The African Union (AU) is shining a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of women who are using technology to transform education across Africa. This recognition aligns with the AU’s Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA), which identifies information, communication, and technology (ICT) as crucial tools for empowering graduates and contributing to socio-economic development.
The strategy emphasizes not only universal access to ICT but also its role in enhancing the quality and delivery of educational services. ICT offers opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship, and employability, while also providing flexible teaching methods that cater to diverse learner needs. It plays a significant role in boosting graduates’ confidence and dignity across all levels of education.
The Innovating Education Expo in Africa, held in 2018 and 2019, showcased the efforts of young women striving to achieve ‘Aspiration 6’ of Agenda 2063. This vision calls for a continent where development is driven by the people, particularly women and youth. In 2019, two exceptional female innovators were recognized for their contributions, highlighting how empowering women through Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) can lead to solutions for societal challenges and position young women as agents of change in their communities.
These achievements align with the mission of the African Union International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA), which seeks to empower girls and women through education. This mission supports CESA’s strategic objective of accelerating gender parity and equity across the continent.
At the 2019 Innovating Education Expo, the AU/CIEFFA highlighted the work of five young women from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Rwanda, and South Africa. These innovators have made significant impacts in their communities by leveraging STEM to create educational solutions.
Susannah Farr, the CEO of the Gold Youth Development Agency (GYDA) in South Africa, was recognized as the top innovator at the Expo. Her organization focuses on grassroots youth development through a scalable peer-education model. This model empowers young people to become nation builders by harnessing their influence over their peers. GYDA addresses educational outcomes in challenging environments and seeks solutions for job creation in areas where opportunities are scarce. Their model has positively impacted over 55,000 young people in 123 communities across four countries.
Anne Nyaboke Wakesho, representing eLimu Kenya, was awarded the second prize for her innovative literacy app, Hadithi Hadithi. This app targets young people out-of-school and early childhood learners in communities and refugee camps. Available in multiple languages, the app features educational content that reflects African realities, using stories written and illustrated by local teachers and artists. The app also includes interactive exercises that significantly enhance reading and writing skills, making it a valuable tool for early education.
Rwandan innovator Amina Umuhoza founded Dukataze, an online platform that empowers girls by equipping them with the skills they need to succeed. The platform offers career guidance, counseling on sexual reproductive health, and tutorials for starting businesses. It also features an e-commerce component where products made by young women can be sold. Dukataze aims to reduce unwanted pregnancies and support young women in achieving their full potential.
From Cameroon, Angèle Messa was a top innovator at the 2018 Innovating Education Expo. She developed Educlik, a platform that promotes alternative teaching methods for children who cannot access formal education. Educlik uses online and offline technologies to deliver educational content to vulnerable and marginalized groups, including children in refugee camps and orphanages. The platform’s free subscription model has benefited over 3,000 young people, ensuring that girls and young women have access to quality education.
Ghanaian engineer Dr. Anita Antwiwaa, who played a key role in the successful launch of GhanaSat-1, is using her expertise to inspire the next generation of scientists. She teaches space technology to youth, encouraging them to pursue careers in STEM. Her work includes educating young women in technical and vocational studies, entrepreneurship, and ICT, with the goal of empowering them to create innovative products and stand out in their fields.
The Innovating Education in Africa Expo is an annual AU event that showcases social and technological innovations aimed at enhancing access, quality, relevance, and inclusion in education. The 2019 Expo attracted 380 innovators who applied to present their projects. Eleven top innovators were selected to pitch their ideas, with prizes ranging from $5,000 to $50,000 awarded to help scale their projects. This event underscores the AU’s commitment to recognizing and supporting the creative efforts of young women who are driving positive change in Africa’s education sector.