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Three African Innovators Awarded For Their Game-Changing Technology

Three African Innovators Awarded For Their Game-Changing Technology

Three African innovators have been awarded prizes for the impressive innovations that they have conceived and brought to life, as part of the Innovation Prize for Africa 2017.

Aly El-Shafei of Egypt was selected as the grand prize winner, with Philippa Ngaju Makobore of Uganda securing the second prize, and Dougbeh-Chris Nyan of Liberia winning the special prize for social impact, according to Innovation Prize for Africa’s website.

The three winners saw their efforts in creating healthcare and energy efficiency-related solutions acknowledged, with prize-money rewarding their hard work and ingenuity, while assisting them to fund their continued work.

El-Shafei won the grand prize of $100,000, Makobore received $25,000 as the second prize winner, and Nyan also earned $25,000, while the seven remaining nominees each received a $5,000 voucher to dedicate towards their innovations, HTXT reports.

Jean-Claude Bastos de Morais, founder of the African Innovation Foundation, expressed his delight at the success of innovators featured at the event.

“This edition of IPA has been all about galvanizing support for African innovators in order to mobilize increased investments to help them commercialize and scale their innovations at a greater rate,” Bastos de Morais said, according to EINNews.

“AIF has rewarded IPA 2017 for developing solutions that can truly add value to the lives of Africans, and I believe that these innovations have incredible commercial potential and will succeed in attracting the right investments to go to the next stage,” he added.

African innovators improving life for Africans

 

Below are the three winners of the prizes, as mentioned above, while a full list of the 10 nominees can be seen here.

An impressive innovation by Dr Aly Shaffei that enables cheaper energy generation. Photo - VenturesAfrica
An impressive innovation by Dr Aly Shaffei that enables cheaper energy generation. Photo – VenturesAfrica

Grand Prize: Aly El-Shafei – SEMAJIB (Egypt)

The Smart Electro-Mechanical Actuator Journal Integrated Bearing (SEMAJIB), which is a patented innovation courtesy of Dr El-Shafei of Egypt, is a smart bearing which is versatile and can change its characteristics as it operates. It can therefore be used to support energy-generating turbines, improving efficiency and reducing the cost of generating energy in Africa.

Electronically Controlled Gravity Feed Infusion Set (ECGF) accurately administers intravenous fluids. Photo - VenturesAfrica
Electronically Controlled Gravity Feed Infusion Set (ECGF) accurately administers intravenous fluids. Photo – VenturesAfrica

Second Prize: Philippa Ngaju Makobore – ECGF (Uganda)

Invented in Uganda, the Electronically Controlled Gravity Feed Infusion Set (ECGF) is a medical device that accurately administers intravenous fluids and medicines by controlling the rate of fluid flow based on feedback from a drop sensor.

Dougbeh-Chris Nyan's rapid diagnostic test is one of the innovations that are being recognized. Photo - VenturesAfrica
Dougbeh-Chris Nyan’s rapid diagnostic test is one of the innovations that are being recognized through the Innovation Prize for Africa. Photo – VenturesAfrica

Special Prize for Social Impact: Dougbeh-Chris Nyan – New Technology for Rapid Detection of Many Infections Using A Single Test (Liberia)

Medical innovations are always impressive, and this one from Liberia is a game-changer. This rapid diagnostic test can detect at least three to seven infections at the same time within 10 to 40 minutes, as opposed to a few days in most current cases, enabling quicker diagnosis and treatment.

All three innovations will be beneficial in improving the lives of Africans.

The awards were presented at an event themed ‘African Innovation: Investing in Prosperity’, with the nominated innovators hailing from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Uganda and Zimbabwe.

The sixth edition of the award saw over 2,500 applications made, with 10 nominees selected to be considered at the actual award ceremony, which was held at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra, Ghana.