Women Innovators Shaping Africa’s Health Future: Highlights from FemSTEM Africa 2026

Category

FemSTEM Africa

Country

Ghana

Pillar

Health Entrepreneurship

Over three months, young African women innovators, health professionals, students, and ecosystem leaders came together through FemSTEM Africa 2026 to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, expand their networks, and transform promising ideas into health solutions with the potential to improve lives across the continent. The programme culminated in a two-day showcase at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), where participants demonstrated how women-led innovation is helping shape the future of healthcare in Africa.

Africa’s Healthcare Future Powered by Women-led Innovations

The programme culminated in a showcase of six women-led ventures addressing some of Africa’s most pressing health challenges through locally developed and contextually relevant solutions.

Haki Labs (Grand Winner): Diana Mulinge showcased a climate-optimized preservation kit designed to secure DNA evidence for sexual assault survivors. Her innovation addresses a critical gap in the collection and preservation of forensic evidence, helping strengthen access to justice for survivors of sexual assault. The solution earned first place and a cash prize of CA$15,000.

Inzozi Glasses & SmartStain Innovations (Runners-Up): Stecie Niyonzima developed an affordable, voice-controlled smart glasses designed to improve accessibility for visually impaired users while reducing reliance on expensive imported technologies. Similarly, Auma Eunice Daka introduced the Low-Cost Automated Slide Stainer (LASS), an automated slide stainer that dismantles laboratory delays to accelerate critical diagnoses like TB and malaria.

Beyond the innovations themselves, FemSTEM Africa focused on building the leadership, confidence, and entrepreneurial mindset needed to turn promising ideas into sustainable ventures.

Mentorship, Mindset Shifts, and Lifelong Bonds

The finale’s first day set the foundation for these innovations, taking participants on a vibrant journey of empowerment, enlightenment, and collaboration.

Celebrating Culture, Community, and Innovation

The opening ceremony began with a vibrant traditional Ashanti Kete dance, celebrating Ghana’s rich heritage and setting a dynamic, hopeful stage for the days ahead.

Opening Remarks to Commemorate a New Era

Prof. Ellis Owusu Dabo championed the agency of the participants, encouraging them to view long-standing healthcare challenges as opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Insights from the AHC Secretariat

Sharing her personal entrepreneurial roots, Dr. Penina Lam, International Director at the University of Toronto and the AHC Secretariat, inspired the students to trust their agency. She encouraged them to launch and test their ideas, reminding them that no venture is too small to serve as a launchpad.

Demystifying STEM

Prof. Ibok Oduro’s keynote called for a profound mindset shift. She reminded the young women that empathy, resilience, and collaboration are not weaknesses to overcome but strengths that can help drive innovation and leadership.

The Twists and Turns Panel

Experts explored the unglamorous yet rewarding realities of venture building. Speakers emphasized the importance of starting where you are, understanding the communities you serve, and remaining adaptable as ventures grow and evolve.

Photo Gallery

As participants left KNUST, they carried more than new skills and business ideas. They left with expanded networks, renewed confidence, and a stronger belief that women have a critical role to play in shaping Africa’s health future. FemSTEM Africa 2026 demonstrated that when women innovators are equipped with mentorship, knowledge, and opportunities, they are well-positioned to develop solutions that can transform health systems across the continent.

FemSTEM Africa 2026 is co-designed and implemented by Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and Health Innovation Hub (H2i) under the Africa Health Collaborative, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation.