Below are the profiles  of the 2020 Africa Youth Awards nominees for the Award for Technology

 

Category Definition:

This category is designated to honour young Africans who are leading the technological revolution in Africa. Their works must be purposed towards solving problems around the world and playing a major role in developing Africa.

NB: Profiles were submitted by nominators

 

NOMINEES:

 

Award for Technology

 

AMANDA OBIDIKE

STEMi Makers Africa

Amanda Obidike is the Executive Director of STEMi Makers Africa. In this role, she provides leadership, strategy management and oversees the design and implementation of sustainable Community projects and STEM Education across 17 Sub-Saharan countries by preparing the next generation of Africans with STEM lucrative skills for Africa’s workforce.

Forbes Science marked her as the Nigerian changing the culture fabric for young girls to embrace STEM. In addition to STEM, Amanda addresses thematic topics on Social Innovation, Data Science, Youth Development and reform in Education Curriculum.

She serves as a Mentor in the New York Academy of Science, Cherie Blair Foundation, the 1million Women in Tech, Global thinkers for Women where she lends her voice, knowledge, and serves as a role model to girls in Africa.

She was given the Technology Rising Star Award by WOC; Michigan, Positive Impact Award of Athena40: The World Most Innovative Women, 2020; 100 Leading Ladies in Africa, and Role Model Finalist in Booking.com Technology Playmakers Awards, for successfully championing diversity for the girl child.

Currently serves on the Leadership Board of the 500 Women Scientists, USA and writing a Research on “Digital Transformation for Development: e-learning, lifelong learning and Education Strategy”, a Research presented to West and Central African Research and Education Network (WACREN).

 

 

 

HABTAMU ABAFOGI

Jimma University

Engr.Habtamu Abafoge, Founder of Simbona Africa Healthcare R&D, is a senior biomedical engineer and design expert. He has BSc in biomedical engineering, Masters in MBA from the business and economics college of Jimma University.  Habtamu has 7 years of experience in innovative product design development with team Simbona. He has extensive experience in healthcare innovation development management. Habtamu is known for its innovative idea generation, consultation, and hard worker in the ecosystem of healthcare innovations and technology transfer. For his works, Habtamu awarded more than 7 national and international awards and recognition for the past 4 years. “Some of his awards and achievements;

  • Head, Jimma University Biomedical Innovation Center*
  • Simbona Africa Healthcare R&D Founder*
  • Incubate of Villgro Kenya Healthcare Business@Nairobi
  • Winner & Alumni of Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship Foundation@Lagos
  • 2015 Africa Entrepreneurship Award Winner& Alumni of AEA
  • Honor Diploma Award From Rice University, USA at Texas Houston
  • Grand Canada Challenges “Bold Idea Big Impact” Innovation Winner 2017@Toronto

 

KELVIN NYAME

CEO of meQasa

 

KGAOGELO MAHASHA

South African Airways

K Mahasha is an inspiring 27-year-old who has made a name in the aviation industry and one of the few female engineers in the field. Currently, the only female in Cape Town line station she dedicates her progress to inspire girls to be the best they can be.

She was named among the Top 100 most influential young South Africans in 2018 by Avance Media.

 

PALESA ANTONY

mLab

Palesa is the Provincial Coordinator for mLab (www.mlab.co.za) in Limpopo, Polokwane. Her role is to unlock the potential of the digital economy in a remote area. Building a vibrant tech startup ecosystem for digital innovative entrepreneurs and raise the level of digital literacy and digital skills for the youth sector. My biggest highlight was participation at the 1 st International Conference on African Entrepreneurship between 13th and 14th June 2019 at De Montfort University, London which leads to the best research paper award – Titled-” The Rise of innovative tech hub supporting Entrepreneurship and Start-ups in Limpopo Province of South Africa” and currently contributing to the book chapter in partnership with the De Montfort University. The book chapter contribution will help me in pursuing my MBA.

Establishment of mLab in a rural area in Limpopo South Africa The ICT sector is under-developed in the Limpopo Province and there is, therefore, a need to develop this sector into a vibrant digital ecosystem that supports the identification and nurturing of talent and entrepreneurship. New ICT companies need to be established, not only to provide ICT-related products and services but also to attract and serve as an employer of digital skills being built in the province. The challenge lies not only in raising the ICT skills levels but also attracting potential entrepreneurs and activating and motivating them to start their businesses.

There is a mismatch between what institutions of higher learning produce and what the industry needs. This is often related to the lack of graduate experiential learning. There is a clear need to address the current ICT skills gap, mismatch concerning industry needs and shortages of relevant digital skills to tackle challenges of the 4th industrial revolution. This could be addressed by developing ICT skills and capabilities at different levels and amongst different target groups.

 

RIDWAN RASHEED

Ridwan is a Social Entrepreneur and a talented problem solver with a strong track record for operational efficiency, organizational management, program development, building and managing high-powered teams.

He has extensive experience in designing user-centred digital products, product management, and improving processes by executing innovative approaches. He is deeply passionate about community building, leadership, and human capital development.

Ridwan is the Founder and Executive Director of ZeroToOne Foundation, a social venture focused on reducing unemployment in Nigeria by equipping young people with transformational digital, entrepreneurial and employability skills. Ridwan is the Co-Founder & COO of IderaOS (an ecosystem e-commerce platform for small businesses to start and grow their business).

He is recognized by the Tony Elumelu Foundation as one of the top young emerging Entrepreneurs in Africa 2019, awarded by Accra Business School as an Africa Young Leader 2019, selected by the American government for the YALI RLC program, he is a digital skill and business training consultant for #SheMeansBusiness(a Facebook initiative for Women entrepreneurs around the world) where he has empowered thousands of SMBs across Nigeria.

His startup IderaOS was one of the top 10 regional finalists of Startup WorldCup in Boston USA and Winner of Masschallenge Boston USA.