Nigerian company wins $200,000 AGFUND Development Prize in Armenia

A Nigerian local weather know-how and agritech startup, D-Olivette Labs, has emerged as one among 4 winners of the 2025 Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development, receiving $200,000 for its clean-energy innovation.

The company, which develops synthetic intelligence- and sensor-powered biodigesters, was recognised at an award ceremony organised by the Arab Gulf Programme for Development (AGFUND) in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday.

D-Olivette Labs received the third class of the prize for its undertaking, Bio-360, which converts farm and meals waste into clear cooking fuel, electrical energy and natural fertiliser.

The 2025 version of the prize focuses on Affordable and Clean Energy, Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7).

Founded in Riyadh in 1980 by Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, with help from Gulf leaders, AGFUND established the prize in 1999 to determine, recognise, and promote profitable human growth initiatives, notably these benefiting girls and kids.

The prize awards $1 million yearly throughout 4 classes: $400,000 for United Nations businesses and worldwide non-governmental organisations, $300,000 for nationwide NGOs, $200,000 for presidency our bodies and social companies, and $100,000 for people.

According to the organisers, 95 tasks have received the prize, whereas 2,299 tasks have been nominated since its institution in 1999.

Since 2017, every prize cycle has targeted on a particular Sustainable Development Goal. The 2026 version will give attention to Good Health and Well-being (SDG 3), with purposes at present open, the organisers stated.

2025 prize winners

At the ceremony held on the Seven Heavens Hotel in Yerevan, 4 organisations and innovators have been recognised for his or her contributions to sustainable growth.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Myanmar received the primary class, receiving $400,000 for its climate-resilient, community-led water provide undertaking. The initiative supplies solar-powered pumps and piped water to villages in Myanmar’s Dry Zone, managed by skilled neighborhood water committees.

NAPAD, working in Kenya and Somalia, received second place and obtained $300,000 for its meals safety and community-based battle administration undertaking for displaced agro-pastoral households and their host communities.

D-Olivette Labs obtained $200,000 in the third class for its Bio-360 initiative, whereas Oorja, an Indian organisation, received the fourth class, receiving $100,000.

Oorja’s undertaking supplies pay-per-use photo voltaic irrigation and climate-smart agricultural recommendation, enabling smallholder farmers to entry clear water for his or her crops with out having to buy irrigation pumps.

The award recipients got the chance to deal with the viewers following the announcement of their victories.

‘My mother’s dying impressed our work’

Speaking on the ceremony, Tunde Adeyemi, co-founder and chief government officer of D-Olivette Labs, stated the inspiration behind the company’s work stemmed from the dying of his mom, who suffered respiratory failure that he believes could have been linked to publicity to smoke from firewood used for cooking.

“To many of us, a $100 clean cookstove is affordable, but to the 2.3 billion people who still cook with firewood and charcoal, it is completely out of reach,” he stated.

Mr Adeyemi stated thousands and thousands of households have been compelled to make troublesome selections, together with chopping down timber and burning biomass for cooking, exposing themselves to smoke that step by step damages their well being.

“After my mum’s funeral, I realised that grief alone can’t change anything. The greatest tribute I could give her is to make sure another child does not lose their mother in the same way. That became my life decision. It is the reason for our work,” he stated.

He defined that the company transforms natural waste into clear cooking gas, renewable power and natural fertiliser, providing communities a substitute for conventional fuels.

“We build technology, but technology is not our purpose. Our purpose is dignity, because development is not measured by the brilliance of our inventions; it is measured by whether a mother breathes clean air, whether a child carries schoolbooks instead of firewood, and whether families can look towards tomorrow with hope instead of fear,” he stated.

Mr Adeyemi thanked AGFUND and the prize committee for the popularity, expressing hope that the award would help the company’s efforts to assist extra individuals and communities overcome power poverty.

Another Nigerian, Seyyid Abdulai, a member of the AGFUND assessment committee and former director-general of the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), was additionally recognised on the occasion.

AGFUND reaffirms dedication to world growth

In his remarks, Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chairman of AGFUND, stated Gulf nations had confronted critical assaults on their territory for the reason that starting of 2026 however remained dedicated to growth and worldwide cooperation.

“Today, they continue to face these challenges. Yet, despite these circumstances, the Gulf remains committed to building, developing and investing in its people while extending support to communities across the world,” he stated.

He famous that Gulf nations had spent many years constructing establishments, increasing alternatives and contributing to growth past their borders.

“Our commitment to humanity does not end at our borders, nor does it stop when our own security is challenged,” he stated, including that the nations remained decided to construct a greater future for his or her residents whereas supporting others in their pursuit of dignity and alternative.

“Development cannot wait for the world to become peaceful. Through cooperation and investment in people, we can create the conditions for lasting peace. Our circumstances may change, but our responsibilities do not,” the prince stated.

Congratulating the winners, he stated their achievements demonstrated what could possibly be achieved when data, dedication and acceptable help have been mixed.

“The challenges facing our world require more than individual efforts. We have the knowledge, institutions and resources. Our challenge is to bring them together and turn our shared ambitions into results that improve people’s lives,” he stated.

He added that the method would proceed to information AGFUND’s growth partnerships.

Looking forward to the following version, the prince introduced that the 2026 prize cycle would give attention to SDG 3, which seeks to make sure wholesome lives and promote well-being for individuals of all ages.

“Good health is essential to education, economic participation and the stability of communities. We therefore invite innovators and development organisations worldwide to present solutions that improve health and well-being for people of all ages,” he stated.