Five women entrepreneurs from Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Morocco have won the 2026 Bayer Foundation Women Entrepreneurs Award for Africa, receiving €25,000 each and six months of accelerator support to expand ventures focused on healthcare and food security.
The African winners were selected from 1,172 global applications, with about half of the entries coming from the continent.
They form part of 15 global winners, with five each from Africa, Asia and Latin America.
The African recipients are Alice Muhuhu of Aurora Health Systems in Kenya, Beamlak Alemayehu of Medanit Digital Health in Ethiopia, Omowunmi Christine Emmanuel-Ogah of ExCare Health in Nigeria, Funmilayo Ishola of Dehydrator Hub in Nigeria and Sokayna Bellam of Jodoor in Morocco.
Muhuhu developed an AI-powered, offline-capable electrocardiogram device designed to detect more than 50 cardiac conditions.
She said the idea emerged from her experience as a doctor during the COVID-19 period when access to diagnostic tools often influenced patient outcomes.
In Ethiopia, Alemayehu’s Medanit Digital Health provides care through an app, web platform and national short code.
In Nigeria, Emmanuel-Ogah has expanded ExCare Health from a pharmacy operation into integrated primary healthcare hubs offering diagnostics, vaccines and medicines.
Ishola’s Dehydrator Hub focuses on reducing post-harvest losses through solar-powered food processing that converts agricultural produce into export-ready ingredients.
In Morocco, Bellam’s Jodoor uses hydroponic farming to reduce water consumption by as much as 80 per cent.
The six-month accelerator programme will focus on investor readiness, business fundamentals, growth strategy and impact measurement.
The winners will also receive international visibility, including participation in a global event in Amsterdam in October.
Bayer Foundation said the programme was designed not only to recognize promising entrepreneurs but also to connect them with capital, networks and technical support needed to scale their impact.
The Women Entrepreneurs Award was launched in 2021 and is implemented with the Impact Hub Network.
