Nest Africa AI Innovation Lab has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CleanUp Multi Dynamic Concept (CleanUp MDC) to advance AI-powered environmental innovation, sustainability, and data-driven waste management across Nigeria and Africa.
The agreement marks CleanUp MDC as the first incubatee under Nest Africa's incubation programme. It represents a major step in Nest Africa's commitment to supporting African entrepreneurs and institutions to develop, adopt, and scale responsible AI solutions that address practical community challenges.
Introducing CleanUp MDC and JoliTrash
CleanUp MDC is a Nigerian environmental technology company using an AI-powered, toll-free voice platform called JoliTrash to connect waste collectors with recycling centres. The platform helps strengthen coordination across the waste-management value chain while making participation more accessible to collectors and communities.
The signing ceremony was held at the Nest Africa AI Innovation Lab office in Kaduna. Leaders from both organisations attended, including Yazid S. Mikail, Founder and CEO of Nest Africa AI Innovation Lab, and Yahuza Sani Hudu, Founder and CEO of CleanUp MDC.
Expected Partnership Impact
The incubation partnership is designed to strengthen an existing waste-management network through practical data systems, better planning, and responsible AI support.
How Nest Africa Will Support the Partnership
Nest Africa AI Innovation Lab will provide strategic guidance, technical expertise, and data-driven support to strengthen and scale the CleanUp MDC model. The collaboration will focus on turning operational data into practical tools for decision-making and sustainable growth.
- Developing predictive models for operational planning and waste-collection demand.
- Improving collection routing and coordination between collectors and recycling centres.
- Building data dashboards for monitoring activities, performance, and service expansion.
- Strengthening digital infrastructure and data partnerships for responsible scaling.
- Supporting ethical innovation, shared learning, and transparent collaboration.
The partnership will also support CleanUp MDC's expansion across its existing operations from Zaria to Lagos, while strengthening plans to extend services into Kaduna and Ondo States. This growth will be supported by stronger digital infrastructure, improved data systems, and more effective planning.
“With Nest Africa's support, we are strengthening our operations with data-driven systems that will improve efficiency in waste collection and recycling.”
— CleanUp MDC leadership
Building an Incubation Pipeline for Public-Impact Innovation
For Nest Africa, this milestone marks the official launch of its incubation programme, a key strategy for nurturing Africa's next generation of AI innovators. CleanUp MDC stands as the programme's first incubated project, demonstrating how locally grounded innovation can be combined with technical guidance, research, partnerships, and data systems to create measurable public impact.
The initiative forms part of Nest Africa's AI for Good & Ecosystem Partnerships portfolio, which invests in people, partnerships, and collaborative innovation to expand responsible access to AI and translate emerging technologies into real-world solutions.
Looking Ahead
Under the MoU, both organisations will develop an action plan and proposal framework for long-term sustainability and growth. Their shared ambition is to make environmental data accessible, actionable, and transformative for communities while building a more efficient, inclusive, and data-driven waste-management ecosystem across Africa.