At Akanka, we believe in co-creating Heaven on Earth by designing and building sustainable ventures that respond to the challenges shaping the world’s future, starting with Africa.
Today, we’re proud to celebrate a milestone for one of our ventures, Greener Cities Collective.
In 2024, Greener Cities was selected as one of seven recipients of Yale Center for Business and the Environment’s Climate Innovation Grants, receiving seed funding to advance its work addressing the environmental and social challenges created by rapid urbanization in Nigeria.
Africa’s cities are growing rapidly, while green spaces are disappearing. Greener Cities was created in response to this challenge: transforming underutilized urban spaces such as schools, hospitals, and community centers into gardens and green hubs that support food production, environmental education, biodiversity, creative expression, and community connection.
The Yale grant provided early-stage support at an important point in the venture’s journey, helping advance an idea rooted in a simple proposition: our cities can become healthier, greener places when Nature is designed back into everyday urban life.
Since then, Greener Cities has developed pilot projects in Nigeria, including community gardens in schools, engaging students, teachers, and residents in gardening, tree planting, climate action, and environmental stewardship.
We’re proud to have helped bring Greener Cities to life and grateful to see the idea recognized by Yale’s climate innovation community.
There is a different kind of African city waiting to be built: one where Nature is part of the infrastructure, communities have a role in shaping their environment, and urban development creates room for people and the planet to flourish together.
