Entrepreneurship alumnus launches project to help some of Africa's most impoverished countries

Around 20 million people are facing starvation and famine across Somalia, Nigeria, South Sudan and Yemen. Drought has killed off livestock and crops, forcing people to leave home in search of food and water.

It may be thousands of miles away but for some communities living here in the Midlands, it feels very close to home.

Nottingham University Business School alumnus, Nigerian-born Victor Udeozor (MSc Entrepreneurship 2011) has launched a project, hoping to help some of Africa's most impoverished countries.

Victor said: "What this project will do for such communities is one less thing to worry about. So whereas there may not be food at home, there is light to do their homework.

"And the parent, dad or mom, can actually use this as a microbusiness to empower themselves.

The idea is a simple one, aiming to provide solar-powered light for those five million people living in Nigeria without electricity."

The name 'Liter of Light' comes from the solar unit itself being made from relatively cheap materials and a recyclable plastic bottle. The cost to produce one solar light is £14 and the team plan to produce and install around 400 units. But how easy is it to put together?

Victor and the team are hoping to raise £16,000 through a crowd-funding site to successfully launch the project.

They are hoping their simple solar-powered bottle can be part of a long-term solution to providing light for families who cannot afford a generator. In the future, the plan is to teach others how to build the lights so it can also become a source of income for struggling families.

Victor is also co-organiser of the inaugural 'Africa Summit' conference to be held at The University of Nottingham in June. The Summit will create a platform for key issues and practical potential solutions to these issues which will be discussed over a one-day event. These issues and solutions will be discussed and debated by prominent leaders in business and governance in Africa and internationally renowned experts on the region with opinions from the audience.

This article first appeared on the ITV news website on 16 March 2017