The Africell Impact Foundation, in partnership with the Oxford University Africa Society and Fourah Bay College (FBC), has recognised and celebrated three outstanding young innovators who emerged as winners of the 2026 Tech for Good Innovation Challenge, an initiative aimed at encouraging technology-driven solutions to societal challenges and promoting youth innovation in Sierra Leone.
The competition, introduced under the 2026 Innovation Seed Fund at the annual Oxford Africa Conference, brought together the three institutions to provide students and recent graduates of Fourah Bay College with opportunities to develop creative ideas capable of addressing pressing social and developmental challenges.
The initiative was designed to encourage young people to explore how technology could be used to solve practical problems, improve livelihoods and contribute to sustainable development in Sierra Leone and across Africa.
As part of the competition, ten students from Fourah Bay College were given the opportunity to present their technology-based proposals to representatives of the Oxford University Africa Society. Their submissions underwent an evaluation process, during which the originality, relevance and potential impact of the proposed innovations were assessed.
Following the assessment, three finalists were selected, with Leon Lollyn Arnold Grovesnor emerging as the overall winner. Michael Mahungbe Blango and Yeaniva Agnes Lansana were also recognised for their innovative proposals and outstanding performances during the competition.
Speaking during the celebration, the Chief Executive Officer of Africell Sierra Leone, Shadi Gerjawi, congratulated the winners and commended all participants for demonstrating creativity, determination and a willingness to use technology to address challenges affecting their communities.
Shadi Gerjawi explained that identifying promising innovations represents only the beginning of the process, stressing that greater attention must now be directed towards helping the young innovators develop their ideas into practical and commercially viable solutions.
He noted that providing the necessary mentorship, technical assistance and opportunities for commercialization would be essential to ensuring that the innovations move beyond the conceptual stage and deliver meaningful benefits to society.
The Africell Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer further reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting young people interested in technology and entrepreneurship, emphasizing that Africell maintains an open-door policy for individuals with innovative ideas.
According to Shadi Gerjawi, young innovators should feel encouraged to approach the company with proposals capable of contributing to technological advancement and addressing challenges within their communities.
He expressed optimism about the future of the Tech for Good Innovation Challenge and disclosed that Africell looks forward to organizing a second edition of the competition.
Shadi Gerjawi further indicated that plans are being considered to expand the initiative by involving additional universities, thereby creating opportunities for more students and young graduates across Sierra Leone to participate.
Also addressing the gathering, the Deputy Registrar of Fourah Bay College, Brima Bah, described the recognition of the students as a significant achievement for the institution, particularly as it prepares to commemorate its bicentenary.
Brima Bah expressed appreciation to the Africell Impact Foundation and the Oxford University Africa Society for establishing a partnership that provides students with opportunities to demonstrate their talents and engage with international academic and innovation networks.
He explained that ten students initially participated in the pitching exercise, presenting proposals that were carefully examined before three finalists were selected.
According to Brima Bah, the emergence of Leon Lollyn Arnold Grovesnor as the overall winner, alongside the recognition of Michael Mahungbe Blango and Yeaniva Agnes Lansana, demonstrates the potential of Fourah Bay College students to develop innovative solutions to contemporary challenges.
He maintained that initiatives of this nature provide valuable opportunities for students to apply classroom knowledge to practical situations while developing the confidence and entrepreneurial skills needed to succeed beyond university.
The overall winner, Leon Lollyn Arnold Grovesnor, a student in the Department of Economics at Fourah Bay College, expressed appreciation for the recognition, describing the experience as an important milestone in his academic and innovation journey.
Leon Lollyn Arnold Grovesnor explained that participating in the competition had broadened his understanding of innovation, strengthened his confidence and provided valuable exposure to opportunities beyond Sierra Leone.
He particularly commended Africell for creating a platform through which he could present his innovation to the Oxford University Africa Society without having to travel to the United Kingdom.
His winning project, known as Eco Corpor, is a technology-driven platform designed to enable members of the public to trade recyclable materials, thereby encouraging recycling, promoting responsible waste disposal and supporting more sustainable waste management practices.
The initiative seeks to demonstrate how digital technology can contribute to addressing environmental challenges while creating opportunities for individuals and communities to participate in recycling activities.
Leon Lollyn Arnold Grovesnor also emphasized the importance of mentorship, institutional support and access to resources in helping young innovators transform promising ideas into practical solutions capable of generating social and economic benefits.
The recognition of the three finalists highlights the importance of collaboration between universities, international academic organisations and private sector institutions in nurturing Sierra Leone’s emerging generation of innovators.
Through the Tech for Good Innovation Challenge, the Africell Impact Foundation and its partners are seeking to strengthen the connection between academic learning, technological innovation and practical problem-solving.
The initiative also provides a platform for young people to demonstrate their creativity, develop entrepreneurial skills and explore opportunities to transform innovative concepts into sustainable ventures.
The Africell Impact Foundation’s continued involvement in such programmes reflects its commitment to youth empowerment, education and technological development, while encouraging young Sierra Leoneans to contribute meaningfully to national progress.
With plans for a second edition involving additional universities, the Tech for Good Innovation Challenge is expected to provide wider opportunities for aspiring innovators to develop solutions addressing environmental, economic and social challenges in Sierra Leone.
