Nigerian health-tech company HubPharm Africa has emerged as the overall winner of the second ECOWAS Startup Awards, securing the $30,000 grand prize at the competition held in Abuja on Wednesday.
The company, co-founded by licensed clinical pharmacist Mrs Tope Kareem, defeated four other finalists from across West Africa to claim the top prize in the competition, which had a total prize pool of $65,000.
Gaynako, a startup from Senegal, emerged as the first runner-up and received $20,000, while My Opinion from Côte d’Ivoire finished third, winning $15,000.
Other finalists included Baykart, led by Muhammad Marong from The Gambia, and Afrikan Coders from Cape Verde.
Beyond the cash prizes, the three leading startups will have access to potential investment deals worth $5 million and opportunities to engage with investors through dedicated deal rooms.
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Presenting the trophy on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mr Dehpue Zuo, said the initiative was designed to promote innovation, regional integration and sustainable development across West Africa.
Zuo explained that the awards went beyond financial rewards, emphasising the importance of developing innovative solutions that address critical challenges, particularly in healthcare and human development.
According to him, the participating startups demonstrated the potential of African entrepreneurs to develop solutions that improve lives beyond national boundaries.
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“The money is not what we are thinking about, but the idea, the message of saving lives beyond your border.
“That will bring the message of integration and equity for people. I am encouraging other startup businesses to respond to the global need for human health and human development,” he said.
In her acceptance speech, Kareem described the recognition as a major achievement for HubPharm Africa and a demonstration of the growing capacity of young African entrepreneurs to develop solutions to global challenges.
She expressed appreciation to ECOWAS for providing a platform that encourages innovation, collaboration and investment in emerging businesses across the region.
“On behalf of myself and the business startup that we run, I want to say a very big thank you to ECOWAS for believing in startups like us, because we are truly building something that can change the face of Africa,” she said.
Kareem, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of HubPharm Africa, noted that the competition had created opportunities for strategic partnerships, business expansion and access to potential investors.
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She explained that the company’s expansion strategy was built around collaboration with other healthcare innovators rather than establishing a physical presence in every country.
“One thing I believe about what we do at HubPharm is that we don’t have to have a presence in all countries. We can have a presence through collaboration and partnerships.
“Yesterday, I was talking to one of the startups in Guinea, and I could see how we could actually enter Guinea without HubPharm being there.
“This competition has given me access to partnerships, collaboration, investors and so many other things. Let’s keep making an impact and saving lives across the world,” she added.
Kareem is a licensed clinical pharmacist and healthcare innovator with more than 13 years of experience in retail pharmacy operations, pharmaceutical supply chain management and patient services.
Under her leadership, HubPharm Africa has developed clinical operations and a medicine supply chain serving more than 10,200 patients with chronic health conditions across Nigeria and 11 other countries within 28 months of operation.
She studied pharmacy at Olabisi Onabanjo University alongside HubPharm Africa’s founder, Sesan Kareem, and holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree and an Entrepreneurship Development Certificate from Lagos Business School.
The ECOWAS Startup Awards provide a platform for emerging businesses across West Africa to showcase innovative solutions, attract investment and establish partnerships aimed at promoting entrepreneurship and regional economic development.
