Pelé teams up with Shell to bring together Africa and Europe in a first of its kind player-powered energy game.
The kinetic football pitch at the Federal College of Education (Technical) Akoka, Lagos installed by shell was in the spotlight again yesterday with the Pelé’s Energy Challenge.
As stated the event helped launched ‘Make the Future London’,
Pelé’s Energy Challenge showcased the power of innovative kinetic tile technology that converts footsteps into renewable electricity.
The challenge features two teams that comprised children from London and Lagos linked up via satellite. The more energy a player generated on the tiles the more time they had to compete, directly linking the technology to the task. Shell previously installed kinetic football pitches in Rio and Lagos, providing a safe environment for the communities to play, with floodlights powered by the players and solar panels.
The tile technology used to build the pitches and power Pelé’s Energy Challenge is the brainchild of a British entrepreneur and founder of Pavegen, Laurence Kemball-Cook, who has been supported through Shell LiveWIRE programme.
In 2014, Shell and Pelé joined forces to launch the first of its kind player powered community football pitch in Rio de Janeiro.
While the Lagos pitch was opened in 2015 with the support of solar entrepreneur and global music superstar Akon; showing the local communities what can be achieved when bright energy ideas are put into action.
The LiveWIRE programme was launched in Nigeria in 2003, and has since enabled young entrepreneurs to convert ideas into real businesses that create products or services as well as employment to the community. LiveWIRE supports Nigeria’s National Youth Policy by encouraging and training young people to start their own businesses by providing start-up funds. It is recorded that the programme has trained 6,200 youths in enterprise development and management, and provided business start-up grants to 3,100
This is an added value to Africa and Nigeria youths as a whole. And something Nigeria can surely benefit from.
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