Launch of the second edition of the African Young Innovators for Health Award Business Mentorship Program

7 March 2024 – The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award proudly commenced its mentorship program with a successful kick-off on 4 March, signaling a pivotal step forward in nurturing health innovation across the continent. This three-month program is designed to link promising young innovators with distinguished business leaders, enhancing their impact on healthcare solutions in Africa.

The program boasts a lineup of esteemed mentors, each paired with an innovator, to provide targeted guidance and support.

Carl Manlan, Vice President of Inclusive Impact & Sustainability at VISA, will mentor Muhammad Abdullahi of Trash4Health, sharing his extensive experience in sustainability, social impact and inclusive finance. Pier Spinazze, specializing in Venture Capital at Launch Africa Ventures, founder of PASSMED and co-founder of Bluum LTD.  pairs with Dr. Moses Ochora of Photo-Kabada, to navigate the complexities of health innovation investment. Chahir Fahmy, an expert in business development and digital transformation will offer his tech-forward insights to Nura Izath of Neosave, focusing on leveraging technology for health solutions. Finally, Nithya Ramanathan, CEO & Co-Founder of Nexleaf, brings her entrepreneurial spirit and innovation expertise to guide Teniola Adedeji of Pharmarun.

The mentors shared their enthusiasm and wisdom for the journey ahead. Chahir Fahmy offered a realistic yet supportive perspective, saying, “I cannot tell you that I will have all the answers, however, we can figure it out together.”

Pier Spinazze reflected on the value of mentorship based on his experience, noting, “Having mentored before, I know the impact of positive leading can have on entrepreneurs.”

These mentor-mentee pairings are at the heart of the mentorship program’s mission to accelerate the development of groundbreaking health solutions. Through personalized guidance, these young innovators will enhance their leadership skills, business acumen, and capacity to innovate, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in public health across Africa.

The Africa Young Innovators for Health Award is dedicated to empowering a new generation of entrepreneurs in the health sector, ready to face the continent’s health challenges with innovative solutions. As the mentorship program unfolds, it promises to be a transformative journey for both mentors and mentees, underlining the award’s commitment to improving health outcomes throughout Africa.

For further details on the mentorship program and other initiatives by the Africa Young Innovators for Health Award, please visit https://africayounginnovatorsforhealth.org.