How one software engineer is using an app to fight hunger in Nigeria
Growing up having experienced the struggles of hunger firsthand, Oscar Ekponimo made it his life's mission to use his talents to help others without food.
Now a software engineer living in Abuja, Ekponimo developed Chowberry — an innovative web app working to provide affordable nutrition to millions of Nigerians who are malnourished and suffering from hunger.
Chowberry uses cloud-based software to provide retail merchants with data on any soon-to-expire food in stock. This allows food nearing the end of its shelf life to be discounted, acquired, and distributed by charities, orphanages, and non-profit organizations rather than simply tossed out.
"It does two things primarily," Ekponimo, who was named one of Time Magazine’s Next Generation Leaders of 2017, said while speaking at Mashable's eighth-annual Social Good Summit on Sunday.
"On one hand we help reduce food waste at the retail and consumption site, and other hand we facilitate the redistribution of those products that would have otherwise gone to waste to underserved communities and people who are facing food poverty."
By democratizing these resources, Ekponimo explained how Chowberry is able to empower low-income earners and households that are underserved. With the app's deep discounts users can spend as low as $50.00 to feed 50 people.
Not only does the app have the potential to save lives, but it's also easy to use.
Chowberry allows consumers to search by location or desired product. And once you've checked out, you'll simply receive a code to present in-store for pickup.
Users can search the site for discounted cereals, grains, beverages, and packaged and canned foods, and even sign up for notifications to easily track upcoming expiration dates.
Last year, Ekponimo’s team of four completed a successful three-month pilot, helping hundreds of people in Lagos and Abuja. In an interview with CNN, Ekponimo said Chowberry was able to work with 20 retailers in that short period of time to feed around 150 orphans at risk.
Since then, the demand for Chowberry has only increased. "We went from about 1,500 daily visits to double that. There have been requests and demand, people tell me we really want this, we're relying on what you guys are doing because things are expensive," Ekponimo told CNN.
As for the future, Ekponimo dreams of bringing his app to larger retail stores to make an even greater impact.
"The problems in Africa are very strong so it’s a perfect testing ground," he said. "If it’s taken anywhere else in the world we just need the right partnerships, investors, and people that can really replicate these solutions."
About Social Good Summit
The intersection of technology and new media has redefined our understanding of human progress. In the midst of this rapidly changing world, the Social Good Summit focuses on where we’re headed. Held annually during the United Nations General Assembly week, the Summit unites a lively community of global citizens and progressive thought leaders around a common theme: #2030NOW. A dynamic exploration of the world we want to live in by 2030, the Social Good Summit will focus on how we can unlock technology’s potential to make the world a better place.
This year's summit is brought to you by Mashable, the United Nations Foundation, the United Nations Development Programme, and the 92nd Street Y. For complete event details, visit socialgoodsummit.com.
Nicole is a Senior Editor at Mashable. She primarily covers entertainment and digital culture trends, and in her free time she can be found watching TV, sending voice notes, or going viral on Twitter for admiring knitwear. You can follow her on Twitter @nicolemichele5.
