Young Innovators Win Backing to Scale Sustainability Solutions at #MyLittleBigThing 2026 Finale

Young African innovators have secured a major boost to scale their sustainability solutions after winning institutional support from Strathmore University and Absa Kenya Foundation at the grand finale of the 2025/2026 #MyLittleBigThing Sustainability Innovation Challenge.

The partnership will provide a structured pathway to help the 16 finalists transition from promising ideas to investor-ready ventures. The program will focus on key areas such as legal frameworks, administrative systems, and intellectual property protection—critical elements often overlooked by early-stage innovators.

Speaking at the event, National Youth Council (NYC) CEO Gloria Wawira underscored the growing role of youth in shaping Africa’s future. She noted that young people are no longer passive participants in development but active drivers of change.

“The solutions showcased today—from digital inclusion to climate resilience—prove that African youth can solve global challenges using local insight,” she said, reaffirming the council’s commitment to supporting youth-led innovation.

The finale marked the end of a rigorous nine-month program that began in August 2025. Nearly 500 applicants entered the competition, with 150 advancing to a sustainability-focused e-learning course. From there, 50 participants progressed to an intensive bootcamp, before the final 16 underwent a two-month virtual accelerator focused on governance and investment readiness.

Absa Bank Kenya Citizenship Manager Antoninah Moturi highlighted the depth of the program, noting that participants received mentorship, hands-on training, and opportunities to test their ideas in real-world community settings.

“As Absa Kenya Foundation, we believe in investing in young people because they are developing practical solutions to real challenges in their communities,” she said. “Supporting them is an investment in the future of our country and continent.”

The competition’s top prize went to Team Sightra, whose assistive navigation solution aims to empower visually impaired individuals. Their innovation integrates smart scanning technology with a voice-guided mobile application, enabling users to detect obstacles, navigate urban environments, and access real-time assistance.

MK-Africa CEO Muthoni Kanyana described the initiative as a platform for redefining Africa’s sustainability narrative through locally driven innovation.

“This is about more than competition—it’s about inspiring a generation to take action on Africa’s most pressing challenges,” she said. “These finalists are not waiting for opportunities; they are creating them.”

Strathmore University’s Prof. David Chiawo added that the collaboration would help bridge the gap between academic research and commercialization. Through access to incubation resources and academic networks, innovators will be better positioned to scale their solutions across the continent.

The success of this year’s challenge was supported by a coalition of partners, including Safaricom, Absa Kenya Foundation, Sanlam Allianz Kenya, Christian Aid (SALT Network), and Nation Media Group.

Organizers have announced that applications for the next edition of the #MyLittleBigThing Challenge will open in August 2026, with plans to expand its digital learning platform and strengthen Africa’s innovation ecosystem.