A fellow of the Kosmos Innovation Center (KIC), CEO and Co-Founder of Kodu Technology, Dr Mohammed Faried, has emerged as one of the grand prize winners for the 2024 GoGettaz Agripreneurs Prize Competition at the Africa Food Systems Forum held in Kigali, Rwanda, this September.

Kodu Pad, a groundbreaking invention put together by himself and his team, captured the attention of judges and audiences alike leading to this significant achievement.

The product is an eco-friendly sanitary pad manufactured from agricultural waste such as the fibres of bananas and plantains.

Kodu Pad is not only sustainable but has proven to be a healthier option as opposed to other products.

Dr. Faried’s pitch, which stood out for its ingenuity, landed him a prize of $50,000 for the scaling of his business.

The 2024 edition of the GoGettaz Agripreneurs Prize which received about 2000 applications, selected its winners from among 12 finalists hailing from 11 different African countries through a rigorous process.

This journey to victory for Kodu Technology, producers of the Kodu Pad, began some years ago when Dr. Faried and his team participated in the AgriTech Classic Challenge of the Kosmos Innovation Center.

Through tailor-made capacity-building sessions and mentorship programmes, they honed their skills and refined their innovation.

Looking ahead, Dr. Faried on behalf of his team, expressed enthusiasm and optimism about the future of Kodu Pad. He and his team are now focused on improving the banana fibre extraction procedure, one of the biggest challenges of the project.

To players in the nation’s agricultural ecosystem, the success of Kodu Technology is a testament to the transformative impact of the Kosmos Innovation Center, which continues to nurture young innovators and equip them with the tools and knowledge needed to excel.

GoGettaz Africa is a partnership initiative co-founded by Yara International and the Econet Group.

The competition identifies young African founders of high-potential agrifood businesses between the ages of 18 to 35 and supports them with investment, leadership development, mentorship, visibility and partnerships to scale their ventures.