Nigerian PhD Students Secure $5,000 at MIT Africa Hackathon
Four Nigerian PhD students from Northeastern University in Boston won a $5,000 prize at the inaugural MIT Africa Business Challenge 2025. The hackathon, part of the 14th edition of the MIT Africa Innovate Conference, focused on showcasing African-born solutions aimed at promoting economic sovereignty, sustainability, and global competitiveness.
The MIT Africa Innovate Conference and Hackathon
The event, which took place on February 28 and March 1, 2025, at the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship, was organized by the MIT Sloan School of Management’s Africa Business Club. The theme of the conference, ‘By Africa, For Africa: Path to Economic Sovereignty,’ was reflected throughout the hackathon.
Over 1,000 applicants from 26 institutions applied for the competition. Out of these, 13 teams from 14 institutions participated, including participants from prestigious universities such as Harvard University, Dartmouth College, MIT, Wageningen University, Yale University, and HULT International Business School.
AgriQ-Connect’s Winning Solution
The winning team, AgriQ-Connect, consisted of Mariam Hamzat, a first-year PhD student in Marine and Environmental Sciences, along with Qudus Rafiu, Toheeb Obidara, and Azeez Akinyemi, all PhD students in Chemical Engineering. The team won the $5,000 prize and the Audience Choice Award for their agritech solution that aims to reduce food insecurity in Africa by tackling post-harvest losses.
AgriQ-Connect’s innovation features a Tinder-like marketplace to directly connect farmers with processing companies and an AI-integrated silo for real-time crop monitoring. This solution seeks to address the staggering $4 billion annual post-harvest losses in sub-Saharan Africa, providing a scalable and sustainable approach to one of the continent’s most significant agricultural challenges.
Team Member’s Reaction
Mariam Hamzat shared her excitement about the win, stating, “We knew our idea was great, but you never know what the judges are looking for. It is a pleasant surprise to have won, and we hope to build on this idea to create an agritech solution that will drive sustainable agriculture across Africa.”
Other Notable Winners
Other teams also received recognition for their innovative solutions:
- Charted AI: This team proposed an AI-powered bookkeeping solution for SMEs in East Africa, securing second place and a $3,000 prize.
- MamaCare: This team introduced an AI voice hotline offering medical advice and appointment booking for expectant mothers in Nigeria, winning third place with a $1,000 prize.
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