Ghana has recorded a major milestone on the global innovation stage as a three member team, AfriBridge Connect, won the 2025 Geneva Graduate Challenge, becoming the first Ghanaian and African team to claim the top prize since the competition began in 2014.

AfriBridge Connect, made up of Abigail Osei Owusu, Henry E. Yawson and Pascal Gaglo, emerged winners in a highly competitive edition focused on migration. The Geneva Graduate Institute received 313 team applications representing 1,093 graduate students from 92 nationalities. Out of 114 project submissions, only five teams, one from each continent, progressed to the final round.

Representing Africa, the Ghanaian team impressed the international jury with a groundbreaking digital solution designed to harmonise Africa’s fragmented intra migration systems. Their platform tackles critical challenges including credential recognition gaps, language barriers, underutilisation of migrant STEM talent and social integration difficulties faced by migrants across the continent.

The solution is built to be widely accessible. It can be deployed on mobile devices, through USSD and voice platforms, and even operate offline, ensuring inclusion of migrants from low income and remote communities.

Following a rigorous selection process, AfriBridge Connect was named the sole African finalist and came up against teams from Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania in the final stage. The team delivered a high impact public pitch to an audience of policymakers, development partners, investors and academics. The jury was chaired by Michael Møller, former Director General of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

At the award ceremony, AfriBridge Connect was announced as the overall winner of the 2025 Geneva Graduate Challenge.

“This victory is a milestone for Ghana and Africa. We return home with a commitment to implement this solution and contribute to Africa’s integration agenda,” the team said after receiving the award.

The team is expected to begin engagement with continental and international institutions, including the African Union, ECOWAS, the International Organization for Migration, national education ministries, technology hubs and development partners. The aim is to pilot and scale the digital migration platform across strategic migration corridors in Africa.