Two (2) Ugandan Inventors are among the 16 African entrepreneurs shortlisted for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
They are set to receive crucial commercialization support from the Royal Academy of Engineering to accelerate their businesses.
These entrepreneurs will undergo a vigorous training programme to accelerate their business, which cumulates in a showcase in the summer, where a winner is selected to receive £25,000, and three runners up receive £10,000.
Launched by the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2014, the Africa Prize has a track record for identifying and accelerating excellence. Africa Prize alumni have already created over 1,500 jobs, raised more than $14 million in grants and equity. The 2022 shortlist includes the Prize’s first Togolese and Congolese innovators, with innovators from nine countries in total. For the first time, half of the 16-strong shortlist are female innovators, including the first woman from Ethiopia to be shortlisted for the Prize.
Below is the complete list of selected technologies and candidates for the 2022 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation:
Dr Julius Mubiru, Uganda
He created “A-Lite Vein Locator,” a device that maps patients’ veins out as shadows on their skin, helping medical staff insert a drip or draw blood more easily.
Afomia Andualem, Ethiopia
She found a way to create a sustainable range of packaging and tableware made from agricultural by-products such as barley and wheat straw.
Lawrencia Kwansah, Ghana
Founder, Aquaponics Hub — a kit for new users to set up their own aquaponics system, complete with smart sensors to monitor crops and fish, and an online marketplace to sell produce.
Juveline Ngum, Cameroon
Founder Bleaglee — a sustainable cooking system that includes a smokeless cookstove made from recycled metal scraps, bio-briquettes, and an off-grid bio-digester.
Adekoyejo Kuye, Nigeria
Founder, Coldbox Store — an off-grid cold storage solution for farmers to store and sell fresh produce without relying on the electrical grid.
Virtue Oboro, Nigeria
Founder, Crib A’Glow — foldable photo-therapy cribs that treat jaundice in newborns. The crib can operate on solar or grid power, and monitors the baby’s condition.
Catherine Wanjoya, Kenya
Founder Genesis Care — a system to dispense and later dispose of feminine hygiene products. The system is installed to give young girls access to affordable products.
Mariam Eluma, Nigeria
Founder HoBeei — an online free-cycle platform where users can upload unwanted or unused items in exchange for virtual currency to purchase other goods.
Dr Jack Fletcher, South Africa
Founder HYENA POWER POD — a fuel-cell based hydrogen generator that converts LPG gas into usable electricity, all within one device.
Divin Kouebatouka, The Republic of the Congo
Founder Kukia — a process that transforms the invasive water hyacinth plant into an absorptive fibre that can clean up oil spills and stop oil leaks on land or water.
Philip Kyeswa, Uganda
Founder Peec REM — a remote monitoring and metering system for off-grid solar installations. It also alerts utilities to blackouts or tampering.
Oluwatobi Oyinlola, Nigerian
Founder SolarPocha — an outdoor workstation, a solar-powered space where students can connect to WiFi and off-grid electricity.
Gaël Matina Egbidi, Togo
Founder Solimi prepaid card — a prepaid, Visa-backed card that does not require users to bank with one specific bank, enabling them to make purchases online and cash out mobile money.
Fabrice Tueche, Cameroon
Founder TelMi — a set of devices that help nurses monitor patients, respond to alarms, and collect data to improve workflow and response times.
Femi Taiwo, Nigeria
Founder TERAWORK — an online platform that connects users to freelancers, so small business owners can find and safely outsource key skills such as coding and accounting.
Norah Magero, Kenya
Founder VacciBox — a mobile and solar-powered fridge that safely stores temperature-sensitive medicine such as vaccines, to be used by travel clinics and for transport.
