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Marta Vânia Uetela is Innovating Prosthetics with Ocean Plastic to Transform Lives

Marta Vânia Uetela is Innovating Prosthetics with Ocean Plastic to Transform Lives

Marta Vânia Uetela is a pioneering Mozambican entrepreneur dedicated to changing lives through innovative biomedical engineering solutions.

She is the founder of BioMec, an organization that creates high-performance prostheses made from recycled plastic collected from the ocean.

Marta’s journey into this field was inspired by a close friend’s struggle to obtain a prosthesis, which highlighted the lack of accessible and affordable artificial limbs in Mozambique.

Recognizing that 90% of amputees in her country faced similar challenges due to high costs and limited healthcare access, Marta set out to make a difference.

Marta’s work with BioMec is rooted in a commitment to sustainability and social impact.

By using plastic waste, such as six discarded bottles or 250 grams of fishing nets, to construct prostheses, she addresses two critical issues: providing affordable prosthetic solutions and reducing environmental pollution.

Her approach not only gives individuals with mobility challenges a chance to lead fuller lives but also promotes recycling and environmental conservation.

BioMec’s prostheses are custom-made to suit individual needs, using advanced technology to enhance compatibility and comfort.

The organization’s mission extends beyond providing artificial limbs; it aims to offer people the ability to live without limitations, improving their confidence and productivity.

Marta’s achievements have not gone unnoticed. She was honored with the Commonwealth Points of Light Award, presented on behalf of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

This recognition was a testament to her innovative approach to combining sustainability with life-changing biomedical solutions.

Marta aspires to create prosthetic solutions that offer individuals a life without limitations.

Her goal is to produce these devices in a way that reduces costs, improves access, and increases comfort, while also aiming to reuse a significant portion of plastic waste from Mozambique’s most polluted beaches.

Her passion for solving problems, improving lives, and advocating for environmental sustainability continues to drive her entrepreneurial journey, making her a true inspiration in her community and beyond.

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 Kemisola Bolarinwa

Kemisola is the Founder of Nextwear Technologies, the first wearable technology startup in Nigeria pioneering the designing and development of devices that enhance healthier living and personal security.

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Nigerian Automaker Innoson Unveils First Locally Produced Electric Vehicle in Nigeria

Key Developments

Nigerian Automaker Innoson Unveils First Locally Produced Electric Vehicle in Nigeria

Nigerian automaker Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM) has made a significant stride in the country’s automotive industry with the unveiling of its first locally produced electric vehicle.

The company’s Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs, Cornel Osigwe, confirmed the development.

Osigwe shared a video of himself test-driving the new electric vehicle, marking a milestone in IVM’s journey towards sustainable transportation.

While specific details about the vehicle’s pricing, specifications, and commercial release timeline remain undisclosed, the announcement is a major boost for Nigeria’s growing electric vehicle market.

Innoson’s entry into the electric vehicle space comes as the country faces rising fuel prices and increasing interest in cleaner transportation options.

The government’s ambitious target of having 30% of all vehicles electric by 2025 has further spurred the development of the electric vehicle industry in Nigeria.

As the country continues to embrace electric mobility, Innoson’s locally produced electric vehicle could play a significant role in reducing dependence on fossil fuels and promoting sustainable transportation.

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Mastercard Foundation Pledges $360 Million for African Girls’ Education

New Investments

Mastercard Foundation Pledges $360 Million for African Girls' Education

The Mastercard Foundation has announced a significant expansion of its partnerships with the Campaign for Female Education (CAMFED) and the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) to support young women and girls in Africa.
 

This renewed collaboration aims to break down financial and social barriers to education, impacting over 70,400 young women and girls directly and benefiting 3.3 million young people across the continent.

Over the next seven years, the Mastercard Foundation will invest an additional $360 million to help young women transition through education, entrepreneurship, and employment.

This move is part of the Foundation’s broader commitment to building inclusive education systems and enabling Africa’s youth, particularly girls, to thrive.

The partnership with CAMFED focuses on transforming the educational and economic landscape for girls in Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Malawi.

Over the next six years, this investment will support 62,000 girls as they move through secondary and tertiary education, and into employment and entrepreneurship opportunities.

In addition to directly supporting the educational journey of these young women, CAMFED will work closely with local communities and governments to improve education systems for millions of students.

The long-standing collaboration between the Mastercard Foundation and CAMFED has already resulted in access to secondary and higher education for over 35,000 young women facing the highest financial and social barriers.

This latest expansion aims to build on that legacy and accelerate progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.

The Mastercard Foundation is also extending its seven-year partnership with FAWE to increase access to tertiary education, technical vocational and educational training (TVET), and job opportunities for over 10,500 young people across Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Ethiopia, Malawi, Ghana, Liberia, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Senegal.

This program includes bursaries for participants who are starting new businesses or innovating within existing ones.

With this expansion, FAWE will increase the number of post-secondary programs it supports to over 500 accredited tertiary institutions in Africa.

This initiative will benefit an estimated 1.2 million young women, providing them with the skills and opportunities needed to contribute to their communities and economies.

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“We are delighted to partner with ISA to support the development of solar energy in Africa,” said Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50. “This partnership will help to accelerate the deployment of solar energy in Africa and improve the lives of millions of Africans,” he added.

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Chibuzo Opara: Revolutionizing Africa’s Healthcare Supply Chain

Chibuzo Opara: Revolutionizing Africa's Healthcare Supply Chain

Chibuzo Opara is an entrepreneur and healthcare professional, renowned for his significant contributions to transforming the pharmaceutical supply chain in Africa.

As the co-founder and CEO of DrugStoc, he is at the forefront of a revolution that aims to solve some of the continent’s most pressing healthcare challenges, including access to quality medicines, combating counterfeit drugs, and improving the overall efficiency of the pharmaceutical distribution network.

Opara’s journey into the healthcare sector began with a strong academic background, having pursued a degree in medicine, which gave him firsthand experience with the healthcare system’s complexities and shortcomings.

This foundation in medicine equipped him with an in-depth understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare providers, especially in sourcing and managing pharmaceutical supplies.

He co-founded DrugStoc with the vision of creating a robust and reliable supply chain for pharmaceuticals in Africa.

The idea stemmed from his experiences as a medical professional, where he encountered frequent disruptions in the supply of essential medications.

He realized that these supply chain inefficiencies were contributing to a larger problem: the prevalence of counterfeit drugs in the market.

DrugStoc was established to tackle these issues by providing a technology-driven solution. The platform connects healthcare providers with verified suppliers, ensuring a seamless and transparent process for sourcing genuine medications.

By leveraging technology, DrugStoc enhances the efficiency of the pharmaceutical supply chain, reduces costs, and minimizes the risk of counterfeit drugs entering the market.

Under Opara’s leadership, DrugStoc has grown to become a critical player in the healthcare sector, improving access to quality medicines for clinics, hospitals, and pharmacies across Nigeria and beyond.

Through DrugStoc, Opara aims to create a healthcare ecosystem where every patient has access to safe, effective, and affordable medications.

This vision aligns with the broader goal of achieving universal healthcare coverage in Africa, where many people still struggle to access basic healthcare services.

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Lewam Kefela

Lewam Kefela is a Principal at Partech Africa, a leading venture capital firm investing in early-stage startups in Africa.

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Catherine Muraga

Catherine is a Kenyan information technology professional and tech leader with a passion for applying technology to create business outcomes or impact lives positively.

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