The AWiDH Mentorship Program, an initiative of African Women in Digital Health (AWiDH), has just announced its shortlisted applicants for the 2025–2026 program. This program is transforming the digital health landscape by recognising the unique challenges faced by women innovators in the digital health space and empowering them to lead, scale and influence health solutions across the African continent. It offers women-led startups mentorship, visibility and connections – three key ingredients that they need to thrive in a sector often challenged by funding gaps and limited digital infrastructure.  

Despite increasing political support for gender equity, many women-led ventures still struggle to secure equity investment, and face infrastructure limitations, particularly in rural areas. The AWiDH mentorship program bridges these gaps through upskilling (providing technical training to successful women-led ventures), business development support, mentorship from experienced leaders, and strategic exposure to investors, policymakers and key partners. 

For the 2025–2026 program cohort, AWiDH received 337 applications from 33 African countries. The sheer volume of applications reflects the immense talent and innovation across the continent in the digital health sector. From this competitive pool, 22 applicants were shortlisted: 

• Love Gadima – Nigeria (West Africa)  

• Soumeiya Gbadamassi – Togo (West Africa)  

• Rose MAEVA – Cameroon (Central Africa)  

• Viviane OKE – Benin (West Africa)  

• Charluberth Azankpan – Benin (West Africa)  

• Ozioma Egboka – Nigeria (West Africa)  

• Hlelile Vinkhumbo – South Africa (Southern Africa)  

• Gloria E. Swilla – Tanzania (East Africa)  

• Oluwagbemisola Osayuware – Nigeria (West Africa)  

• Laetitia Christine – Kenya (East Africa)  

• Anna Ndiaye Fall – Senegal (West Africa)  

• Zaynab Mohammed – Nigeria (West Africa)  

• Ahlam Saeed ALI – Tanzania (East Africa)  

• Worship Mahembe – Zimbabwe (Southern Africa)  

• Aisha Abubakar – Nigeria (West Africa)  

• Aisha Adam Abdulahi – Nigeria (West Africa)  

• Tuwilika Nafuka – Namibia (Southern Africa)  

• Dr Wanjiru Kigathi – Kenya (East Africa)  

• Temitope Ashola – Zambia (East Africa)  

• Jennifer Orisakwe – Nigeria (West Africa)  

• Lilian Chuwa – Tanzania (East Africa)  

• Reem Fathy – Egypt (North Africa)  

The program builds on the success of the first cohort, which helped five women-led startups develop digital health solutions, gain critical skills and engage with the broader ecosystem through webinars, bootcamps and media outreach. Partners including Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Speak Up Africa, GIZ, the African Union, Transform Health, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and national health authorities in Senegal and Benin support the program, ensuring mentees receive mentorship, funding opportunities and policy engagement. 

The finalists for the 2025–2026 program will be announced soon, representing the most promising women innovators poised to lead Africa’s next wave of digital health solutions.