Favour Ojieh is a Nigerian chemical scientist and social entrepreneur whose works bring together scientific research, environmental responsibility and everyday practicality in a way that is both rigorous and accessible. She is the founder of Voice of Climate Action, VOCA Shoe Polish, an eco-innovative brand that transforms recovered plastic waste into high-quality shoe care products, demonstrating how applied science can address environmental challenges while delivering reliable consumer products. Her work is rooted in the understanding that plastic pollution, climate change and human well-being are closely connected systems, not isolated problems.
Plastics are designed for durability, a property that makes them useful but also environmentally persistent. Scientific studies show that common plastics can take hundreds of years to degrade, breaking down into microplastics that contaminate soil, water and food systems. In many urban and coastal areas in Nigeria, mismanaged plastic waste contributes to blocked drainage systems, flooding and increased public health risks. It was this reality that Favour encountered during the 2020 Bayelsa State flood, when plastic waste clogged waterways and worsened the impact of the disaster. Witnessing how pollution intensified human suffering shifted her perspective permanently. She recognized that plastic pollution is not only an environmental issue but a human one, affecting safety, recovery, livelihoods and dignity.
Drawing on her formal education in chemical science, Favour began exploring how waste materials could be reintegrated into productive use through controlled, safe and scientifically sound processes. Chemical science plays a crucial role in sustainability because it allows materials to be analyzed, modified and reformulated for new applications while maintaining safety and performance. In 2023, she began focused research and experimentation, refining formulations and processes that would eventually become VOCA Shoe Polish. Her approach aligns with circular economy principles, a model increasingly supported by environmental science, which emphasizes reducing waste, reusing materials and recycling resources to extend their life cycle and reduce environmental pressure.
Based in Nigeria, Favour carries out her research, production and community-based environmental work locally. This proximity to the problem allows her to design solutions that respond directly to local environmental conditions and consumption patterns. VOCA Shoe Polish is developed using recovered plastic waste as part of the production process, turning discarded materials into a value-added product that fits seamlessly into daily life. From a scientific perspective, this approach helps reduce the volume of plastic entering landfills and waterways while lowering the demand for entirely new raw materials, which in turn reduces energy use and associated carbon emissions.
VOCA sits at the intersection of science, circular economy, and lifestyle. While the product offers effective shoe care and protection, its broader significance lies in how it translates abstract environmental concepts into something tangible. Research in environmental behavior shows that people are more likely to adopt sustainable practices when they are embedded in familiar routines. By integrating climate action into an everyday product, VOCA encourages environmental responsibility without requiring drastic lifestyle changes.
What sets VOCA apart is that it goes beyond aesthetics and surface-level sustainability claims. The brand directly addresses plastic pollution, supports community awareness and demonstrates how environmental challenges can be met with practical innovation. VOCA serves individuals, families, professionals, schools and environmentally conscious consumers who value quality alongside positive impact. The brand is guided by values that extend beyond sustainability alone, including innovation, integrity, excellence, empowerment, responsibility, community development and African creativity. These values reflect a growing body of research that shows sustainable solutions are most effective when they are locally driven and culturally relevant.
Favour finds deep fulfillment in watching waste become useful again. Scientifically, material recovery and reuse reduce environmental stress by decreasing pollution and conserving resources, but on a human level, the transformation is equally powerful. Beyond product development, she actively engages in sustainability education and climate action, using VOCA as a platform to share knowledge and inspire behavior change. VOCA products have been sold and showcased at community markets, sustainability events, entrepreneurship fairs, school programs and environmental exhibitions, spaces that allow science, innovation and public engagement to meet.
Her work gained national recognition when she was invited as a panelist at Beyond Oil 2025, a climate and sustainability event held in Rivers State, Nigeria. The event focused on moving discussions and actions beyond dependence on oil and fossil fuels, particularly in communities heavily affected by oil extraction. Beyond Oil 2025 brought together activists, innovators, experts, community leaders and young people to examine environmental protection, economic alternatives and climate justice. As a panelist, Favour shared her experience in climate action, recycling and sustainable innovation, highlighting how transforming waste into value can create both environmental and economic benefits. The discussions emphasized that climate challenges are deeply intertwined with social and economic systems and that solutions must be inclusive, practical and locally led.
Within VOCA, Favour serves as the founder and lead innovator, overseeing product formulation, quality control, strategic planning, partnerships and overall brand direction. Her chemical science background provides the technical foundation needed to ensure product safety, consistency and performance, while her ongoing learning in sustainability and circular economy practices ensures that the brand evolves responsibly. Beyond the commercial side of the business, she is also involved in VOCA’s NGO and impact-driven initiatives. Through projects such as Young Climate Actor and Technology, she supports climate education, eco-friendly living and technology empowerment, particularly among young people. Research in environmental education consistently shows that early exposure to sustainability concepts increases long-term environmental responsibility, a principle that strongly informs her work.
VOCA Shoe Polish can be accessed through exhibitions, direct orders, partner vendors and via Facebook on the VOCA Shoe Polish page, where customers can place orders through direct messages. The brand continues to grow through partnerships, community engagement and exhibitions, reaching people who want products that perform well while contributing to environmental solutions. Favour welcomes collaborations, sponsorships, product partnerships, recycling initiatives and environmental programs, as well as support for VOCA’s impact work through partnerships that help expand climate education and community outreach.
At its core, Favour Ojieh’s work illustrates how applied science can quietly but effectively reshape everyday life. By combining chemical science, social entrepreneurship and environmental responsibility, she has created a brand that addresses plastic pollution, supports community empowerment and promotes climate action in a form people can easily adopt. Through VOCA Shoe Polish, she reminds us that sustainability does not have to feel distant or abstract. It can be practical, accessible and even a little satisfying especially when it helps protect both your shoes and the planet beneath your feet.
Check out her amazing works here: https://www.facebook.com/share/1863A8jrF2/
