Eastside Sankofa Industries, a student-led venture from the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) Innovation and Incubation Hub, has emerged as the winner of the Nkabom Africa Case Competition, securing a top prize of CAD 10,000.
In a highly competitive final round, Eastside Sankofa Industries achieved 1st place with 309 points, outperforming strong contenders from leading global institutions.
The Biotechnology for African Nutrition Collaborative, a joint team from the University of Ghana and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, placed second with 297 points (CAD 7,500), followed by Edunet from Arizona State University in third place with 293 points (CAD 4,000). Akuafo Adanfo from University of Cambridge placed fourth with 265 points (CAD 2,000), while SPI Africa from Princeton University secured fifth place with 234 points (CAD 1,500).
The winning team impressed judges with a systems-driven solution that addresses both food waste and poor diet diversity. By converting surplus mangoes into nutritious, shelf-stable products for schools, the team demonstrated a scalable model that connects farmers, processors, and educational institutions within a unified value chain.
Eastside Sankofa Industries’ flagship products include Mango Bites, a high-fibre, ready-to-eat snack designed for school feeding programmes, and Mango Juice, a nutrient-rich beverage that supports child nutrition and hydration. The model leverages low-energy processing and local aggregation systems to reduce post-harvest losses while improving access to nutritious food for schoolchildren.
Through its pilot model in Yilo Krobo, the venture engages smallholder farmers, supplies local schools, and contributes to improved livelihoods, reduced food waste, and enhanced diet diversity. The initiative reflects a practical, locally grounded approach to solving systemic challenges in Ghana’s food and nutrition ecosystem.
The UESD team comprises:Aaron Tawiah Blagodzi (Team Lead, BSc Energy and Resource Economics)Anyane Benjamin Ansu (BSc Sustainable Development) and Godson Etsri (BSc Energy Sustainability)
Speaking on the achievement, Dr. Kwaku Adu, Coordinator of the UESD Innovation and Incubation Hub, stated, “This achievement reflects the deliberate investment we are making in innovation, entrepreneurship, and student-centered experiential learning at UESD.
Eastside Sankofa Industries demonstrates how locally relevant ideas, supported through a structured incubation ecosystem, can deliver scalable solutions to real-world challenges. We are proud of this milestone and confident it signals even greater outcomes ahead.”
Also commenting, Ms. Cynthia Oduro, Manager of the UESD Innovation and Incubation Hub, noted, “This win reflects the strength of our incubation approach at the Hub. From idea validation to solution design and pitching, the team was supported through a structured process that emphasizes real-world relevance and scalability. Eastside Sankofa Industries is a clear example of how targeted mentorship and ecosystem support can transform student ideas into competitive, high-impact ventures.”
The UESD Innovation and Incubation Hub currently supports 10 ventures with over 100 student innovators in its incubation programme, reflecting a growing pipeline of innovation-driven enterprises within the University.
The victory highlights the growing impact of the UESD Innovation and Incubation Hub as a strategic platform for nurturing student-led ventures into competitive, high-impact enterprises capable of performing on international stages.
Source:Mybrytfmonline.com
