Niger's Mamane Kabirou Ousseini Wins Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation

Mamane Kabirou Ousseini, a Nigerien engineer, has won the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his medical monitoring platform, Likita Care. This is the first time a Nigerien has received the award, which is the largest African prize for engineering innovation. Ousseini was awarded 50,000 pounds sterling, approximately 38 million FCFA, for his innovative solution. The award ceremony took place on October 28, 2026, at the NH Johannesburg Sandton in South Africa.

Likita Care is a medical monitoring platform designed to support hospitals and clinics. The platform tracks vital signs, cardiac exams, and prenatal care, measuring oxygen levels in the blood, heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. The system can monitor twelve parameters in adults, newborns, and fetuses, with data transmitted to a software platform for real-time monitoring and automatic alerts. The platform also features artificial intelligence that functions offline.

The idea for Likita Care was born out of Ousseini's experience as a biomedical technician at Niamey's General Hospital. He observed that many imported medical devices were breaking down due to a lack of spare parts or local expertise. In 2019, Ousseini founded Likita Care with Seydou Gnaly Ousmane, investing around 35,000 dollars. The goal was to design equipment adapted to local realities and maintain it on-site.

Ousseini competed against three other finalists: Dyllon Randall from South Africa, Alice Muhuhu from Kenya, and Naom Monari from Kenya. Each finalist received 10,000 pounds sterling. The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is organized by the Royal Academy of Engineering and partially funded by the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF) of the British government.

Likita Care has already made a significant impact in Niger, with over 70 devices produced and deployed in the country's five largest medical centers. The solution has been clinically tested on over 100 patients, with more than 4,000 data points collected. The company has a production capacity of around 150 units per month.

The Africa Prize offers the winner more than just a cash award; it also provides mentorship, training, and access to a network of experts and investors. Ousseini plans to consolidate Likita Care's commercialization in Niger before expanding to neighboring West African countries.

Ousseini's win demonstrates that Nigerien innovation can compete with the best in Africa. His achievement is an inspiration to the youth in Niger and the diaspora. The Africa Prize, founded in 2014, has supported dozens of innovators across the continent, and Ousseini's success is a testament to the potential of African innovation.

Key points

• Mamane Kabirou Ousseini is the first Nigerien to win the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
• Likita Care is a medical monitoring platform that tracks vital signs and provides real-time monitoring and automatic alerts.
• The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation offers winners mentorship, training, and access to a network of experts and investors.