10 entrepreneurs have been named finalists of the Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA), which will see three winners share total prize money of US$185,000 plus other incentives.
The African Innovation Foundation (AIF) awards the Innovation Prize for Africa every year, with the event this year taking place in Accra Ghana on July 18.
Innovators from nine African countries including Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe have been shortlisted for the prize after undergoing a rigorous selection process by a renowned panel of judges.
The selected entrepreneurs include Peris Bosire of Kenyan agri-tech startup FarmDrive, Gift Gana of Zimbabwean malaria diagnosis startup Dr CADx, Nokwethu Khojane of South Africa group-buying platform Lakheni, Omolabake Adenle of Nigeria’s Voice Recognition and Speech Synthesis Software for African Languages, Nzola Swasisa of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s cheap communication tool Lokole, and Badr Idriss of Moroccan drone starup Atlan Space.
The list is completed by Egyptian Aly El-Shafei of Egypt for his patented smart bearing, Liberian Dougbeh-Chris Nyan, for his rapid diagnostic testing device, Nigerian Olanisun Olufemi Adewole for the Sweat TB Test, and Ugandan Philippa Ngaju Makobore for her electronically controlled gravity feed infusion set (ECGF).
“We are pleased to share with you the names of our IPA2017 nominees as we continue on our mission to catalyse the innovation spirit and unlock untapped potential in Africa. For the first time, this year’s nominees include innovators from Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia and Zimbabwe. Moreover, given the instrumental role African women play in transforming Africa, it is thrilling to see more women among the 10 nominees with game changing innovations,” Walter Fust, AIF chairman of the board, said.
“By providing platforms to recognize innovation excellence in Africa and mobilizing for African innovators, we continue to live up to our credo of engaging, inspiring and transforming. The inspiring stories of these nominees remind us that innovation and African-led solutions are indeed the answer to Africa’s growth and prosperity.”
