Noble Ekajeh

Engineer, Entrepreneur, Idea generator

Noble Ekajeh is a dynamic business leader with 25+ years of turning bold ideas into thriving enterprises. From launching global tech ventures in Nigeria with giants like HP, SAP, and ATM Consortium to now leading Shiraan Limited (part of the Phoenix Edison consortium), he’s driven by a mission: transforming Africa’s waste into clean energy—solving power shortages and pollution in one stroke. A strategic thinker with an Ivy League engineering & economics background (Dartmouth College) and an MBA from Lagos Business School, Noble blends technical depth with sharp business acumen. Whether scaling startups or steering multimillion-dollar ventures, he thrives where innovation meets impact.

I'm deeply driven by the challenge of transforming Africa's pressing problems into sustainable opportunities. Nothing excites me more than turning waste into reliable energy - it's not just about solving power shortages, but about creating cleaner cities, empowering communities, and building a circular economy that benefits both people and planet. My career has been fueled by this passion for marrying innovation with impact, whether scaling tech solutions with global giants like HP and SAP or now pioneering waste-to-energy projects across Nigeria. I firmly believe Africa's solutions must be homegrown - adapting cutting-edge technologies to our unique contexts while developing local talent. For me, true success means building businesses that are both profitable and purposeful, creating systems that don't just generate returns but transform societies. What keeps me going is seeing these ventures create jobs, light up homes, and prove that with the right approach, Africa's challenges can become its greatest economic opportunities.

The Power of Waste in Africa What if Africa's waste crisis isn't just a problem—but a powerful solution waiting to be unlocked? Every day, Nigerian cities overflow with mountains of waste - over 44 million tons annually. At the same time, over 90 million people live without reliable electricity - approximately 5GW of grid supplied power to a population of over 200 million people. These are often treated as two separate problems — but what if the solution to one could help fix the other? I'm Noble Ekajeh, and for over 25 years, I've been at the forefront of building businesses that thrive amidst complexity—from global tech giants like HP and SAP to pioneering infrastructure projects across Africa. Today, as the Managing Director of Shiraan Limited and lead developer within the Phoenix Edison consortium, my mission is clear: to turn waste into clean, sustainable power. We’re building waste-to-energy projects that take the waste we throw away — municipal, agricultural, industrial — and transform it into baseload electricity. No diesel. No blackouts. Just power, from the very thing we’ve ignored or buried for decades. This isn't just about power; it's about reimagining waste as a valuable resource, creating jobs, reducing environmental hazards, and fostering economic resilience. But this isn’t just about energy or sanitation — it’s about systems transformation. It’s about seeing value where others see decay. Creating jobs, reducing emissions, and designing an African solution to an African problem. But this vision requires a collective shift in mindset. Policymakers must prioritize sustainable infrastructure, investors should recognize the long-term benefits of green energy, and communities need empowerment to drive local solutions. I believe Nigeria — and Africa at large — can leapfrog into a future where sustainability isn't a luxury, but a necessity. A future where innovation meets inclusion, and progress isn’t imported, but homegrown. This is the power of reimagining waste.

Building Locally-Facing Global Entities, Cross-Sector Experience, Emerging Markets Focus (Sub-Saharan Africa), Operations Leadership, Project Development & Management, Stakeholder Management, Strategic Business Development