Africell Impact Foundation Celebrates Winners of Tech for Good Innovation Challenge

The Africell Impact Foundation, in partnership with the Oxford University Africa Society and Fourah Bay College (FBC), has celebrated the three winners of the 2026 Tech for Good Innovation Challenge, an initiative designed to promote technology-driven solutions to societal challenges while creating opportunities for young innovators in Sierra Leone.

The initiative, launched under the 2026 Innovation Seed Fund at the annual Oxford Africa Conference, brought together the three institutions to create a platform for Fourah Bay College students and recent graduates to develop innovative ideas with the potential to make meaningful contributions to society and drive development across Africa.

The competition provided an opportunity for students to pitch their technology-based ideas to the Oxford University Africa Society, with ten students initially presenting their proposals for assessment. Following the evaluation process, three finalists emerged, with Leon Lollyn Arnold Grovesnor taking the overall winner's position. Michael Mahungbe Blango and Yeaniva Agnes Lansana were recognised as the other two finalists.

Speaking at the celebration, Africell Sierra Leone Chief Executive Officer, Shadi Gerjawi, commended all the participants for the ideas they presented, noting that the next step would be to support the development and commercialisation of their innovations to ensure they become practical solutions that benefit society.

He emphasised that Africell maintains an open-door policy for young people with innovative ideas and a passion for technology, assuring participants that the company remains willing to engage and support individuals interested in contributing to technological development.

Gerjawi congratulated the winners and expressed optimism about the future of the initiative, revealing that Africell looks forward to organising a second edition of the Tech for Good Challenge, with plans to bring other universities on board to expand the programme's reach.

Also speaking at the event, the Deputy Registrar of Fourah Bay College, Brima Bah described the recognition as a proud moment for the institution, particularly as it prepares for its bicentenary celebration. He expressed appreciation to the Africell Impact Foundation and the Oxford Africa Society for extending the opportunity to the university.

According to him, ten FBC students participated in the initial pitching process, with their ideas subjected to scrutiny before three finalists were selected. He described the emergence of one overall winner among the finalists as a significant achievement for the university and its students.

The overall winner, Leon Lollyn Arnold Grovesnor, a student in the Department of Economics at Fourah Bay College, expressed excitement over the recognition, describing the experience as an opportunity that had broadened his knowledge and strengthened his confidence as a young innovator.

Grovesnor commended Africell for providing a platform that enabled him to present his idea to Oxford University without travelling to the United Kingdom. He also highlighted the importance of access to support in transforming innovative ideas into practical solutions.

His project, Eco Corpor, is a technology-driven platform designed to enable members of the public to trade recyclable materials, promoting recycling and encouraging more sustainable waste management practices.

The Tech for Good Innovation Challenge reflects the growing collaboration between academic institutions, international organisations and the private sector in creating opportunities for young people to use technology to address development challenges. Through its support for the initiative, the Africell Impact Foundation continues to demonstrate its commitment to youth empowerment, innovation and the development of solutions capable of creating lasting social impact.