Four Nigerian PhD students from Northeastern University, Boston, have emerged victorious at the inaugural MIT Africa Business Challenge 2025, securing a $5,000 prize.
The hackathon, part of the 14th MIT Africa Innovate Conference, was themed “By Africa, For Africa: Path to Economic Sovereignty.” It aimed to highlight African-driven innovations that promote economic independence, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
Organized by the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Africa Business Club, the competition took place on February 28 and March 1, 2025, at the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship. The main conference, featuring presentations from the top three winners, was later held at MIT Innovation HQ.
From a pool of over 1,000 applicants across 26 institutions, 13 teams from 14 universities—including Harvard, Dartmouth, MIT, Yale, Wageningen, and HULT International Business School—competed in the event.
In a highly competitive field, Team AgriQ-Connect claimed the top prize. The team comprised Mariam Hamzat, a PhD student in Marine and Environmental Sciences, along with Qudus Rafiu, Toheeb Obidara, and Azeez Akinyemi, PhD students in Chemical Engineering. They also won the Audience Choice Award for their agritech innovation designed to tackle food security issues in Africa.
AgriQ-Connect’s solution focuses on reducing post-harvest losses, which amount to $4 billion annually in sub-Saharan Africa. Their innovation includes a Tinder-like marketplace connecting farmers directly with processing companies, along with an AI-integrated silo for real-time crop monitoring.
Reflecting on the win, Mariam Hamzat said, “We knew our idea was great, but you never know what the judges are looking for. This victory is a pleasant surprise, and we hope to build on our concept to drive sustainable agriculture across Africa.”
Other winners included Charted AI, which secured second place and a $3,000 prize for its AI-powered bookkeeping solution for SMEs in East Africa. MamaCare took third place, winning $1,000 for its AI voice hotline that provides medical advice and appointment booking for mothers and expectant mothers in Nigeria.
The MIT Africa Business Challenge showcased the potential of African-led innovations to solve pressing economic and social challenges, setting the stage for future breakthroughs in entrepreneurship and technology.
