By Cynthia Ezekwe
HealthBotics, a health technology startup founded by Imodoye Abioro from Nigeria has emerged the first prize winner of HealthBotics of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Africa Digital Innovation competition held in partnership with the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF).
This was disclosed at the innovators’ gathering in the U.S. Department of State, which featured notable speakers including Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State; Muriel Bowser, Washington D.C. Mayor; Eric Adams, New York City Mayor; Idris Elba, actor and filmmaker; Tony Elumelu, Nigeria’s notable philanthropist; Travis Adkins, USADF President and CEO; and Myron Brilliant, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s executive vice president and head of the International Affairs Division.
Speaking at the event, Brilliant expressed his delight to recognize some of the amazing impactful startups from Africa, noting that the continent’s digital future is bright.
“Africa’s digital future is bright and we were delighted to recognize some of the amazing impactful startups from the continent. Every one of the nearly-two thousand innovators and changemakers that entered the US Chamber’s 2022 Digital Innovation Competition was a winner and deserves to be recognized. And next year, we hope to double that number so we can continue to showcase the incredible culture developing throughout Africa,’’ he said.
According to him, they are delighted to recognize the first prize winner HealthBotics from Nigeria, as he noted that HealthBotics encapsulates the ingenuity that African innovators demonstrate every day, turning obstacles into solutions using digital solutions to make sure rural hospitals have the lifesaving supplies they need.
“Digital transformation is key to Africa’s development, and we look forward to helping more companies across Africa to expand awareness about the start-ups in Africa that are driving transformational change,’’ he said.
On his part, Travis Adkins, USADF president and CEO, said: “We’re so excited because we believe in the U.S. African Development Foundation that Africa is the continent not only of now, but also of the future.”
Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State also stated that the founders who took part in the pitch competition are not just running successful businesses, rather they’re solving some vexing problems for mankind, such as closing enduring gaps in healthcare and helping entrepreneurs break into the formal economy.
“We have a huge stake in the success of African innovators. Because when they’re empowered to reach their full potential, it’s good for the region. It’s good for the continent. It’s good for the world,’’ he said.
