The African Union Commission (AUC), through its Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, is proud to announce the Top 10 Innovators selected under the Innovating Education in Africa (IEA) 2025 Program.

Launched in 2018, the IEA program identifies, promotes, and supports impactful education innovations that address Africa’s persistent challenges in access, quality, equity, and relevance of education. The 2025 call attracted 737 submissions from across the continent, showcasing bold and transformative solutions in digital learning, teacher development, STEM, and inclusive

Following a rigorous evaluation and shortlisting process, the following Top 10 innovators have been recognized for their outstanding contributions to transforming Africa’s education landscape:

1. Ayomide Onasanya – Kryptr (Kryptr)
2. Alexia Sahara – Book Buddy (Snapplify Digital Education Company)
3. Paul Mutebi – Robotics and AI Learning (Rumusc International - Tangibo)
4. Chuol Tap Thechuong – CognoTech Learn App (East Africa College of Science and Technology - EASTECH)
5. T’sepo Julius Thamae – Motsoalle AI (T&R Analytics and Web Designs Pty Ltd)
6. Liata Ornella – Brain Ink (Brain Ink)
7. Jessica Kwao – QKNOW STORYTIME (QKNOW EDTECH)
8. Kiko Muuo – Kalamu WhatsApp Teaching Assistant (Angaza Elimu)
9. Abdurahman Shemsedin Awol – Dynamo EdTech Platform (Dynamo Center for Technology)
10. Alshimaa Elbahrawy – Deaf Gain (Deafgain)

These innovators represent the creativity, resilience, and problem-solving spirit driving Africa’s education transformation. Their solutions respond to urgent challenges, including access to inclusive learning, digital literacy, skills development for the future of work, and bridging gaps for marginalized learners.

The Top 10 innovators were invited to a semifinal pitch where the top 5 will advance to the Final Pitch event in October 2025, where three winners will be awarded grants of up to USD 30,000 to scale their solutions in partnership with governments and education stakeholders. They will also receive continental visibility, promotion to AU Member States, and inclusion in the Africa Education Innovations Handbook 2025.

Speaking during the announcement at the semifinal pitch, Mrs Sophia Ashipala, Head of Education Division, Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, emphasized:

“The IEA program continues to demonstrate Africa’s capacity to generate home-grown solutions for its education and skills challenges. These Top 10 innovations exemplify how creativity, technology, and inclusion can drive systemic transformation. The African Union remains committed to supporting innovators to scale impact and shape the future of learning across the continent.”

The recognition of these innovators reaffirms the AU’s Agenda 2063 commitment to harness innovation and digitalization for inclusive and quality education systems, ensuring no learner is left behind.

About the IEA Program
Since 2018, the IEA Program has identified 245 innovations, accelerated 41, and directly reached over 1 million beneficiaries. Through annual calls, pitch events, grants, and partnerships, the program builds a continental platform to promote education solutions that are scalable, cost-effective, and aligned with Africa’s development priorities

For media inquiries, please contact:

Mr. Chigozie Emmanuel Okonkwo I African Union Commission I Email: OkonkwoC@africanunion.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.