Young Nigerian tech innovators are taking center stage in the race to solve Africa’s pressing problems. At the AfriVatech iResearch Fellowship Cohort One Grand Pitch, seven research fellows from leading Nigerian universities showcased cutting-edge projects targeting food safety, healthcare, agriculture, and antimicrobial resistance. The virtual event offered a platform for home-grown solutions to some of the continent’s most urgent challenges.
Dr Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Inter-Governmental Affairs, praised the innovators for their creativity and determination. “At this critical time, no one is going to rescue Africa other than we Africans ourselves,” he said, emphasizing the need for increased investment in STEM education and technology-driven research across the continent. He also highlighted the pivotal role startups can play in driving sustainable development.
Among the projects presented, Mercy Sado developed a system to ensure honey safety through trusted harvesters, lab testing, and QR-code traceability. Tife Kerry introduced ‘Green Cycle,’ a solution transforming agricultural waste into organic fertilizer to improve soil health. Other notable projects included Sekinah Adegbite’s digital model for hypertension and diabetes care, Aminat Adeshiyan’s ‘BioSecured Futures,’ Boluwatife Balogun’s antimicrobial resistance surveillance system ‘Sentisense Africa,’ Tolulope Oladipo’s AI health surveillance framework, and Winner Bakati’s year-round vegetable production model, ‘RedBarn Agrihub.’
After a rigorous evaluation process considering innovation, impact, and presentation clarity, Tife Kerry emerged as the overall winner with 84 percent, followed by Mercy Sado at 67 percent and Boluwatife Balogun at 64.5 percent. The results were announced by former Egyptian Minister of Health, Dr Halla Zaid, who encouraged the fellows to continue developing solutions that address real-world problems in their communities.
The top three innovators will now join the AfriVatech research team, gaining access to global networks and funding opportunities to scale their tech startups. The fellowship signals a growing trend of African-driven innovation, where young minds leverage science and technology to create sustainable solutions that can transform communities across the continent.
source: punch