Nigerian health technology company HelpMum Africa has won the Grand Prize for AI for Social Impact at the Prix Ars Electronica in Linz, Austria, earning international recognition for its use of artificial intelligence to tackle maternal and infant mortality.
The achievement makes HelpMum Africa the first Nigerian organisation to receive the honour, adding another milestone to Nigeria’s growing technology and innovation story.
The award was presented at a ceremony in Linz by Hannes Heide, a Member of the European Parliament. HelpMum Africa was represented at the ceremony by its Senior Backend Engineer, Eniola Badmus, who accepted the award on behalf of the organisation.
The Prix Ars Electronica is widely regarded as one of the leading global platforms for digital art and innovation. Its new AI for Social Impact category, introduced through a collaboration between CARE Austria and Ars Electronica, recognises organisations using artificial intelligence to create measurable social good.
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HelpMum Africa Uses AI to Support Mothers Across Nigeria
HelpMum Africa has built a suite of AI-powered tools designed to make maternal and infant health support more accessible.
The organisation delivers several of these tools through WhatsApp, including Mamabot, Vaxbot, StratifyAI and ADVISER AI. Together, they have reached more than 500,000 pregnant women and nursing mothers across Nigeria.
The tools are also designed around the linguistic diversity of the communities they serve. HelpMum provides support in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, English and Nigerian Pidgin, allowing users to access health information through languages they are familiar with.
Its technology covers different areas of maternal and child health. Mamabot provides guidance to pregnant women throughout their pregnancy and prenatal care journey, while Vaxbot supports access to information around childhood immunisation.
StratifyAI focuses on identifying maternal health risks by analysing factors such as vital signs, laboratory results and existing medical conditions. This allows healthcare workers and families to have better information when considering potential risks.
The organisation has also developed AI infrastructure and research tailored to African healthcare settings, reflecting its focus on applying technology to challenges faced by local communities.
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A Global Recognition for Nigerian Innovation
For HelpMum Africa, the Prix Ars Electronica award recognises the work of a wider team that includes engineers, health workers, researchers and field staff.
Founder and CEO Dr Abiodun Adereni said the achievement belongs to everyone involved in the organisation’s work, including community health workers and mothers who have used its services.
He described the award as proof that solutions developed in Nigeria to address Nigerian challenges can compete on a global stage.
The recognition also comes as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly relevant to healthcare delivery, particularly in areas where access to health information and services remains limited.
By using a platform such as WhatsApp, HelpMum is able to meet users where they already are instead of requiring them to navigate unfamiliar technology. Combining that accessibility with local languages gives the organisation another way to reach communities that can often be left out of conversations around emerging technology.
HelpMum Africa’s latest achievement therefore extends beyond an award in Austria. It highlights the potential of Nigerian technology companies to build solutions around local needs while attracting international recognition for their impact.
As the organisation continues developing its AI-powered health tools, its Prix Ars Electronica win places another spotlight on the possibilities at the intersection of technology, healthcare and African innovation.
From maternal health to artificial intelligence, Nigerian innovators are finding new ways to solve problems that affect communities every day. Follow RefinedNG for more stories celebrating African innovation, impact and excellence.