Since November 2022, 15 talented entrepreneurs from Angola, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe have undertaken intensive training and mentoring from international business leaders and experts. The innovations shortlisted in 2023 tackle challenges central to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, including clean water and sanitation, sustainable cities and communities, clean energy, good health and wellbeing, and quality education.
This year's four finalists will pitch their innovations to a panel of judges at the Africa Prize Final event in Accra, Ghana, on 6 July 2023. The winner will receive £25,000 and three finalists will win £10,000 each. The event will also name one entrepreneur as the ‘One to Watch’ and include an exhibition featuring the 2023 Africa Prize shortlist’s innovations. Those unable to attend in person can join an online livestream and participate in the 'One to Watch' vote. There is also an online exhibition of the shortlisted entrepreneurs.
The 2023 Africa Prize finalists are:
Chukwuemeka Eze, a Nigerian electrical engineer, developed the Revive Kit, a modular e-mobility service used to convert gas-powered three-wheeled motorbikes to run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
Gibson Kawago, a Tanzanian electrical engineer, developed the WAGA PAWA Pack, a rechargeable power source created from recycled laptop lithium-ion batteries, providing a reliable and affordable electricity source.
Anatoli Kirigwajjo, a Ugandan software engineer, developed YUNGA, a local digital security network that connects neighbours to each other and police within a 20km radius via a physical device, smartphone app or SMS service, providing security at a low cost.
Edmund Wessels, a South African biomedical engineer, developed FlexiGyn, a battery-powered portable handheld device enabling gynaecologists to diagnose and treat a woman’s uterus without anaesthetic or expensive equipment, increasing women’s access to reproductive healthcare, particularly in remote areas.
The shortlist for the One to Watch prize are:
Cristovao Cacombe, Arobot
Allen Chafa, Smart Water Tech
Cletus Ekpoh, Waste-to-Wealth Enhancer
Fikru Gebre Dikumbab, Multi-purpose Earth Brick Machine
Flavien Kouatcha Simo, Digital Aquaponics
Dr Deon Neveling, ProbiGal
Boitumelo Nkatlo, Affordable AMD Solution
Emmanuel Ofori Devi, MEDBOX
Tolulope Olukokun, ThinkBikes CoolMAX
Margaret Yainkain Mansaray, Smart Green Stove
Obed Zar, Aquaset
Guest speakers will include: Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana and Harriet Thompson, British High Commissioner for Ghana.
The judging panel consists of: Chair Malcolm Brinded CBS FREng, Rebecca Enonchong FREng, Dr John Lazar CBE FREng, Dr Ibilola Amao, Dr Alessandra Buonfino and guest judge, Sewu-Steve Tawia.
Find out more about the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
Recording notice
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Registration note
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Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann - Keynote Speaker
Sewu-Steve Tawia
Ato Ulzen-Appiah - Host
Malcolm Brinded CBE FREng
Dr Ibilola Amao
Dr Ibilola Amao is the Principal Consultant of Lonadek Global Services. With over three decades of Engineering and Entrepreneurship experience in the Energy, Power, Infrastructure, Oil, Gas & Renewable sectors, Ibilola is focused on solving Sustainability, Energy Security and Resource Optimization problems through innovation using technology solutions. Lonadek leverages partnerships, strategic alliances, joint ventures, and consortia efforts across Africa, Europe, USA, and the UAE to accelerate SMART goals. Ibilola is a committed change agent who invests her time in Human Capital Development Initiatives (HCDIs) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) activities. Through the activities of Lonadek, Ibilola has trained over 15,000 Engineers and empowered over 100,000 STEM Talent since 1991.
Sir John Lazar CBE FREng
Sir John is a software engineer and entrepreneur with experience of building and managing successful global businesses. He is Chair of the Raspberry Pi Foundation, which aims to help young people realise their full potential through the power of computing and digital technologies. He is also co-founder, General Partner, and a Limited Partner at Enza Capital, which backs founders and teams using technology to solve large and meaningful problems across Africa. He sits on the boards of multiple African technology companies and previously served as the Chair of What3words. He was awarded a CBE for services to engineering in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2016 and was knighted for services to engineering and technology in the His Majesty The King’s New Year Honours List 2025. Sir John was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2011 and chaired the Academy’s Enterprise Committee, which supports startups and scaleups across the UK and globally through the Enterprise Hub. He has also been a member of the Academy’s Education and Skills Committee and played an active role in developing the programme of study for England’s school Computer Science curriculum. Sir John has also been a judge and mentor for the Academy’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, which trains and backs early-stage African engineering companies. He has spent many years working on tech-related non-profit initiatives in Africa, especially building “digital blacksmiths” and maker labs. He has been an active angel investor and technology start-up mentor in the UK and Africa, with more than 40 individual pre-seed/seed investments. He graduated from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar with an MSc in Computation and a DPhil in History, following an undergraduate degree in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Sir John was elected as President of the Royal Academy of Engineering at its 48th AGM in 2024.
Dr Alessandra Buonfino
Rebecca Enonchong FREng
Ethel Cofie
