As the founder of Sosai Renewable Energies, Habiba Ali seeks to clear the smoke surrounding unsustainable energy in Northern Nigeria and pave the way for women’s usage and leadership in the renewable energies industry.
Growing up, Habiba worked at a roadside restaurant in Northern Nigeria alongside her mother. When she later realized she had likely inhaled large amounts of smoke from her job, she was inspired to look for a better solution linked to renewable energy. Through her interactions with women who cook in their homes and who operate street-side food carts, Habiba began to envision a solution to this uniquely gendered phenomenon impacting women’s health.
For Habiba, the solution involves empowering communities through renewable energy solutions, technology, and advising services. She founded Sosai Renewable Energies Company, with the mission to afford all communities with renewable energy solutions that improve livelihoods. Sosai Renewable Energies Company works with women, specifically, to resell and use renewable energies for their own economic empowerment, providing solar-powered solutions and improved cookstoves to women across Northern Nigeria.
Coming from an area where women have limited economic opportunities, Habiba finds inspiration in getting to serve as an example of a woman leader to other women with whom she engages and empowers economically. She hopes to represent the positive change she hopes to see in her community. In the future, Habiba hopes to develop more solutions in rural Northern Nigeria and envisions her business as a forerunner in providing access to energy for people, while ensuring women own and manage renewable energy-powered businesses.
Habiba was a part of the 2015 VV GROW Fellowship and has since participated in numerous Vital Voices programs including the 2018 Global Ambassadors Program, 2018 WE Empower UN SDG Challenge, 2019 Global Leadership Awardee, Global Mentoring Walks (2016 – 2019), and VV100 2019 – 2020.
Learn more about Habiba and her purpose-driven business:
Facebook: Sosai RE Company
LinkedIn: Sosai RE Company
Twitter: @sosairen
Instagram: @sosairen
Website: www.sosairen.org