How a Nigerian Student Is Turning E-Waste into Power

“Since I was born in Nigeria, I have never experienced a consistent 24-hour power supply.”

For Emmanuel Aanuoluwapo Ajayi, a 500-level Electrical and Computer Engineering student at Kwara State University, that reality is not unusual, it is everyday life.

Across Nigeria, unreliable electricity shapes how people study, work, and live. But for Emmanuel, it became more than a shared frustration. It became a problem to solve.

From Frustration to Experimentation

Emmanuel describes his early university years as a period of constant experimentation, building, testing, and learning how engineering could respond to real-world challenges.

“Life was very experimental for me. I was constantly learning, building projects, and figuring out how to turn ideas into real solutions,” he said.

One challenge stood out for Emmanuel, energy access.

In his words, “it affected my academic work and everything around me. It made me realise that energy access is a major challenge that needs a solution.”

That realisation took a new direction during his time as a research assistant at the Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Systems (CAMS). There, he began to notice another growing issue, electronic waste.

Discarded components, broken devices, and unused systems were everywhere.

At first, the connection between energy poverty and e-waste was not obvious. But over time, a question emerged for him; What if waste could become part of the solution?

Building SUNPOD

From that idea, SUNPOD was born.

The startup focuses on building solar energy systems using upcycled electronic materials, aiming to provide affordable and sustainable electricity to students and underserved communities.

“SUNPOD builds solar energy systems using upcycled electronic waste materials to provide affordable and sustainable electricity,” Emmanuel explained.

Unlike conventional solar setups, his approach integrates recycled components with elements of artificial intelligence to optimise performance and reduce costs.

The idea did not come as a sudden breakthrough.

“It grew from experience,” he said. “It came from seeing real problems around me and realising that waiting for solutions was not enough,” said Emmanuel. 

From Prototype to Funding

By the time Emmanuel applied for the Student Venture Capital Grant (S-VCG), SUNPOD had moved beyond theory.

A working prototype had already been developed, and early users were testing the system.

“We had a working prototype and early users,” he said.

His proposal stood out for its clarity and relevance.

“What stood out was the clarity of the problem, the sustainability angle, and real-world application. It addresses both energy poverty and electronic waste.”

He was awarded a ₦50 million grant, funding that has allowed SUNPOD to transition from a student project to a growing enterprise.

According to Emmanuel, the focus is now on scaling production, improving manufacturing tools, and expanding deployment.

Challenges Beyond Innovation

Despite the progress, the journey has not been without obstacles.

In the early stages, Emmanuel faced skepticism about whether a system built with recycled materials could work effectively.

“One major setback was rejection and doubt,” he said. “Convincing people that SUNPOD could actually work was not easy.”

Even now, Emmanuel admits that challenges remain, particularly around scaling production and building trust among potential users.

Balancing entrepreneurship with academics has also required discipline.

“I’ve learned time management. I balance both by staying focused, especially in my final year,” he said.

Powering What Comes Next

Looking ahead, Emmanuel envisions SUNPOD expanding beyond university campuses to reach households and small businesses across Nigeria, and eventually, the wider African continent.

“I see SUNPOD scaling across Nigeria and possibly other African countries,” he said.

His long-term goal is to build a major energy technology company that addresses both power access and environmental sustainability.

For him, the journey remains deeply personal. The problem he is solving is one he has lived with all his life.

His advice to other students reflects that experience:

“Start with what you have. Don’t wait for funding before building. Funding follows impact, not just ideas.”