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Achenyo Idachaba (born c. 1970) is an American-born entrepreneur working in Nigeria. She won the Cartier Initiative Award for women in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2014. Her TED talk had over 1.8 million views as of 2020. "How I turned a deadly plant into a thriving business", Achenyo Idachaba, TED, May 2015.
She realised that Water Hyacinth ( Eichornia crassipes) which was recognised as an invasive weed could be harvested as she had read of this happening in Asia. In collaboration with local craftspeople she set up a range of products that were woven from the dried plants. The company was called Mitimeth. She developed products such as a waste basket and a table tidy 2014 Finalists , ElleDecoration. Retrieved 29 February 2016. which were made from plants that are usually only known for being invasive. These plants were originally from South America and can be seen as attractive in a domestic garden, however they have been called the "worst aquatic plant" as they grow so abundantly that they create large floating mats of plants that quickly reproduce. "Non-native Invasive Freshwater Plants", WA.gov. Retrieved 29 February 2016. By 2013 she had won a grant from the government and she was employing seven staff. The weeds are harvested, dried and then made into rope which can then be made into products.
In 2014 her efforts were recognised when she was given the Cartier award. This was the women's initiative award for sub-Saharan Africa — which had also been won the year before by another Nigerian, Bilikiss Adebiyi Abiola. Bilikiss Adebiyi , 2013, cartierwomensinitiative.com. Retrieved 28 February 2016. She has been featured on CNN. "Woven wonders from water weeds and waste", Lauren Said-Moorhouse, Carla Wanyika and Florence Obondo, 2 January 2015. Retrieved 29 February 2016.
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