Seventy-nine university students in Tanzania have turned their field training experience into an innovation platform, developing five solutions aimed at addressing community challenges and creating business opportunities. The students took part in an eight-week Talent Pool programme designed to equip them with critical thinking skills, help them identify challenges and turn them into innovative and commercially viable solutions. The programme's closing ceremony was held on October 6, 2026.
The students, who were divided into five groups, developed five innovations: Ecolight, Mama Care, Mortgage Management System, Wekeza Kiganjani and Smart Cart. According to Elia Kinshagia, Business Development Manager at Data Economy Business Incubator and Buni Hub, the programme aimed to move students beyond routine assignments during field training, allowing them to develop solutions of their own. Kinshagia praised the students, calling them innovators who can now think outside the box and identify challenges in society.
One of the innovations, Ecolight, was developed by a group of students including Jamal Sasu, an Information Technology student at the National Institute of Transport (NIT). Ecolight is a lamp powered by used lithium batteries that can operate for up to eight hours after charging. Sasu said the programme gave him practical experience in developing products and learning from experts. His group overcame challenges, including having their ideas rejected while testing them with potential customers.
Another innovation, Mama Care, was developed by a group of students including Jessica Matola, an Information Technology student at the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT). Mama Care is a digital system designed to reduce problems associated with lost mother-and-child clinic cards, printing costs and environmental waste. The system allows mothers to track pregnancy and child-development information through smartphones or basic phones.
Primas Mkai, a Mechanical and Electronics Engineering student at the Dar es Salaam Maritime Institute (DMI), developed Smart Cart, a system designed to make shopping in supermarkets faster and easier. Smart Cart allows customers to scan products, check prices and make payments without spending a long time in queues at checkout counters. Mkai said the system will reduce queues and make shopping more convenient.
Dr Amos Nungu, Director General of the Tanzania Commission for Science and Technology (Costech), praised the programme for giving students practical experience in identifying challenges, developing ideas and working together to find solutions. He encouraged the students to remain persistent when faced with setbacks, including having their ideas rejected or failing to get the expected responses during the early stages of developing a solution.
The programme demonstrated that young people can develop meaningful solutions when given the right environment and opportunities. Dr Nungu said creating more opportunities of this kind could enable students to use the skills they acquire to develop products, establish businesses and create jobs for others. The innovations developed by the students show the potential for young people to drive positive change in their communities.
Key points
- The Talent Pool programme equipped 79 university students with critical thinking skills to develop innovative solutions to community challenges.
- The students developed five innovations, including Ecolight, Mama Care, and Smart Cart, aimed at addressing community challenges and creating business opportunities.
- The programme provided students with practical experience in identifying challenges, developing ideas, and working together to find solutions.
