Today's Edition
SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)
Aletihad interviewed the inspirational winners of the Zayed Sustainability Prize 2025 at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week on Monday.
The prestigious global award recognised 11 transformative projects across six categories - Health, Food, Energy, Water, Climate Action, and Global High Schools - for their innovative contributions to global sustainability challenges.
In the Health category, Periwinkle Technologies from India, won for its cancer detection technology.
CEO Veena Moktali explained that the SmartScope CX is an AI-powered, point-of-care device that detects cervical cancer in real time, improving accessibility and reducing treatment delays.
To date, it has screened over 300,000 women, saving 5,000 lives, and cut CO2 emissions by eliminating unnecessary travel.
Driven by the need for better healthcare in underserved areas, the team is dedicated to making affordable cervical cancer screenings accessible to women around the world.
"The solution increases accessibility, reduces treatment delays and minimises patient visits," Moktali explained.
The device operates without internet, enabling remote consultations in low-resource settings.
"Our mission is to provide equitable healthcare, reduce reliance on expensive equipment, and minimise our carbon footprint," Moktali added.
With the prize, Periwinkle Technologies now plans to take SmartScope global, making sure every woman has access to this life-saving technology.
Speaking to Aletihad, Innocent Maholi, CEO of OpenMap Development Tanzania, said his project empowers local communities to address flooding using mapping (OpenStreetMap) and technologies akin to drones.
"The inspiration came from my own experience living in an informal area affected by flooding," he shared.
The initiative empowers communities to gather flood risk data, create maps, as well as develop disaster plans.
"We connect GIS [geographic information system] with local knowledge to create actionable flood maps," Majodi explained.
He said the plan is to extend their work beyond Dar es Salaam to other flood-prone areas and make an even bigger impact.
"This recognition motivates us to strengthen our efforts and support more communities," he added.
In the Energy category, Palki Motors, Bangladesh's first electric vehicle manufacturer, is revolutionising transportation with locally designed electric cars and trucks, helping commercial drivers save up to 90% on fuel and 50% on maintenance.
Featuring battery-swapping technology, drivers can replace drained batteries in just two minutes, making electric vehicles more accessible.
The initiative has benefitted 23,000 people and aims to reduce 260,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually by 2027, helping drivers increase their income by 52%, as well as reducing air pollution and congestion.
Sustainability is at the heart of their operations, with recyclable batteries, solar-powered charging stations and plans for a carbon-neutral production process by 2028.
Co-founder and CEO, Mustafa Al Momin, driven to reduce Dhaka's pollution problem and the need for better livelihoods for commercial drivers, started out by designing a prototype in his uncle's garage.
"We aim to provide electric cars for rideshare drivers, helping them earn a better income and contribute to reducing carbon emissions," he said.
With the Prize, Palki Motors plans to increase production to 100 cars per month by the end of this year and reach 20,000 cars annually by 2028.
"Winning the Zayed Sustainability Prize gives us the boost we need to succeed and brings us one step closer to making a meaningful impact," he added.
In Global High Schools category – Middle East & North Africa, Merryland International School (UAE), was rewarded for its school project, led by students aged 10-18, which involves the creation of carbon sponge bricks made from green algae.
The bricks absorb CO2, improve air quality, and reduce emissions in classrooms, benefiting 3,000 students and staff while promoting sustainability and environmental awareness.
"Outside of this project, we have also introduced sustainable practices at school, like implementing ideas from Model United Nations and organising competitions between students and teachers," said the students behind the project.
Reflecting on their achievement, they said: "Winning the prize was a huge moment for us. It showed us that if you work hard and have a clear vision, you can turn your ideas into something real. It should inspire others to put in the effort and believe in their potential. Anyone -man, woman or child - can have an idea that leads to something great. A simple thought in the shower could turn into an award-winning project."
In the Food category, AbdulLateef Olaosebikan, Founder of NaFarm Foods (Nigeria - SME), won for his innovative solution that addresses post-harvest losses and food insecurity.
NaFarm Foods produces hybrid solar food dryers that operate using both solar and electric power, making them adaptable to all weather conditions and helping farmers preserve their food efficiently.
Olaosebikan explained the inspiration behind the project: "Before introducing this solution, farmers often abandoned their harvests in the field because they could not afford proper storage or drying equipment. They would only harvest when there was demand for their produce. When demand was low, they would let it go to waste, or they would dry it in open fields, which is not hygienic. We introduced the hybrid solar dryer to solve this problem and help them preserve their produce properly."
NaFarm Foods has deployed 80 dryers across six Nigerian states, benefiting 65,000 farmers and reducing food waste and carbon emissions by 50,000 metric tonnes annually.
"We plan to expand to more states in Nigeria. We have already reached six, and in the next three years, we aim to extend to 24 more states," Olaosebikan said of their growth plans.
Reflecting on the prize he added: "I want to express my gratitude to the Zayed Sustainability Prize for this incredible recognition. We promise that the prize will be used wisely to benefit those who need it most in Nigeria. Every dollar will be spent to make a real difference."
