Achenyo Idachaba

[1] Idachaba came to notice after she moved to Ibadan, Nigeria, in 2009 to set up an environmental consultancy.

[2] She realised that Water Hyacinth (Eichornia crassipes) which was recognised as an invasive weed could be harvested as she had read of this happening in Asia.

In collaboration with local craftspeople she set up a range of products that were woven from the dried plants.

She developed products such as a waste basket and a table tidy[4] which were made from plants that are usually only known for being invasive.

This was the women's initiative award for sub-Saharan Africa — which had also been won the year before by another Nigerian, Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola.