By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Founder of Atunlo Sustech and CarbonScope360, Ayo Ogunlowo, has announced a N100 million fund to support innovative climate-focused businesses and youth-driven environmental solutions in Nigeria.
Ogunlowo made the announcement while speaking on efforts to deepen youth participation in climate action, stressing that advocacy, commercialization and policy support remained critical to achieving sustainable environmental impact.
He stated this at the launch of the Climate Beyond Borders Caravan in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the fund, which is being financed directly by Atunlo, is aimed at supporting innovative businesses developing practical solutions to environmental and social challenges.
He said the initiative had already begun disbursing support to promising enterprises, revealing that the first batch of funding was released on Friday to three innovative businesses operating in the areas of reusable sanitary products, alternative energy and recycling.
“One of the businesses is into reusable sanitary pads, another is into alternative energy aimed at making energy affordable, while the third focuses on paper recycling to reduce open burning and environmental pollution,”he said.
Ogunlowo explained that the intervention was part of a broader effort to promote climate responsibility while creating economic opportunities for Nigerians, especially women and young people.
He noted that climate action should not be viewed only from an environmental perspective but also as an avenue for social and economic empowerment through incentives and sustainable livelihoods.
The climate advocate said his organisation had continued to invest in awareness campaigns across the Southwest to educate communities on environmental stewardship and responsible practices.
He added that women remained a major focus of the intervention because of their multiplier effect on families and communities.
“Once you impact a woman, you impact the household,” he said, noting that efforts were ongoing to ensure women become economically empowered and gainfully employed.
Ogunlowo further disclosed that his organisation was currently sponsoring the education of more than 200 children by paying school fees and providing learning materials such as shoes and bags.
He said the beneficiaries were also being exposed to economic and environmental innovation training to equip them with practical skills for the future.
The Atunlo Sustec founder called for stronger collaboration between the private sector and government to ensure climate-related interventions become sustainable and policy-driven rather than short-term projects.
He also advocated locally driven climate innovations, stressing the need for solutions built in Nigeria using global standards but tailored to local realities.
Ogunlowo expressed optimism that increased investment in grassroots innovation would help mobilise more young Nigerians toward climate action while improving livelihoods and strengthening environmental sustainability.
