CAPE TOWN, South Africa — October 2, 2025 — Namibia has won the top prize at the ExxonMobil Foundation STEM Africa Regional Finals, announced during the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energy Awards & Gala Dinner on September 30. The Namibian team was recognized for an innovative waste-to-energy project that uses a 3D-printed frame to convert fish waste into nutrient-rich bio-feed for plants, supporting sustainable farming and food security efforts in rural communities.
Runners-up:
- Nigeria (2nd place) — UltraClean, a solar-powered water purification system for classrooms and homes that combines sand filtration, charcoal purification, and biochar creation to deliver safe water and convert waste into fertilizer.
- Angola (3rd place) — A solar-enabled water remediation project designed to remove waste from water bodies, reduce waterborne disease risks, support tourism, and upcycle plastic into revenue.
- Mozambique (4th place) — A sanitation-and-energy solution that converts human waste into biogas, then into electricity. The system combines a carousel and biodigester to improve access to clean water and school sanitation, and to expand agricultural capacity via irrigation and on-site energy.
The competition is a collaborative initiative between the ExxonMobil Foundation and JA Africa and marks the culmination of a year-long program of quizzes and innovation camps aimed at advancing youth innovation in sustainability and practical STEM applications across the continent.
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