In a community where charcoal is expensive and often unaffordable, one teenager is turning what others throw away into something valuable. Hassan Adamu, a 15-year old problem-solver, has found a creative and impactful way to make cooking fuel accessible to low-income families by recycling leftover charcoal powder into new, long-lasting charcoal blocks. Charcoal is the primary cooking fuel for many households in his area, but rising costs have made it difficult for people to cook daily meals. Hassan noticed thatafte r using charcoal, people often threw away the remaining powder. Instead of watching that potential go to waste, he began collecting it. Through his own experimentation and learning, he developed a simple method: mixing the
charcoal powder with cassava paste as a binding agent, then molding and drying it to form new charcoal pieces.

The result? A low-cost, eco-friendly alternative that burns longer than regular charcoal and is sold for as little as ₦50 making it affordable for nearly everyone in the community. Hassan’s initiative has become a lifeline for families, helping them save money while reducing waste. It also reflects his deep sense of responsibility, innovation,and care for the people arou nd him. At just 15, Hassan Adamu is doing more than making charcoal, he’s creating solutions, fighting poverty, and proving that sustainable change can start with
young people and simple ideas.