£85,000 Africa Prize: Two Nigerians make 2026 shortlist as 16 innovators emerge

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The Royal Academy of Engineering has unveiled 16 innovators shortlisted for the 2026 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, with two Nigerians making the prestigious list for a share of the £85,000 prize fund.

A statement from the organisation today said the annual prize, regarded as Africa’s largest award dedicated to engineering innovation, supports entrepreneurs developing solutions to critical challenges across the continent. It is funded in part by the UK government’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.

Nigeria’s representatives on this year’s shortlist are Chidi Nwaogu, creator of Efiwe, a mobile-first coding platform that enables offline learning in 189 languages, and Derick Nwasor, whose Just Add Water technology delivers clean energy and medical-grade oxygen to healthcare facilities using advanced fuel cell systems.

The 2026 cohort spans 11 African countries, with innovators from Lesotho and Niger making the shortlist for the first time following a record number of applications from over 30 countries.

Speaking on the announcement, Rebecca Enonchong, Chair of the judging panel, said the shortlist reflects the growing diversity of engineering solutions across Africa.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to welcome talented innovators from so many different countries into the Africa Prize community this year,” she said, noting that the projects address key issues in healthcare, education, transport, and sustainability.

Innovations selected this year range from AI-powered maternal and cardiac health tools to renewable energy systems, smart farming platforms, and digital education solutions. Other shortlisted entries include mobile dialysis units, clean water technologies, and smart transport systems aimed at improving urban mobility.
The shortlisted innovators will undergo an intensive eight-month programme involving training, mentoring, and networking to refine their solutions into scalable businesses.

Four finalists will be selected to pitch at a live event scheduled for October in Johannesburg, where the overall winner will receive £50,000, while three runners-up will each take home £10,000. An additional £5,000 ‘One-to-Watch’ award will be decided by audience vote.

Since its launch in 2014, the Africa Prize has supported more than 160 entrepreneurs across 22 countries, whose innovations now employ over 40,000 people and impact more than 11 million lives globally.

Applications for the 2027 edition are expected to open in July and close in September 2026.