Through the recent years, a growing wave of local innovators, determined to counter the world’s negative perspective of Africa, has emerged with an aim to develop homegrown solutions. Entrepreneurs like Ikenna Nzewi are at the forefront of this transformative movement, addressing Africa’s most pressing challenges with ingenuity and purpose.
Ikenna Nzewi, a Nigerian entrepreneur, identified Africa’s looming food security crisis while studying at Yale University in 2017.
“Over the course of our lifetime, Africa will be the most populous continent on the planet, and it’s very important that we build a food system that can support our people but also a food system that is not too expensive so that people can make money and invest it in their education,” Nzewi told Techpoint in 2023.
Together with two others, Nzewi launched Releaf, a startup revolutionising food processing in Africa. One of their groundbreaking innovations is Kraken, a deshelling technology that significantly reduces post-harvest losses for palm farmers.
This technology has met with wild reception, with Nzewi earning spots on Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list. Releaf’s impact highlights how innovative technology can strengthen Africa’s agricultural systems and boost economic opportunities for rural communities.
In Rwanda, Zipline is reshaping medical logistics with its pioneering drone delivery network. The company’s autonomous drones deliver life-saving medical supplies to remote health centres within minutes, drastically reducing delivery times and minimising the wastage of critical products such as blood.
Outside of Rwanda, Zipline’s operations have expanded to countries like Ghana and Nigeria, showcasing the power of technology to bridge healthcare gaps and improve access to essential services.
Ghana’s mPharma offers another compelling example of African innovation tackling systemic challenges. The company addresses medication accessibility issues by leveraging data-driven systems to optimize pharmacy inventories and prevent stockouts.
Moreover, its micro-payment options have made essential drugs affordable for millions of people. By reducing costs for patients and improving the reliability of pharmaceutical services, mPharma is playing a crucial role in strengthening healthcare systems in underserved regions.
These stories offer a glimpse into Africa’s vast potential for solving its own problems. With the right support, even more groundbreaking solutions can emerge. Realising this potential, however, requires stronger backing from African governments, including investments in infrastructure, policy reforms, and funding for local innovators.
By harnessing local expertise and addressing region-specific challenges, African innovators are not only creating scalable solutions but also fostering sustainable development.
As 2025 unfolds, their efforts stand as a testament to what can be achieved when technology and purpose align, driving progress and transforming lives across the continent.
Recent years have witnessed the emergence of African innovators focused on developing homegrown solutions to address pressing regional challenges. Notable among them is Nigerian entrepreneur Ikenna Nzewi, who recognized Africa's impending food security crisis and co-founded Releaf, a startup revolutionizing food processing. Releaf's innovation, Kraken, is a deshelling technology that reduces post-harvest losses for palm farmers, emphasizing the role of innovation in enhancing Africa's agricultural sector and rural economies.
In Rwanda, Zipline redefines medical logistics through drones that deliver medical supplies to remote locations, improving healthcare access. Their success in Rwanda has led to expansions in Ghana and Nigeria, demonstrating how technology can bridge healthcare gaps. Similarly, mPharma in Ghana tackles medication accessibility by optimizing pharmacy inventories and offering micro-payment options to make essential drugs affordable, thus bolstering healthcare systems in underserved regions.
These examples highlight Africa's potential in finding original solutions to its challenges, but further support is needed from governments through infrastructure investment, policy reforms, and funding to foster more innovations. Leveraging local expertise is crucial for creating scalable solutions and achieving sustainable development, indicating a promising future as technology and purpose continue to align in Africa.
