The Mastercard Foundation and African Leadership Academy have announced that 22-year-old healthcare entrepreneur Melissa Bime has won the US$25,000 grand prize at the eight annual Anzisha Prize awards gala in Johannesburg, South Africa
Bime is the founder of INFIUSS, an online blood bank and digital supply chain platform that ensures patients in 23 hospitals in Cameroon have life-saving blood when and where they need it. She is the second woman to win the grand prize since Best Ayiorworth in 2013.
Melissa Bime during her acceptance speech, said, “Today, I stand here to represent every young girl out there that just has her dreams. I stand here to represent this amazing group of entrepreneurs that I am a part of. With these people, the future of Africa is very bright. We are going to change this continent.”
Melissa was selected from among 20 finalists during a ceremony on 23 October that was live-streamed to more than 3,000 viewers and created a social media buzz across the continent.
Joan Nalubega, 21, was the second-runner up. She is the co-founder of Uganics, which produces mosquito-repellent soap to combat malaria in Uganda. With the US$12,500, she will conduct a certification study for the company’s products and prepare Uganics for export to neighbouring countries which will help to widen her impact in the fight against malaria.
Koffi Assouan, program manager, Mastercard Foundation, added, “We are proud of all 20 finalists and are excited to see two young and dynamic women taking home top prizes.”
“Their contributions will continue to impact their countries and they are role models for other young women across the continent. They are demonstrating how to turn obstacles into opportunities that create value and jobs for others,” concluded Assouan.
Applications for the next cycle of the Anzisha Prize will be open from 15 February 2019.
