Young African innovators harness AI for local challenges

Young innovators from across Africa gathered in Cameroon this month to explore how artificial intelligence and digital technology could help address some of the continent's most urgent challenges — from rural healthcare and inclusive education to sustainable agriculture and child protection.

The African regional finals of the ninth Global Competition on Design for Futures (GCD4F) Higher Education Track were held from May 16 to 17 at the University of Yaounde I in Cameroon.

Jointly organized by Beijing Normal University and UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education, the regional finals brought together more than 70 students from 16 interdisciplinary teams. Participants presented projects focused on education, agriculture, transportation and healthcare, with many proposals exploring how emerging technologies could be adapted to local realities and social needs across Africa.

Some teams designed AI-assisted agricultural systems designed to improve field management and crop monitoring, while others developed inclusive learning platforms for students with special needs. Additional projects included offline child-protection systems for regions with weak internet access and remote health-monitoring solutions tailored to underserved communities.

Judges said many entries stood out for combining technological innovation with practical social applications.

The projects demonstrated both technical creativity and a strong understanding of local needs, said Atsa Etoundi Roger, director of information systems at Cameroon Ministry of Higher Education and chairman of the African regional judging committee.

Chen Guangju, vice-dean of the Smart Learning Institute at Beijing Normal University and chairman of the competition's steering committee, said the strong participation reflected the growing spirit of interdisciplinary innovation among African youth.

This year's African division attracted 414 students from more than 30 universities, forming 93 teams spanning fields including computer science, medicine, electronic engineering and urban planning.

The event also highlighted growing cooperation between Chinese and African institutions in education and technological innovation.

Zhou Weidong, general manager of Xiangjun Construction Co Ltd, which supported the event, said the company had previously participated in regional activities in South Asia and hoped more African students would gain international exposure through the competition.

Throughout the finals, mentors from China and Cameroon worked closely with participating teams, helping students refine technical frameworks, improve presentations and strengthen project feasibility while preserving the originality of their ideas.

Outstanding teams from the African division will advance to the global finals in Beijing in October, where they will exchange ideas with young innovators from around the world.