Edmund Wessels, a biomedical engineer from South Africa, and Anatoli Kirigwajjo, an electrical engineer from Uganda, have won the 2023 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation jointly. This award was presented by the Royal Academy of Engineering.
Wessels and Kirigwajjo have both been given the first prize at the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation. As a result, each of them will get £25,000 (587,670 ZAR)/(117,240,700 UGX) to go towards the future development of their respective inventions.
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About Yunga and FlexiGyn Yunga
With YUNGA, a local digital security network, Kirigwajjo comes out on top. This network connects neighbours to each other and to the police within a 20-kilometer radius using a physical device, smartphone app, or SMS service, and it does so at a minimal cost while also providing protection.
Already, over 130 home invasions and other property crimes have been averted thanks to the YUNGA network, which is currently used in close to a thousand houses spread across thirty towns in the central region of Uganda. Within the following two years, the team’s goal is to bring internet access to 32 thousand homes across the entirety of Uganda.
“I developed YUNGA after losing USD 1,300 worth of assets in a break-in, with little chance of the thieves being caught. We hope that with our household networks, communities will become harder targets for criminals. This will ensure safety, which in turn will create the space for economic activities to thrive,” says Kirigwajjo.
“YUNGA revolutionises communication in low-resource areas, providing a digital network for swift and efficient responses to crimes, enhancing safety for entire communities. YUNGA aims to reach more than 30,000 households and 150,000 individuals by 2025.”
FlexiGyn
The FlexiGyn from Wessels is a handheld device that runs on a battery and can be moved around easily. It gives gynaecologists the ability to detect and treat uterine issues in women without the need for anaesthesia or expensive equipment. Its primary focus is on expanding access to healthcare for women’s reproductive needs, particularly in more rural areas.
The majority of hysteroscopy devices are inflexible, which not only causes the patient a high amount of discomfort but also requires cumbersome supplementary equipment for viewing. Patients and medical professionals alike can enjoy a more pleasant and productive experience thanks to the new FlexiGyn device, which has a bendable scope that comes equipped with its own light and camera.
“My co-founder, Chris Meunier and I aim to bring healthcare to a woman’s doorstep, precisely when and where they need it. FlexiGyn is portable, intuitive and user-friendly, allowing gynaecologists to offer quality screenings and timely interventions regardless of the patient’s location or lack of medical infrastructure. At the same time, it is designed to minimise discomfort,” says Wessels.
“We are excited beyond belief to win the Africa Prize and know that this will help to get our name out and find the right partners to complete FlexiGyn’s journey.”
2023 Africa Prize
This year’s 15 finalists, Africa Prize entrepreneurs from 10 sub-Saharan African nations received eight months of training and specialised mentorship on company planning, recruitment, IP protection, funding, and commercialization.
The Africa Prize encourages and connects nominated entrepreneurs to global networks of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, and suppliers who may help them grow and develop technology.
The two other £10,000 finalists are:
Chukwuemeka Eze, Nigeria, Revive Kit An e-mobility business that converts gas-powered three-wheel motorbikes to run on batteries, saving up to 60%.
Gibson WAGAPAWA Pack Tanzania, Kawago Recycled laptop batteries power electric bikes, power banks, solar lighting, companies, and residences.
11 innovators from the 2023 shortlist competed for the One to Watch Prize and the Africa Prize.
Tolulope Olukokun won the £5,000 Africa Prize One-to-Watch Award. This Award recognises Olukokun’s electric cargo bike with a battery-powered fridge, which could assist Nigeria’s smallholder farmers in selling fresh food.
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Call for Nominations to the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation in 2024
The call for entries for the 2024 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is currently open. The competition is open to participation from individuals and small teams living and working in sub-Saharan Africa who have developed a scalable engineering invention to address a local need.
The submission period will close on July 25 at 4 p.m. British Summer Time (2023). Visit the ‘How to Apply’ page on the website for the Africa Prize, then submit your applications through the online grants system.