Diaspora Star | Fela Buyi Akinse – The Eco-Innovator Redefining Africa’s Green Future

From the bustling streets of Lagos to innovation hubs around the world, Fela Buyi Akinse, born in 1989, has emerged as one of Africa’s most forward-thinking environmental entrepreneurs. The Nigerian inventor is turning plastic waste into patented, eco-conscious fashion through his company, SALUBATA. His work is a fusion of science and design, combining sustainable materials with cutting-edge technology to tackle two global threats: plastic pollution and carbon emissions.

Akinse, born and raised in Lagos, pursued his passion for environmental science at the University of Lagos, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Toxicology in 2013 and a Master’s in Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Management in 2016. This foundation in ecological research gave rise to a vision: convert waste into something the world could wear with pride.

Before founding SALUBATA, he served as a business analyst and environmental scientist, experiences that sharpened his commercial and ecological instincts.

By his mid-thirties, Akinse had secured two international patents, cementing his reputation as a disruptive force in eco-innovation:

• Modular Footwear from Ocean-Derived PET Waste, tackling the rising threat of marine plastic.

• Carbon Decomposition Shoe Technology, which transforms carbon dioxide into oxygen, pushing the frontier of climate-friendly fashio

These aren’t just innovations they’re environmental solutions wrapped in wearable tech.

With his company SALUBATA, Akinse is directly tackling Nigeria’s waste crisis. Lagos produces over 10,000 metric tonnes of waste daily, but Akinse sees opportunity where others see refuse. SALUBATA has recycled tonnes of plastic into modular footwear, generated $840,000 in revenue, and created over 50 jobs, demonstrating that green business can also be good business.

Akinse's breakthrough ideas have earned him global recognition:

• World Footwear Excellence Award (2020)

• BIC Award from the African Union and EU (2022)

• Young Greentech Award (2022)

• Recognition by UN-Habitat as one of the top 20 innovators transforming waste into wealth

He has spoken at TEDx, represented Nigeria at COP28, and continuously proves that African innovation belongs at the center of global climate conversations.

Beyond boardrooms and summits, Akinse leads a grounded personal life. He is married to Yewande Akinse, an entrepreneur and author. The couple has a daughter and shares a mutual commitment to purposeful living, innovation, and environmental stewardship.

Akinse belongs to a generation of African thinkers redefining what’s possible. His work challenges the idea that sustainable innovation must come from the West. Instead, he is proof that African-born solutions when backed by science, vision, and resilience can set new global standards.

His story is about more than shoes. It’s about changing the economic narrative of Africa, about turning problems into products, and about leading by example in the race to protect the planet.

Fela Buyi Akinse is not just building a company he’s shaping a movement. At just 36 years old, his journey from Lagos to the global sustainability arena makes him a Diaspora Star with a footprint that extends well beyond fashion.