Nigerian startup D-Olivette Labs wins $200,000 international prize in Armenia

A Nigerian climate technology and agritech startup, D-Olivette Labs, has won $200,000 for its clean energy innovation at the 2025 Prince Talal International Prize for Human Development. The company was recognised at an award ceremony organised by the Arab Gulf Programme for Development in Yerevan, Armenia, on Wednesday.

D-Olivette Labs won the third category of the prize for its Bio-360 project, which converts farm and food waste into clean cooking gas, electricity, and organic fertiliser. The 2025 edition of the prize focused on Affordable and Clean Energy under Sustainable Development Goal 7. Founded in Riyadh in 1980 by Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz, AGFUND established the prize in 1999 to support human development initiatives that benefit women and children.

Ceremony and Winners

At the ceremony held at the Seven Heavens Hotel, four organisations were recognised for their contributions to sustainable development. The UNICEF in Myanmar won the first category and received $400,000 for a solar-powered water supply project. NAPAD, operating in Kenya and Somalia, won second place and received $300,000 for a food security and conflict management project. Indian organisation Oorja won the fourth category, receiving $100,000 for its pay-per-use solar irrigation project.

Tunde Adeyemi, co-founder and chief executive officer of D-Olivette Labs, spoke at the event and shared that the inspiration behind the company came from the death of his mother, who suffered respiratory failure linked to smoke from firewood used for cooking. He thanked AGFUND and the prize committee, expressing hope that the award would help the company tackle energy poverty. Another Nigerian, Seyyid Abdulai, who is a member of the AGFUND review committee and former director-general of the OPEC Fund for International Development, was also recognised at the event.

Future Plans

Prince Abdulaziz bin Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, chairman of AGFUND, spoke at the ceremony about the commitment of Gulf countries to international cooperation and development despite regional challenges. He congratulated the winners for demonstrating what can be achieved through determination and support. Looking ahead, the prince announced that the 2026 prize cycle will focus on Good Health and Well-being, with applications currently open.