malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
AFRICA University (AU) emerged victorious at the Hult Prize Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, last week, solidifying its position as a continental innovation leader.
The Hult Prize challenges young people to solve the world’s most pressing issues through social entrepreneurship.
AU’s three-member team comprising Jeffrey Takunda Murungweni and Genius Tadiwa Mukichi (both second-year students studying Computer Science) and Simbisai Clotilda Mangwiro (3rd year, Medical Laboratory Sciences) took part in the competition against innovators from more than 60 universities around the world.
The team, collectively known as Reagan Technologies, was accompanied by the AU’s innovation manager, Ms Yollanda Washaya.
They outshined competition after developing a climate-smart pavement tile technology that converts human kinetic energy into stored green electricity for lighting, digital displays, and device charging/operation.
The tiles use hydraulics to generate electricity at a rate of 6-8W per foot press, providing a sustainable and scalable solution to power shortages.
This global event brought together young entrepreneurs, mentors, judges and industry leaders to tackle global challenges through innovative solutions.
The theme for this year’s summit, “Unlimited,” allowed participants to explore any area under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In a statement, the AU said: “The teams now move on to the hybrid Global Accelerator, which runs from July to September 2024.”
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu