The Royal Academy of Engineering has named Elly Savatia from Kenya as the 2025 winner of the Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, the continent’s foremost engineering award. He won for his Signvrse Terp 360 app, a tool that translates speech into sign language using lifelike 3D avatars. Elly will receive £50,000 to scale the app and expand its reach.
This recognition comes after an eight-month programme involving 16 African innovators, culminating in a final event held on 16 October in Dakar, Senegal. It marks the first time the Africa Prize has taken place in Francophone Africa, as part of a push to raise awareness and encourage applications from French-speaking regions. The event was part-funded by the UK’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
Transforming Accessibility Through Technology
Terp 360 is engineered to solve real problems faced by people who are deaf or hearing impaired. By translating spoken words into culturally relevant sign language, it helps overcome the chronic shortage of interpreters, a challenge especially acute in classrooms, public services and workplaces. The app uses a database of more than 2,300 locally recorded signs to ensure natural expression and local relevance.
With his £50,000 award, Elly and his team are preparing to reach education, healthcare and corporate sectors in a B2B model. The funding will support further development, testing and deployment. In his remarks, Elly said, “I’m totally grateful for this … it is a testament to the innovative assistive technology work that is coming from Africa.”
Each finalist was evaluated by a panel of judges on criteria such as engineering quality, evidence of impact, commercial viability, scalability, team quality and how well they leveraged the training from the programme. The 2025 judging panel included Rebecca Enonchong (Chair), Sewu Steve Tawia, Richard Wylde, Ian Shott, Yewande Odumosu and guest judge Marième Diop.
Celebrating the Finalists & Supporting Innovation
Three runners-up, Vivian Arinaitwe (Uganda, Neo Nest), Eng. Carol Ofafa (Kenya, E-Safiri), and Frank Owusu (Ghana, Aquamet), each received £10,000. A £5,000 “One to Watch” prize was also awarded to Rui Bauhofer (Mozambique), chosen by the live audience for his project Eco-Plates, biodegradable plates. Eco-Plates are disposable plates made from recycled maize husks that are fully bio-degradable and infused with seeds that will germinate and grow once discarded.
But the prize is more than money. All finalists gain visibility, credibility, mentorship and network access. These benefits often help them secure further funding and accelerate growth.
Since its founding in 2014, the Africa Prize has supported over 160 innovators across 20+ countries. It helps move ideas from concept to scalable impact by offering training, mentoring and connections. The Prize is backed by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the UK’s Official Development Assistance, corporate partners, foundations and private donors.
The Royal Academy of Engineering offers lifelong support and connects the Africa Prize alumni to global networks who can accelerate their business and technology development.
Applications are set to reopen in mid-2026, and prospective inventors are encouraged to review the “How to Apply” guidance on the Africa Prize website.
By awarding Elly Savatia and celebrating the other finalists, the Africa Prize reinforces a powerful message: African engineers can build technologies that solve local challenges and expand access in education, health and public services. With sustained support, innovations like Terp 360 can help build a more inclusive continent.
