Nigerien healthcare technology startup Likita Care has won the 2026 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation, receiving £50,000 (approximately $67,000) to advance its locally developed medical monitoring technology.
The award, organised by the Royal Academy of Engineering, recognises African innovators developing engineering solutions to address pressing challenges across the continent.
Founded by Mamane Kabirou Ousseini, Likita Care designs and manufactures patient monitoring devices intended to improve healthcare delivery in hospitals and medical facilities with limited resources.
Ousseini’s achievement marks a milestone for Niger, as he became the first engineer from the country to participate in and win the prestigious competition.
The startup developed its technology to address a major challenge affecting healthcare facilities in Niger: the difficulty of maintaining imported medical equipment when devices malfunction or replacement components become unavailable.
Rather than relying entirely on foreign-manufactured systems, Likita Care produces medical monitoring equipment locally, making repairs and maintenance more accessible to healthcare providers.
Its platform combines connected medical hardware, clinical software, and an artificial intelligence module capable of interpreting patient vital signs in real time.
The technology supports several healthcare applications, including general patient monitoring, cardiac assessments, and prenatal care.
By providing medical professionals with timely information about patients’ conditions, the system aims to support faster clinical responses and improve healthcare monitoring.
According to the company, more than 70 monitoring units have been deployed across five medical centres in Niger, demonstrating initial adoption of its technology.
The Africa Prize selected its finalists from 16 entrepreneurs who participated in an eight-month programme involving technical training, mentorship, and business development support.
Following the award, Likita Care intends to accelerate commercialisation in Niger while preparing to introduce its solutions into neighbouring West African markets.
Three other finalists received £10,000 each: South Africa’s Pee-Cycling, Kenya’s MoyoECG, and Kenya’s Renal Roads.
Ghana’s Fusion Wind Turbine also received the £5,000 One-to-Watch Award.
Likita Care’s victory highlights the potential of locally developed medical technology to address healthcare infrastructure challenges across Africa.
The recognition could also help the startup strengthen its commercial development and expand access to locally maintainable medical equipment.
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