Banana Pads & Food Waste Gold: Meet Africa's Young Innovators Transforming Lives

Loading player...
In the spirit of Women’s Month, we sit down with two trailblazing young African women turning waste into powerful solutions. Esther Ololude, 23, is the Nigerian founder of Vanille, creating 100% biodegradable sanitary pads from banana stems. And from Uganda, Suzanne Nassolo, also 23, is behind Evergrow Organics, transforming street food waste into organic fertilizers and livestock boosters — already helping 700 farmers!
These powerhouse entrepreneurs share their journeys from idea to impact, their battles with certification, their grassroots innovation, and their dreams of going global. This is not just about business — it’s about building dignity, sustainability, and opportunity across the continent.

Why This Matters:
50,000+ pads sold, 10,000+ girls impacted—Vanille is proving that sustainability and affordability can go hand-in-hand.
Evergrow’s organic fertilizers are fighting soil degradation—with demand stretching beyond Uganda to Kenya & Rwanda.
Both started at just 19 years old—now leading teams of 15-27 employees and winning international awards.

"Girls are everywhere. So are environmental challenges. Our solutions should be too." — Esther Ololude
#AfricanInnovation #WomenInBusiness #SustainableFuture #TheSocialImpactShow #919
12 Aug English South Africa Business · Non-Profit

Other recent episodes

Winning Women Wednesday: Money Mindsets, Gender Gaps & The Power of the Ask

It’s Winning Women Wednesday with Katie Mohammed and Sam Marshall, celebrating women who rise, lead, and inspire. This week, Katie dives into the often-taboo subject of money — how our upbringing shapes our financial mindset, why women still earn 23% less than men, and the cultural pressures that keep women…
4 Sep 33 min