This archive report was first published on 23 December 2019.
Young Entrepreneur's Eco-Friendly Briquettes Gain Momentum ¶
December 23, 2019
Cecil Chikezie, a third-year mechanical engineering student, has defied the odds of university life to become a successful entrepreneur. His company, Eco Makaa, connects local fuel briquette producers to customers through e-commerce.
Chikezie's innovative approach has seen him win big-ticket supplies from leading hotels in the city, including Sankara and Intercontinental Hotel, as well as Ole Sereni. He now aims to provide households with a better alternative to charcoal as a cooking fuel.
According to Chikezie, he conceptualized the idea in April 2018, when the government began implementing the logging ban. He saw an opportunity to create a sustainable and cheaper fuel alternative, using carbonized maize cobs processed in a kiln by farmers he has trained.
"We mix the cobs with soil and water to make the briquettes," Chikezie explained during an interview at his business premises in Kitengela. "We can also use sugarcane bagasse as the main raw material."
Chikezie's business has bagged prizes for his effort and innovation. He recently emerged third in the Anzisha awards, securing $12,500 (Sh1.2m) in prize money to boost the business.
He plans to use the prize money to expand the business through aggressive marketing and acquire a pick-up vehicle to help in transporting the products to the market.
