Lumos Laboratories, founded by Nigerian scientist Ejikeme Nwosu, has emerged winner of the €40,000 (over ₦65 million) Protego Innovation Challenge for its pioneering project that transforms plastic waste into interlocking tiles and bricks. The initiative aims to reduce marine litter in Nigeria while training local communities to participate in the recycling process.
Nwosu, who leads Lumos Laboratories in Abuja, announced the achievement on his social media platforms, expressing gratitude to the German government for funding the project. He wrote that the company would focus on converting plastic waste in a selected hotspot region and empowering local residents with practical skills through innovative indigenous technology.
The Protego project is funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) and implemented by adelphi in collaboration with several partners. Lumos Laboratories’ proposal was chosen from multiple international entries.
This latest recognition follows Lumos Laboratories’ earlier win of the Hydrogen Innovation of the Year award at the Global African Hydrogen Summit in Windhoek, Namibia, where it outperformed competitors from Namibia and the United States.
The company has also gained attention for converting human waste into hydrogen-rich gases to generate electricity — a breakthrough that underscores its commitment to sustainable energy solutions. Nwosu has received multiple honours, including being named Anambra Innovator of the Year and highlighted by former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as one of Nigeria’s most outstanding inventors.
Through these innovations, Lumos Laboratories continues to demonstrate how science-driven entrepreneurship can tackle environmental problems and advance sustainable development in Africa.
