The Time for Africa (TFA) Foundation has announced ambitious plans to scale its transformative programs across the continent, following its recognition with a prestigious international award. The foundation received the Global South Sustainability Award at the Global South Maritime Heritage Summit in the United Kingdom, an event that underscored the critical role of Global South cooperation in tackling shared challenges.
A Prestigious Recognition at the UK Parliament
The award ceremony was held at the historic House of Lords in the UK Parliament on 12 January 2026. It was presented by the Honourable Louie French, Member of Parliament, and Lord Roger Evans. The summit gathered 115 distinguished guests from across the Global South, including notable figures like AI expert Lord Rami Ranger, Oxford's Prof. Ajit Jaokar, and Cambridge economist Prof. Kamiar Mohaddes, alongside representatives linked to the governments of Sri Lanka and Malaysia.
This award validates TFA's model of integrating advanced technology with community-led development to create sustainable impact. According to the organisers, it celebrates a partnership that successfully merges technology with grassroots sustainability initiatives to solve critical problems in African communities.
Flagship Programs Driving Change in Nigeria and Beyond
Inspired by this recognition, TFA has pledged to expand its successful multi-sector programs to more African countries. The expansion will focus on scaling initiatives in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, financial inclusion, climate resilience, education, and renewable energy. A key part of this strategy involves deepening partnerships with academic institutions and private sector organisations to boost technological capacity.
The foundation's work is already making a significant difference. Its Clean Cookstove Programme has reached more than 50,000 households in rural Nigeria. These high-efficiency stoves cut fuel use by up to 60% and harmful emissions by 70%, while also creating local jobs and micro-enterprise opportunities for women.
Another critical initiative is the waste-to-energy project that uses biomass gasification. Each installation processes about five tonnes of waste daily, generating power for roughly 500 households and thermal energy for community kitchens, tackling both waste management and energy access.
Holistic Impact: From Blue Economy to Healthcare
TFA's Blue Economy initiative focuses on coastal resilience, having replanted over 100,000 mangrove saplings to fight erosion and support biodiversity. Complementary aquaculture projects train fishermen in sustainable practices.
In agriculture, the promotion of drought-resistant crops and water harvesting has boosted crop yields by up to 40% in participating communities. The healthcare programme, using mobile clinics and telemedicine, has reached over 200,000 people in remote Nigerian areas, contributing to a 30% reduction in infant mortality in target communities.
The foundation is also deploying blockchain-based digital payment systems to bring more transparency and efficiency to development financing and trade.
Leadership and the Road Ahead
The core leadership team, including Dr. Abiodun Olushola, Dr. Kanhu Pattnayak, Anna Mwasha, Rebeca Díaz Romanenko, Ethan Wang, Leo Wang, Dan Chapman, and Pravena Mohan, were honoured for their roles in these multi-sector programs.
"The award validates our approach of combining technological innovation with deep community engagement that is not only technologically advanced but also culturally appropriate and sustainable in the long term," said TFA founder Dr. Abiodun Olushola.
With this international endorsement, the Time for Africa Foundation is now set to broaden its reach, aiming to replicate its proven, technology-driven community model across the African continent.
