Green Success Stories puts Shalom Chilau Iboh, Founder of Renew Watts Technologies, in The Green Spotlight. Shalom describes her awakening to sustainability encountering the thick soot covering the doorsteps and walls in her native Nigeria, coupled with the lack of reliable electricity for millions in her country. Her company produces solar kits including a solar-powered lamp accompanied by a power bank made from recycled batteries, developed to improve energy access for underserved, marginalized, and grassroots communities. They likewise promote quality education, gender equity, and leadership development for the clean energy workforce while accelerating United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Shalom looks forward, with the right resources and partnerships, to the growth of Africa in leading the global energy transition.

Tell us a bit about your sustainability journey.

I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, and one of the courses covered was different energy conversion technologies. At the time, I didn’t fully understand what sustainability meant or why it was so important. However, I remember stepping outside and seeing thick soot covering our doorstep and walls. Clothes hung out to dry would come back darker, and the air felt heavier each day. Moreover, during my undergraduate studies, I had to walk long distances under streetlamps to study or use generators. Fossil fuels were everywhere, yet millions of people in my country, Nigeria, still lacked reliable electricity, especially people who couldn’t afford generators. That’s when I realized that our energy source had become a death trap rather than a blessing. That was a defining moment for me. I left my previous job and committed to learning more about renewable energy. My first step was joining the African Fellowship for Young Energy Leaders in 2021. Since then, I’ve embraced sustainability not just as a career path but as my lifestyle. I’ve been practicing recycling and utilizing cleaner energy options.

Tell us a bit about the product or solution you offer.

Our proposed product is a solar kit, a solar-powered lamp accompanied by a power bank made from recycled batteries and developed to improve energy access for underserved, marginalized, and grassroots communities. We aim to empower users to become clean, efficient, and circular energy champions. Beyond the product itself, we are advancing clean energy education through our initiatives tagged Renew Initiatives. By equipping people with knowledge, not just devices, we are building a culture of sustainability from the ground up.

Our solar kit would allow students to study for longer hours using safe, renewable light. Women could eliminate the health and safety risks of kerosene lamps. Entrepreneurs and market women would gain access to reliable lighting that extends their business hours, along with mobile charging backup to support online transactions, ultimately helping them increase their revenue. Across all levels, we would be creating green jobs, building carbon-neutral, climate-resilient communities, and promoting inclusive development.

Share a green success story with us – how have you helped customers or other businesses in the fight against climate change?

Our impact spans businesses, communities, and individuals. We have helped students gain a deeper understanding of climate change and various renewable energy sources, including ocean, tidal, and nuclear energy, as well as artificial intelligence, climate policy, and UNFCCC COP processes.

Our flagship initiative, Renew Education, is a monthly webinar that connects students, early-career professionals, and energy enthusiasts with senior executives, CEOs, agency leaders, and government representatives. Through this platform, participants have engaged with speakers from the IFC–World Bank, SEforALL, Forbes, the U.S. Department of Energy, the International Energy Agency, and top academic institutions. To date, over 34 executives, 66% of whom are women, have inspired our audience, with some offering mentorship opportunities, particularly for women. This initiative has greatly transformed the network and professional horizon for our audience.

Another initiative, Renew Skills, provides training in solar design, installation, and entrepreneurship. In partnership with Natureway Technical Services, Benin Energie, and Sirius-X Energy, we delivered hands-on training to 200 students, 75% of whom were women from marginalized communities in Rivers State, Nigeria, and Cotonou, Benin Republic. We are reducing the green skills gap and empowering students and early career professionals with critical skills to embrace sustainable careers.

We have also developed renewable energy curricula in both English and French, ensuring accessibility for learners in their local languages. We are planning to translate the curricula into languages for grassroots communities in Uganda and Pakistan. This initiative is breaking language barriers and promoting indigenous people’s engagement. Additionally, we served as a funding partner and contributor to the youth statement developed during LCOY Nigeria, further demonstrating our commitment to grassroots empowerment and inclusive climate action.

What would you do with $1 billion dollars?

If I had $1 billion, I would invest in building the largest manufacturing facility for our solar kits, consisting of lamps and power banks, and distribute them to university students and market women across Nigeria. Access to reliable electricity should not be a privilege, and these kits are a vital step toward bridging the energy gap in education and entrepreneurship.

Another impactful solution we’re championing is the deployment of mobile solar-powered charging stations. These 3.5kVA solar-powered portacabins would be installed across universities and marketplaces, enabling people to charge laptops, computer gadgets, and other medium-sized appliances. Additionally, I would love to design a high-capacity inverter system to replace diesel generators, providing a cleaner and more affordable power solution for households.

My overarching goal is to ensure that every home in Nigeria has access to clean, affordable, and sustainable energy.

Beyond energy access, I’m passionate about accelerating education. I know firsthand how transformative education can be. Sadly, many people, especially girls, lack the awareness or financial means to pursue their dreams. That’s why I would dedicate a significant portion of the funds to providing scholarships and financial support to both young women and men (with a stronger emphasis on women, Yeah!). I want girls to understand that education is for them. I want them to know that engineering can be their dream and that it’s okay for a girl to pursue a career in STEM.

I would also invest in assistive technologies such as hearing aids and other supportive tools for people with disabilities, ensuring that no one is left behind.

With this funding, I would scale our Renew Initiatives across the globe and empower more people to build with Renew Watts Technologies. I would also expand my research on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and work toward commercializing these innovations.

Honestly, there’s so much I would do with $1 billion, but this is where my dream begins.

What do you envision your industry looking like in ten years?

In ten years, I hope energy will no longer be a luxury but a basic right accessible to all, regardless of gender, disability, or social status. I envision a world where clean, affordable energy reaches even the most remote communities, and where Sub-Saharan Africa is no longer one of the regions most lacking in energy access.

I also foresee a major shift toward sustainable transportation. Electric vehicles, buses, and tricycles are already being developed in Nigeria, and I envision a future where Africa not only leads in critical mineral production but also becomes a global leader in innovation and clean technology development.

With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, I believe the next decade will bring widespread digitalization, from how jobs are structured and services delivered, to how innovations are scaled. AI will be central to advancing clean energy adoption, attracting investments, and improving efficiency across the sector.

I’m optimistic that we’ll see breakthroughs in long-lasting battery technology, cleaner and more ethical mining practices, and stronger, more sustainable policies for clean energy resource development. One challenge that may persist is the generation of waste. However, with growing research into solar PV recycling and circular economy models, I believe we’ll find sustainable solutions within the next decade.

I also envision a transformation in how we use and conserve energy. Energy efficiency will become embedded in every system, not just in appliances like inverters, air conditioners, and refrigerators, but in the design of buildings, roads, and transportation systems.

As a researcher in the clean energy field, I know we’ve only scratched the surface of what’s possible. The next ten years hold immense potential. My deepest hope is that, amidst all this progress, people at the grassroots level will not be left behind.

What would you like readers to take away from this article?

Africa’s potential to lead in the global energy transition is rapidly growing. With the right resources and strategic partnerships, we can unlock this potential and drive transformative impact across the continent.

It’s important to remember that small actions can lead to big change. Young people across sectors are constantly innovating and generating groundbreaking ideas. With greater access to tools like Artificial Intelligence, even more business ideas will emerge, creating jobs and expanding opportunities across communities.

AI and clean energy are not just technologies, they are enablers of empowerment for people of all ages. As a young woman working at the intersection of energy and AI, I am committed to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in both industries. Through Renew Watts Technologies, we aim to revolutionize how the world sees energy access and education at the grassroots level.

When people think about energy access or education in underserved communities, they will think of Renew Watts. When companies seek meaningful ways to fulfill their social responsibility, they will partner with us to reach and uplift marginalized populations. We are mobilizing eco-conscious changemakers, driven to advance sustainability and reduce carbon emissions from the ground up.

Our motto remains clear and unwavering: Energy access is a fundamental human right.

I’ll close with the words of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

“Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, social equity, and environmental sustainability.”

Without energy, there can be no progress. Let’s make energy access inclusive, just, and affordable, improving health, expanding education, and reducing emissions for all, especially those at the grassroots.

How should readers get in touch with you and/or your organization?

Email: renewattt@gmail.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/renew-watts-technologies/

LinkedIn (personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/shalom-iboh-0061a1192

Kudos

Many thanks to Shalom Chilaru Iboh and to Renew Watts Technologies.

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