A Nigerian, Imodoye Abioro, has been named the winner 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 announced in a statement issued by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday.

Speaking at the event, the vice-president of U.S. Chamber of Commerce , Myron Brilliant, said that Africa’s digital future is bright and they are delighted to recognise the impact of startups in Africa.

He added all innovators and changemakers that entered the U.S. Chamber’s 2022 Digital Innovation Competition are winners and deserved to be recognised.

Mr Brilliant said next year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hoped to double the number so it could continue to showcase the incredible culture developing throughout Africa.

“We are delighted to recognise our first prize winner HealthBotics from Nigeria. 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,” Mr Brilliant said.

The president of the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF), Travis Adkins, said that the foundation is  excited to be a partner of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for their Annual Digital Innovation Competition.

“We’re so excited because we believe at the U.S. African Development Foundation that Africa is the continent not only of now, but also of the future,” he said.

U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, noted that the startups that  took part in the competition are solving problems in Africa. 

“They’re actually solving some of our most vexing problems, like 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.