Hauwa, a participant in the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund Competition, has developed an algae panel designed to help buildings stay cooler and reduce their carbon footprint. The panels use transparent tubes filled with spirulina, a blue-green algae that is also recognized for its nutritional value. Through photosynthesis, the panels can lower building temperatures by 8-10°C without the need for air conditioning.
“The algae panel acts as a thermal shade against the sun keeping the building cooler,” Hauwa said. “We spend 90% of our lives in buildings and if we don't find a solution to how climate change is impacting us, there’s going to be a big problem and the most vulnerable in society are going to be the most affected."
She added, "I come from a low-income community in Nigeria which means I feel I have a duty to look for a solution to the challenges posed by climate change which can’t be too expensive and out of reach of communities like mine.”
The panels are suitable for both new construction and retrofitting existing structures. They could also serve as temporary shelters for displaced people. Hauwa noted that air-conditioning systems contribute to climate change because they radiate heat.
“The great thing about this product,” she continued, “is that it can be fitted in new buildings as well as existing ones. The panels are easy to retrofit. They could also be used in shelters used by people who have been displaced. The problem we have with air-conditioning systems is that they radiate heat so are a net contributor to climate change.”
Reflecting on her experience in the competition, Hauwa said: “I grew up with nothing and here I am doing something big. I'm really grateful to the prize organisers for believing in my idea.
"It’s all thanks to the Mastercard Foundation. They believed in me, they believed in my idea and now I can dream big. I’m very, very happy."
Other finalists included Allen Chafa from Zimbabwe and Sally Musonye and Laura Wathe from Kenya. Sally and Laura proposed installing solar panels at rural schools across Kenya where reliable electricity remains scarce for much of the population. Allen is working on smart-water technologies aimed at improving access to safe drinking water in Harare, combining real-time monitoring with affordable purification methods.
Published 12th August 2025