A 27-year old Nigerian systems engineer, Godwin Benson has won the Royal Academy of Engineering Africa Prize, given by UK’s Royal Academy of Engineering for developing a tutoring app.
According to the BBC, Benson, beat 16 participants to clinch the £25,000 ($32,000) prize money at the awards ceremony in Nairobi, Kenya on 23 May 2017
The four finalists delivered presentations, before Africa Prize judges and a live audience voted for the most promising engineering innovation.
Sixteen shortlisted Africa Prize entrants, from eight countries in sub-Saharan Africa, received six months training and mentoring during which they learned to develop business plans and market their innovations. The group received coaching on communicating effectively, focusing on customers and approaching investors with confidence.
“Godwin Benson’s Tuteria invention changes the way Nigerians – and Africans – share knowledge and skills with one another. We’re proud to have him as our third Africa Prize winner, and we trust Tuteria will go on to change the lives of millions of people who are eager to learn and develop new skills,” said head judge Malcolm Brinded CBE FREng.
The app called Tuteria provides a platform that links qualified tutors to students in their area and within their budget.
The platform has a ratings system, and students book lessons using an upfront online payment system. Tutors are paid once the lessons have been confirmed, and Tuteria takes 15 to 30% commission for each paid lesson
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, founded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, encourages talented sub-Saharan African engineers, from all disciplines, to develop local solutions to challenges in their communities.
