Africa’s leading role in innovation has been elevated after 16 African innovators were shortlisted for the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
The award that was launched in 2014 by the UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering is a mega stride for encouraging ambitious engineering innovators and transforming Africa’s economy through scalable solutions.
1. Kenyan innovator Purity Gakuo developed the Kuza Freezer, a durable, low-cost, solar-powered fridge freezer made from recycled plastic waste.
The freezer has sensors that remotely monitor and review key performance data, e.g. temperature, battery performance, panel status, storage capacity, and location of the device.
The freezer is a perfect solution for small-scale fish farmers and traders as it reduces post-harvest losses of fish and increases their revenue.
2. Kenyan environmental scientist Kevin Maina, together with his team, is behind the Eco Tiles, an environmentally friendly building material made from recycled plastic.
The tiles, which solve plastic pollution menace, are stronger and lighter than clay or concrete tiles.
The lifespan of an Eco Tile is 50 years and is equivalent to that of the conventional tiles. The innovators said Eco Tiles can save up to 30% in the cumulative costs of construction.
3. Kenyan innovator Esther Mueni is the brain behind Knock Knock, a domestic alert system for the deaf or those with partial hearing impairments.
The alert system uses an extremely sensitive vibration sensor to detect physical knocks on a door and transmit the information to smartphones via Bluetooth.
The first alert that comes from the system in case of a physical knock is visual, while the second alert, through a mobile app, is a phone vibration of a particular pattern.
A single Knock Knock domestic alert system, which uses a rechargeable 5W lithium-ion battery, is priced at $120.
4. Computer programmer Esther Kimani developed the Early Crop Pest and Disease Detection Device, a solar-powered tool that uses Artificial Intelligence- and machine learning-enabled cameras to quickly detect and identify agricultural pests and diseases.
The pest and disease detection device uses continuous image capturing and analysis to alert farmers within five seconds of an infestation. The device also suggests the best intervention for the infestation.
The device has been coded with a locally hosted database that can detect more than 12,000 crop pests and pathogens with proven 97.5% accuracy. Its high-sensitivity solar-powered camera continuously captures images of crops within 600 metres.
It uses computer vision algorithms and advanced machine learning to detect and identify crop pests, pathogens or diseases, as well as the nature of the infection or infestation. The device then notifies the farmer via SMS.
The device helps small-scale farmers reduce crop losses through swift remedial action.
5. Entrepreneur Christopher Maara is the founder Kiri EV, a company that designs and assembles complete end-to-end affordable and clean-energy mobility products and services across Kenya.
Their products range from electric motorcycles with and scooters to tuk-tuks and battery-charging infrastructure. Kiri EV also electrifies petrol-powered motorcycles by converting them to fully electric vehicles. The mobility products are equipped with swappable rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that can go for 60 to 70 kilometres per charge.
6. Mechatronics engineer Charles Oduk created Beba-Beggie, an Internet-of-Things (IoT) automated locker technology that offers affordable, accessible, secure, and convenient short-term storage of packages, luggage and similar items.
The innovation targets to address insecurity and loss of valuables encountered by the two million daily commuters within Nairobi City’s central business district.
Beba-Beggie is used like an ATM. It has a control unit with an LCD screen. The user accesses the locker through a keypad on which they select the size of goods and duration of storage.
Charges for Beba-Beggie are hourly, and range from US$0.30 to US$1.90, depending on the size of the locker and the duration.
Other innovations from Africa listed for the award are:
1. Rory Assandey from Côte d’Ivoire is the brain behind La Ruche Health, a smart healthcare platform that provides communities in remote areas with direct access to vital healthcare information via WhatsApp. The platform facilitates appointments with vetted medical practitioners and digitises medical records for smooth patient onboarding.
2. Paul Soddo from Uganda created MakSol Cooker, a low-cost, solar-powered induction oven and hob designed for safe, zero-emissions indoor cooking by people in off-grid communities.
3. Dr Evodius Rutta from Tanzania innovated the MAVUNOLAB Solar Dryer, a low-cost solar-powered dryer that helps small-scale fish processors and farmers in off-grid locations to enhance food safety and hygiene for perishable food products.
4. Ivan Karugaba from Uganda created the Microfuse Stick Computer, a compact and affordable device that plugs into any screen, projector or monitor to transform it into a Wi-Fi-connected computer. The device increases computer access and digital inclusivity.
5. Abubakari Zarouk Imoro from Ghana is the face behind Myco-Substitutes, an eco-friendly sewage treatment that uses viruses, bacteria, and fungi to treat and feed on faecal waste and produce yarn and leather substitutes.
6. Adaeze Akpagbula from Nigeria brought to life PenKeep, a climate-smart remote sensing device that monitors and controls environmental conditions in poultry farms, ensuring optimal health and productivity of chickens.
7. Léandre Berwa, Rwanda innovated Second-Life Batteries, a solution that repurposes retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries to be assembled as a backup power supply for telecom towers and mini electricity grids.
8. Tunde Adeyemi from Nigeria is proud of his innovation, the Kitchen Box, an affordable biogas digester technology which turns any type of organic waste into animal feed and organic fertiliser and generates clean energy for heating and cooking.
9. Martin Tumusiime from Uganda created Yo-Waste, a location-based mobile application that connects homes and businesses to independent agents for an efficient on-demand rubbish collection and disposal service.
10. Ludo Ntshiwa from Botswana created Biomass Briquettes, an environmentally friendly, clean fuel that harnesses the green energy of bio-waste to produce renewable energy for heat production. The energy substitutes charcoal.
Four finalists at the 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation will be selected to compete for a share of £ 60,000, with the overall winner receiving £ 25,000.
The Africa Prize innovators join a network of 133 alumni across 21 African countries to boost engineering efforts as a driver of the African Agenda 2063, the African Union’s blueprint for development over the next 50 years.
All shortlisted innovators will gain exclusive business incubation, mentoring, fundraising, and communication. They also get access to the Academy’s global network of high-profile engineering and business experts in the UK, Africa and beyond.
Follow or like our social media accounts for more informative stories:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpeoHubDigital
Twitter: https://twitter.com/upeohubnews
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/UpeoHubDigital
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/upeohubdigital
Would you like us to feature your story/opinion? You can contact us through the following:
Cell: +254 759 896907
Email: news@upeohubdigital.co.ke
For corporate engagements and partnerships, you can reach out to us via info@upeohubdigital.co.ke
For marketing engagements, email us via marketing@upeohubdigital.co.ke
