers household items and cash. RecyclePoints recently launched iRecycle Kiosk — refurbished, solar-powered shipping containers that serve as recyclable waste drop-off points, environmental education centers and places where community leaders can offer other social services to various communities. A graduate with a bachelor’s degree in industrial physics from the Federal University of Technology – Owerri Nigeria, Chioma’s recent accolades include: 2017 winner of the LEAP Africa Social Innovator Award for 2017, 2017 Chivas Ventures Global Finals runner-up, and as a 2017 USADF grant awardee.
