Four innovators from Kenya, Uganda, and Ghana have been named finalists for the 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, the continent’s largest award dedicated to engineering-driven entrepreneurship. Organized by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the prize provides winners with financial support, mentorship, and access to global networks. The overall winner will receive £50,000, while three runners-up will each be awarded £10,000, alongside a £5,000 “One to Watch” prize.
The Prize and Its Mission
Launched in 2014, the Africa Prize supports engineering solutions that address pressing local and global challenges. It provides not only financial awards but also an eight-month training program that equips entrepreneurs with business skills, market analysis tools, and product development guidance. Since inception, the initiative has supported 165 businesses across 22 countries, with more than 70% of alumni generating revenue and collectively raising over £25 million.
Highlighting Life-Saving Neonatal Care
Ugandan biomedical engineer Vivian Arinaitwe was selected for her device, Neo Nest, which addresses neonatal hypothermia during ambulance transfers from rural facilities. The portable incubator generates and regulates heat, while monitoring vital indicators and alerting caregivers through alarms and LED displays. Since joining the program, Arinaitwe has secured agreements with health facilities in Uganda and gained recognition at the African Women Innovation & Entrepreneurship Forum Awards.
Breaking Barriers in Sign Language Accessibility
Kenyan entrepreneur Elly Savatia developed Terp 360, an AI-powered app that translates speech into sign language using realistic 3D avatars. Built with input from Kenya’s deaf community, the app incorporates over 2,300 recorded signs, ensuring accuracy and cultural relevance. With support from a Google.org grant, Savatia’s team is expanding its sign language dataset and piloting deployments in Rwanda to increase accessibility in education and public services.
Transforming Aquaculture Through Technology
From Ghana, aquapreneur Frank Owusu created Aquamet, a smart monitoring system that helps smallholder fish farmers reduce mortality rates and boost yields. Equipped with sensors tracking pH, oxygen, and water temperature, the device provides real-time data and actionable recommendations directly to farmers’ phones. Owusu’s startup has since secured distribution partnerships across West Africa and collaborations with the British High Commission and fisheries science organizations.
Advancing Rural Mobility with E-Mobility
Kenyan engineer Carol Ofafa is tackling rural mobility challenges with E-Safiri, a solar-powered battery-swapping and charging service for electric bicycles and motorbikes. Designed for regions with limited access to home charging, the service also supplies surplus energy to nearby households, supporting wider community electrification. Since entering the Africa Prize program, Ofafa has been recognized by Business Daily’s Top 40 under 40 Women, secured Carbon Trust funding, and signed her first major contract with Renewable World.
The Final Event in Dakar
The 2025 Live Final will take place on October 16 at the Noom Hotel Dakar Sea Plaza in Senegal, marking the first time the event will be hosted in a Francophone country. Contestants will pitch their innovations to a panel of judges and a live audience, both in-person and online, with TV presenter Merry Beye hosting the ceremony. The event will feature a keynote speech by Claudia Senghor, founder of Agrobabe, and is supported by the British Embassy in Dakar.
Judges and Oversight
The judging panel is chaired by Rebecca Enonchong FREng, founder of AppsTech, and includes venture capitalists, engineers, and entrepreneurs from across Africa and Europe. Enonchong emphasized the importance of showcasing innovations that address diverse needs, from neonatal healthcare to sustainable energy solutions. She noted that the finalists’ work demonstrates how engineering and technology can meaningfully improve lives across the continent.
The 2025 Africa Prize finalists exemplify how African entrepreneurs are using engineering to tackle critical challenges in healthcare, education, agriculture, and mobility. Their innovations highlight the continent’s growing capacity to produce scalable solutions with both local and global impact. With the Live Final approaching, the stage is set to recognize groundbreaking innovators shaping Africa’s future.