UNGA 2025: How eHealth Africa is rewriting story of innovation

Folalumi Alaran in Abuja

At the 2025 United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, African innovators did more than join the conversation—they led it.

At a packed side event convened by eHealth Africa in partnership with Population Services International (PSI), the Population Council and Reach Digital Health, leaders from across the continent came together to showcase how Africa is shaping its future with homegrown solutions.

The event, themed “African-led Innovation: Shaping Sustainable Futures With or Without Aid,” sought to reclaim a long-contested narrative—that Africa’s progress depends on external support. Instead, the discussions highlighted African ingenuity, resilience, and determination to create sustainable systems rooted in local realities.

Honourable Chernor Bah, Sierra Leone’s Minister of Information and Civic Education, set the tone in his opening remarks. “For decades, aid has shaped health, innovation, and development in Africa—but often without African ownership at the centre,” he told the audience. “In many ways, this created systems that were never truly ours. But Africans have always innovated. Innovation is part of who we are—born out of necessity and the inequities we’ve had to overcome. This is a new era—an era of designing our own future, where African ideas and creativity lead the way.”

That call resonated throughout the discussions. Dr. Ola Brown, founder of HealthCap Africa, drew parallels with global examples to stress Africa’s untapped potential. “When you look at the U.S., the Internet was born from a DARPA project, and 75% of new drugs trace back to government-funded research. But private capital scaled those innovations,” she explained. “In Africa, governments face capital constraints, so the model may look different. But when we invest in healthcare innovation in Africa, we don’t just create a healthier continent—we create a healthier world.”

For Michael Holscher, President of PSI Global, innovation means little if it isn’t sustainable. “One of the most critical players is the community itself—that woman in the marketplace, or that man in the village,” he said. “Our projects have timelines. But beyond short-term results, the question always is: what happens when we leave? True sustainability rests in the ownership of stakeholders.”

The need for inclusivity rang clear. Judith Bruce of the Population Council cautioned that many groups are often overlooked. “Too often the word ‘community’ is represented by a handful of older men. But where are the adolescent girls? Where are the young women?” she asked. “Every study showing ‘impact’ should begin with the question: who is included here, and who is not? If we don’t name them, we can’t design for them.”

Digital health leaders echoed the urgency of scale. Jean Philbert Nsengimana, Chief Digital Health Advisor at Africa CDC, urged health innovators to take inspiration from fintech. “M-PESA revolutionised financial inclusion. We need the same leap in health tech,” he said. “Africa has the solutions within. If aid comes, good. If not, we must—and can—move forward regardless.”

That spirit of resilience was echoed by Debbie Rogers, CEO of Reach Digital Health, who shared lessons from South Africa’s MomConnect programme, which has reached five million women. “The statistic I’m proudest of is that 98% of women recommend it to others,” she said. “Constraints drive creativity. In Africa, we don’t just work around them—we leapfrog because of them.”

For eHealth Africa, the gathering at UNGA was more than symbolic—it was a statement of confidence. “Being here, you can really feel the energy around everything that’s happening,” said Atef Fawaz, the organisation’s Executive Director, in a post-panel interview. “It’s exciting to meet partners who share the same mindset: localising innovation and reducing donor dependency. Africa will be among the top 20 emerging markets in the next two decades. This is the place to be. My message to the younger generation is: look into Africa, invest in Africa.”

His colleague, Ota Akhigbe, Director of Partnerships and Programmes at eHealth Africa, reflected on the growing influence of African leaders on the global stage. “Africa is no longer just invited to the table—Africa is leading conversations,” she said. “With visibility comes influence. We are not only creating solutions at home but also bringing them here to influence global conversations.”

Even as discussions tackled serious issues of sovereignty, innovation and equity, the evening closed with a lighter moment: a Jollof rice tasting competition. With the room erupting in laughter, Minister Bah declared Senegal the winner, a playful nod to Africa’s cultural pride.

For eHealth Africa and its partners, the message from New York was unambiguous: Africa’s time is now. Whether with aid or without it, Africans are shaping the continent’s future—and the world is taking notice.