Sierra Leonean tech geek, Mohamed Alpha, has been named one of the ten award winning finalists for the African Telecommunications Union (ATU) Africa Innovation Challenge 2025.
The ATU Africa Innovation Challenge, in partnership with Huawei and International Telecommunication Union (ITU), is a challenge for young African innovators who have groundbreaking problem-solving artificial intelligence ideas.
The ATU Africa Innovation Challenge has a total of ten award winning finalists; five from Tanzania, one from Sierra Leone, one from Nigeria, one from Kenya, and two from Malawi.
Mohamed Alpha is a Mastercard Foundation Scholar and MSc candidate in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University Africa.
He is one of the leads at FRESH AI innovation, a low-cost AI that utilizes computer vision and gas sensors to accurately detect food spoilage, aiming to reduce global food waste.
Specializing in Internet of Things (IoT) and applied machine learning, Mohamed is a passionate researcher and innovator dedicated to bridging Africa’s technology gap.
Mohamed’s goal is to ensure that cutting-edge engineered solutions are accessible to communities across the continent.
Mohamed’s journey in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) began at Prince of Wales School in Freetown, Sierra Leone. At Prince of Wales, he joined Innovate Salone, a program under Global Minimum Org founded by Dr. David Sengeh, Sierra Leone’s current Chief Minister.
Innovate Salone empowered young Sierra Leoneans to explore technology and science. It’s at Innovate Salone that Mohamed’s lifelong passion for innovation started.
As a STEM tutor, he now pays it forward, inspiring and equipping the next generation of African engineers.
Expertise in IoT, Telecommunications, and Smart Grids.
With a proven track record in IoT, telecommunications, and smart grids, Mohamed combines technical expertise with a commitment to impactful results. His work focuses on creating sustainable, scalable solutions that benefit people from all walks of life.
From project management to data analysis, his skills are as diverse as they are impressive. Mohamed’s vision extends beyond the lab—he’s determined to advance African space technology and revolutionize communication infrastructure.
