RES4Africa Foundation, in collaboration with Enel Green Power and the European Investment Bank (EIB), held the public online competition of the 2022 edition of the MGA Young Talent of the Year Award, during which the selected 6 finalists presented their innovative projects.

Launched in 2020, the Award supports Africa’s youth in taking a concrete part in the continent’s energy transition: brilliant young talents from all the African countries are called to submit innovative projects and initiatives addressing the most pressing environmental and social challenges that hamper the development of their communities by boosting the RE sector.

At this stage of the competition, the six young African innovators selected as finalists presented for the first time their projects to the public, showing a wide spectrum of initiatives dealing with different aspects of the just energy transition. The event witnessed the participation of Salvatore Bernabei, President of RES4Africa and CEO of Enel Green Power,  Roberto Vigotti, the Secretary General of RES4Africa, Carmelo Cocuzza, Head of Advisory & Blending at the European Investment Bank, and  Suelen Quadri, Head of Sustainability Africa, Asia & Oceania at Enel Green Power.

The first contestant of the MGA Award is the is 27 years old MWEETWA MUNDIA SIKAMIKAMI, from Zambia: his project, Consultant for Solar Repair Project, seeks to extend the life of small solar products through better maintenance and repair for low-income Zambians.

The second finalist, DIVIN KOUEBATOUKA, is a 33 years old innovator from the Republic of Congo. He participated with GREEN BOX: Solar-powered cold storage room, which is a social enterprise that designs, installs, commissions, and operates 100% solar-powered walk-in cold rooms in outdoor markets and farm clusters.

SALAH A.M. EL SADI is a 34 years Libyan participant: He presented the third project, Blue Filter: Agricultural Water Filter,  which will be implemented in Palestine and it’s designed to filter the high amount of pollutants (nitrates, salinity, and chloride) from water.

The fourth finalist is the 25 years old CHIEMELA ANOSIKE, from Nigeria. She showcased the Solaris: Power to Transform Lives project, a power booth serving as a community power station to enable rural communities to use electricity.

The fifth one is YVON FRANÇOIS TSOLEFACK, he’s 27 and comes from Cameroon: he presented the Smart-Eco Highway (SEH), which will be executed in Burkina Faso. His innovative project recycles used tires and WEEE (Waste Electronic and Electrical Equipment) to manufacture Piezo-Thermoelectric Devices (PTD) capable of producing green, affordable, and sustainable electricity for unserved and underserved populations.

Lastly, is the 33 years old GRACE NANTEZA from Uganda, participating with Run Automations Limited, a project that promotes adaptability to Renewable Energy (RE) systems as well as productive use of electricity mainly from mini-grids and solar systems in low-income communities.

The MGA Young Talent of the Year Award,  will witness a second round of evolution, during which the 3 most innovative and best proposals will be selected, to be awarded with a monetary contribution. The young winners identified will be announced by RES4Africa during a public ceremony or event set to take place at the end of the year, giving the awardees visibility and networking opportunities.