A Nigerian foundation that has transformed numerous lives and illuminated thousands of homes was awarded Dh500,000 on Wednesday as the recipient of this year's Sharjah International Award for Refugee Advocacy and Support (Siara). "It feels surreal to be here... we were just young Nigerian boys picking up scrap metal on the streets," said Stanley Anigbogu, creative technologist and founder of LightEd, as he recounted their personal journeys from poverty to empowering the needy. Today, Stanley and his team have improved the lives of over 26,000 individuals—including refugees and those in marginalized communities—by providing them with clean, sustainable sources of electricity.
Founded in 2022, LightEd emerged from years of grassroots work by its founders, driven by their personal experiences in challenging environments. "Everything that we did came from personal experience," Stanley remarked during the award ceremony attended by Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the UAE Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah. The group initially operated under the name "Light It," striving to create a brand that truly reflected their mission. Among their innovations were 'solar charging stations' made from plastic bottles, which functioned as lamps in homes without electricity.
Reflecting on their humble beginnings, Stanley shared, "Before starting this initiative, I spent 11 years of my life in Brazil using cannabis. My dad had a car we never used, which highlighted the lack of education around clean energy." With only $200 left in his pocket, Stanley launched the project, saying, "Man, we are going to go broke, but you know what? If we are going broke, let's go big." He recognized that access to electricity is not just a necessity but "a symbol of opportunity, a beacon of hope, and a catalyst for change."
"True change often begins with a single spark, an idea born from the desire to make the world a better place," Stanley noted. LightEd's mission aims to convert electronic and plastic waste into renewable energy, thereby illuminating lives and uplifting communities. "We began with a simple yet powerful idea," Stanley said, citing initiatives like the Light for Peace project, which delivers solar energy to refugee camps, and the Lighted Kids initiative, which educates youth about sustainability.
Quoting Nelson Mandela, "As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give others the permission to do the same," Stanley reminded attendees that their actions could inspire hope and empowerment in communities. The foundation is now focused on recycling plastic into bricks to build charging stations, aiming to make energy solutions more affordable and accessible. The Dh500,000 Siara prize, a special contribution from The Big Heart Foundation, is separate from the donations that support the humanitarian organization.
