Name/Nickname: Jimoh Nasihudeen (@KanasJnr)
Country/Region: Nigeria, Africa
Over the past four years, I have dedicated myself to blockchain development, mentorship, and ecosystem building, with a strong focus on how Web3 can solve real-world challenges in Africa. In 2025, I graduated from the Polkadot Blockchain Academy in Bali, where I completed the DApp track and was selected as a Voting Champion for my cohort. This recognition deepened my technical understanding of Substrate, toolings in the polkadot ecosystem and governance, while also strengthening my ability to guide others and lead within the ecosystem.
Mentorship and representation form the foundation of my journey. Before joining PBA, I mentored more than 40 students across two cohorts at DLT Africa, introducing them to blockchain fundamentals and DeFi. 70% of those students have since gone on to build their own projects in Web3.
For Sub0 2025, I have been selected as a hackathon mentor, where I will support builders in developing their first Polkadot-powered projects. This role is deeply important to me, as I believe Africa’s developers must be empowered with the skills and confidence to contribute meaningfully to Polkadot’s future.
Alongside mentorship, I have also submitted a speaker application for Sub0, where I proposed a talk on “ReFi on Polkadot: Redefining Sustainability in Web3 Through Regenerative Finance.” This talk is rooted in my work on AfriCycle, a regenerative finance project I introduced on the Polkadot Forum.
AfriCycle addresses Africa’s waste crisis by using blockchain to verify recycling efforts on-chain and reward participants with stablecoins. Already, the project has tracked more than 500 kilograms of waste across Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, and Côte d’Ivoire, and we are exploring integration with PolkaVM to enhance scalability in low-resource environments. Whether through speaking or mentoring, my goal at Sub0 is to show how Polkadot can be applied to create real, measurable impact in emerging markets.
The primary reason I am applying for sponsorship is to fulfill my role as a Sub0 hackathon mentor, to represent Africa at Polkadot’s most important global event, and to continue advancing AfriCycle by engaging with the wider ecosystem. Without sponsorship, the cost of traveling from Nigeria to Argentina (approx. $2,000) makes it impossible for me to attend. With this support, I will be able to deliver on responsibilities that extend far beyond myself: guiding hackathon teams, amplifying the conversation around regenerative finance, and ensuring Africa’s voice is present on the global stage.
If granted sponsorship, I will make this opportunity count. During the hackathon, I will mentor teams closely, drawing on my PBA and ecosystem experience. If given the chance to speak, I will highlight how regenerative finance can redefine sustainability in Web3, using AfriCycle as a practical example. Beyond the event, I will bring this knowledge back to Africa by organizing hands-on workshops through Polkadot Africa, helping developers explore Substrate and PolkaVM in practical ways.
For me, Sub0 Symbiosis is not just a conference. It is the platform where I can stand as a mentor, a potential speaker, and a representative of Africa’s growing Web3 community. With sponsorship, I will be able to amplify Africa’s presence, empower new builders, and showcase how Polkadot can drive sustainability and innovation where it is most needed.
– Jimoh Nasihudeen
GitHub | AfriCycle Forum Intro