Kenya’s Elly Savatia was awarded the prestigious 2025 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation by the Royal Academy of Engineering for his groundbreaking app, Terp 360. The live final took place in Dakar, Senegal, marking the first time the Prize was hosted in Francophone Africa. Terp 360 is an AI-powered application that translates speech into sign language using lifelike 3D avatars, addressing interpreter shortages and improving accessibility in classrooms, workplaces, and public services. Savatia’s innovation draws on a dataset of over 2,300 locally recorded signs, ensuring cultural relevance and natural expression. He received £50,000 to scale the project and expand its impact across the education, corporate, and healthcare sectors.
The Africa Prize recognizes engineering solutions that demonstrate innovation, societal impact, commercial viability, and potential for scaling. Each finalist was evaluated by a panel of seven judges, including experts like Rebecca Enonchong FREng, Chair of the judging panel. In addition to Savatia, three other finalists—Vivian Arinaitwe (Uganda) for Neo Nest, Frank Owusu (Ghana) for Aquamet, and Carol Ofafa (Kenya) for E-Safiri—each received £10,000, while Rui Bauhofer from Mozambique earned the £5,000 One to Watch award for his Eco-Plates innovation. The programme also provides mentorship, training, and networking opportunities, helping innovators turn ideas into scalable ventures with real-world impact.
Since its inception in 2014, the Africa Prize has supported over 160 innovators from more than 20 countries, promoting engineering-driven solutions that advance sustainable development across Africa. Beyond financial support, the Prize equips recipients with business skills, mentoring, and global networks to accelerate the growth of their technologies. Elly Savatia’s recognition not only underscores Kenya’s growing role in technological innovation but also demonstrates the transformative potential of African-led solutions that improve inclusivity, accessibility, and societal well-being across the continent.