In the late 1970s, Mr. Ibrahim N’Jai, a Director in the Sierra Leone Ministry of Lands and housing, travelled to Kenya for an official assignment. After the assignment, he thought of a gift in Kenya to bring home to his lovely wife. He brought her a special gift. It was a cookstove with aceramic insert, that would make her life simpler. They noticed how quicker, cleaner and happier the cooking was. 

A family with a sense of industry, asked: ‘Why don’t we produce these types of stoves in our dear country, Sierra Leone, and save millions of women from the drudgery and inefficiency of cooking in the old way? Mr N’Jai went back to Kenya to learn how to manufacture these types of cookstoves. So, began in 1990 the production of ‘Wonder Stove.’ Wonder Stove has millions of dollars worth of goodwill in the country and parts of the Mano River Union, where some of it has been sold. Their son, while growing up, participated actively in the family business, before proceeding to the UK in 1997, for further studies. In 2012 he returned to Sierra Leone to lead the company. He became a second-generation cookstove entrepreneur.

 Though a professional accountant, he is more interested in innovations, industrial design and practical engineering. He redesigned Wonder Stove to use less fuel, cook faster and have more stability. In 2013, he made a wise move and invited a capable friend to join him in the ownership and management of the business. She is Hannah Max-Macarthy. She came in with experience in strategies, marketing and corporate management.

 They rebranded the company as West wind Energy SL Limited, retaining the product trademark name Wonder Stove. They are the new cofounders of Westwind Energy and Wonder Stoves. Mr N’Jai, now Pa N’Jai, has retired. However, he sits as Chairman of the Board, offering guidance, where needed. His dear wife has passed on. But the story of Wonder Stoves continues.