Home decor business built out of water hyacinth

In the middle of the hustle and bustle of Lagos, a city of over 20 million people, is the vast Lagos lagoon that hugs the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean.

On this water, the invasive water hyacinth weed has turned into a lush and endless greenery akin to a soccer pitch. But this beguiling beauty threatens the livelihood of the fisherfolk and other city residents.

The seaweed was first discovered in the Badagry area in 1984 and has, over time, increased and blocked waterways and threatened aquatic life. It is a menace that has altered the ecosystem, impeded fishing and transportation, and disrupted hydroelectric power generation.

But while many city residents see waste and inconvenience, one of them, Achenyo Obaro, a computer scientist-turned-social entrepreneur, saw an opportunity.

“What was a menace to us was actually an opportunity to make money, create jobs and beautify homes. The water hyacinth came to us as lemons, and I am now making lemonade out of it,” she said.

Obaro got to work to transform her idea into novel products by partnering with local weavers working with twine.

She taught them to change the water hyacinth into beautiful handwoven products, including baskets and bags, and later ventured into lifestyle products, furniture, coasters, and chairs made from natural local fibres.

Originally published at https://www.the-star.co.ke.