Abdullateef Lawal is the founder of Dixcoat Paints, a business that turns agricultural byproducts into paint, making Nigerian homes and communities more beautiful through local, sustainable and affordable paint products

Abdullateef is currently serving as country director for the Global Youth Network and is a resource person for the National Youths Service Corps in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

THE INSPIRATION FOR DIXCOAT PAINTS

His inspiration for Dixcoat Paints came when he saw that “over 60% of urban houses and 80% of rural houses were not painted in Nigeria. The paint available is too expensive or of inferior quality for low and middle income Nigerians.”

Instead of buying expensive options produced by other countries, Abdullateef saw an economic opportunity for Nigeria—locally-made paint.

When he thought about creating paint, a memory came back to him—”when I was a child, I saw a local painter in my community often come to mother’s shop to buy cassava powder for boosting paint quantity and quality.”

HELPING NIGERIA’S ECONOMY

As a social innovator, he wanted to use this knowledge to create more affordable paints for low- and middle-income Nigerians.

Abdullateef sources local products and recycles agricultural byproducts, such as cassava waste and arabic gum, to turn into household paints. After perfecting the process, he founded Dixcoat Paints and Agrochemicals.

Abdullateef is currently working on new paint production processes and reaching out to investors. Passionate about teaching youth vocational skills, he also holds workshops to teach young members of his community the process of turning raw materials into paint.

DIXCOAT PAINTS IN THE BECAUSE ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

In the Because Accelerator, Abdullateef hopes to develop his brand for an audience of both investors and customers.

In five years, Abdullateef hopes that Dixcoat Paints will be the major household name for paints in Northern Nigeria, providing paint that is both durable and affordable to put a rainbow of colors on houses across the region.

The Because Accelerator is a completely free online training and mentorship program for entrepreneurs who have product-focused ideas and businesses in areas impacted by poverty.