Kenyan inventor Elly Savatia has been named the winner of the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation for his groundbreaking solution, Terp 360 — a cutting-edge app that uses artificial intelligence to translate spoken language into sign language through 3D avatars.
The Africa Prize, launched in 2014 by the Royal Academy of Engineering, is one of the continent’s most influential awards for engineering entrepreneurs. Since its inception, it has supported 165 businesses from 22 African nations, providing them with training, mentoring, and crucial communication resources to scale their impact.
Earlier this year, 16 innovators were shortlisted for the prize and took part in an intensive eight-month training and business development programme. After careful evaluation, the judging panel selected four finalists — with Terp 360 earning the top spot. As the overall winner, Savatia will receive GBP50,000 (approximately US$67,000) to help further develop and scale the technology.
Terp 360 addresses a very real need: the shortage of sign language interpreters in Africa. By translating speech into sign language using lifelike 3D avatars, the app can significantly improve accessibility in schools, workplaces, and public service environments for people with hearing impairments.
“I am extremely grateful for this recognition,” said Savatia. “It’s a huge affirmation of the innovative assistive technology emerging from Africa. I’m excited to see the excellence that will continue to come from Signvrse, our team, and innovative peers across the continent.”
The other three finalists — Vivian Arinaitwe from Uganda’s Neo Nest, Frank Owusu of Ghana’s Aquamet, and Kenya’s Carol Ofafa from E-Safiri — were each awarded GBP10,000 (US$13,000) to support their ventures. Additionally, the audience selected Mozambique’s Rui Bauhofer as the “One to Watch,” granting him GBP5,000 (US$6,500) for his sustainable packaging solution, Eco-Plates.
This year’s awards highlight the power of engineering and technology to drive innovative solutions for societal challenges across Africa.
