Access to Education for Talented African Students

Alfaxad is an Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) Scholar from Tanzania, majoring in Mechanical and Electrical Systems Engineering at the Kyoto University of Advanced Science in Japan.

"My father's passing when I was eight, and the resulting financial constraints, created hurdles for my education,” he says. “Although I excelled in interviews during middle school, financial limitations stopped me from attending good schools. The AAI transformed my narrative, opening doors to a brighter future."

At the end of high school, Alfaxad participated in the Idealab.ai hackathon organized by Tanzania AI Lab and AI Commons. Alfaxad led his team to create Tanzania's first Artificial Intelligence (AI) cancer diagnosis system: "We won the first prize, and that was when I realized I could use my skills to build something useful. That realization has driven me since then."

Inspired by science fiction films and books, Alfaxad developed a passion for technology early. "I started learning programming on my phone at the age of 12 since I did not have the means to buy a laptop,” he recalls. “I continued learning, but only committed to it fully when the Covid-19 pandemic started. The lockdown forced me to dedicate hours daily to learning computer programming."

Alfaxad's primary motivation to join AAI was to learn from Japan's advanced technology: "I envisioned the AAI program equipping me with top-tier expertise, empowering me to create impactful real-world solutions and initiatives, especially with the possibility to study in Japan."

The AAI Scholar grew up watching NHK documentaries about Japan and its technologies. This led to an early curiosity and fascination with the country's technological achievements. "I consider the opportunity to study in Japan as a gift to learn from Japanese technologies and their development,” says Alfaxad. “I am exposed to cutting-edge technology daily."

To develop his skills further outside the classroom, Alfaxad committed to constantly finding problems around him and exploring how technology could solve them. That is when he started seeking out competitions and hackathons, to take advantage of the opportunities for participation they presented.

For example, he embarked on a project to address inefficiencies in electricity distribution. The goal was to enhance the distribution process by strategically managing consumption patterns and identifying peak demand periods. By aggregating data on power plants and their capacities, the system aimed to minimize waste, improve efficiency, and make electricity accessible to a larger population. The overarching objective was to reduce operational costs, benefit consumers, and mitigate carbon emissions. "Despite the audacious nature of the endeavor, I successfully created a prototype that garnered recognition” Alfaxad says. “I entered it into the DB-SNUbiz Global Startup Challenge 2023, a prestigious competition organized by Seoul National University and DB Kim Jun Ki Cultural Foundation. Competing against top students from Asian countries, I emerged as Japan's number one finalist, securing a substantial financial prize as a testament to the project's viability and impact. The accomplishment affirmed the project's success and marked a meaningful step towards addressing a critical global issue.”

Alfaxad also participated in the Google (Japan) Data Center Hardware Hackathon 2023 in Tokyo: "Our collaborative efforts propelled us to an come in second-place in the hackathon. We also secured a special prize in recognition of our exceptional teamwork."

"During the Japanese competition,” he adds, “my apprehension stemmed from language barriers, as the event was primarily Japan-focused and conducted in Japanese. Despite my limited proficiency in the language, I confronted the challenge head-on, relying heavily on Google Translate. The resilience I developed was instrumental in my helping to lead my team to a second-place finish and even securing a special prize. This experience not only enhanced my problem-solving abilities but also marked personal growth.”

Over the years, Alfaxad's technical skills have evolved significantly, transforming him into someone capable of building scalable systems and tackling real-world issues. “My goal is to contribute to enhancing the development of my country, Tanzania,” he says. “Whether that is by increasing the efficiency and convenience of various infrastructures, developing AI-driven diagnosis systems, or innovative agricultural production using AI & robotics, I genuinely believe in the power of advancing science and technology to ultimately bring about transformative changes, and I aim to be at the core of this transformational change in my country.”

Reflecting on his experience as an AAI Scholar so far, Alfaxad describes the program as incredible: "Beyond the academic opportunities, connecting with fellow AAI Scholars has blossomed into lasting friendships. The program's structure, particularly the Professional Network Development components, has been pivotal for my growth. The AAI has allowed me to dream big and work towards my dream to lead an AI-driven development in Tanzania."

Links:

• Find our scholars stories
• Ashinaga Founation website