By Rebecca Nampiima
The USIU-Africa Hult Prize Club held a competition on February 8, that brought together 13 teams to showcase their innovative solutions aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The theme for this year's competition was ‘Unlimited,’ reflecting the limitless potential of creative ideas in addressing global challenges. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from various teams, each presenting unique and groundbreaking projects. The teams demonstrated their commitment to creating sustainable and impactful solutions that contribute to the achievement of the UN SDGs.

In addition, to the on-campus teams, the competition also hosted other universities: University of Nairobi, Africa Nazarene University, the University of Embu, the Regional Center for Mapping of Resources for Development, and Kenyatta University. This diversity added a rich dimension to the competition, fostering collaboration and networking beyond our campus boundaries.

The competition hosted a distinguished panel of judges from InnovateSphere Africa, Mr. Titus Ndeto from Taka Earth, Mr. Kelvin Earth who shared their expertise and insights. One of the highlights of the event was the commitment of the judges to support and collaborate with the participating teams. Mr. Titus Ndeto and his team, offered the Innovate Sphere hub to continue working closely with tech-related teams to further develop and implement their projects. This collaboration presents an exciting opportunity for our students to turn their ideas into impactful initiatives with real-world implications.

The Hult Prize Club on-campus competition was not only a platform for showcasing talent but also a celebration of innovation and collaboration. Ecoharbor emerged as the winner, their company makes paper and stationery out of sugarcane. The judges were impressed by the structure of Ecoharbor Company, as their team is certified by the Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KEBS). Raytech Game Studios was the first runner-up, they envision a fun way of learning through the Edumetaverse Virtual School. They affirmed that learning should be fun by using the metaverse to clearly demonstrate learning content for subjects such as chemistry, math, and so on. The team has worked tirelessly and has been able to create an app on Google Play Store to demonstrate their work. Ayn and Uhai Innovation Company both secured the second runners-up position. Ayn Company uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) in vehicles to enhance road safety, while Uhai Innovation Company focuses on recycling plastics and turning them into items such as garments, pillows, and so on.

The Hult Prize is immensely proud of the dedication and passion displayed by all the participants and the success of this event sets a positive tone for the future, emphasizing the role of our campus in fostering a culture of innovation and sustainability.