Rosatom announced the 8th Atoms Empowering Africa annual video competition. Its goal is to inspire young people in Africa to explore the potentials of nuclear technology. The competition is open to teachers, young professionals, and students between the ages of 18 and 35. Rosatom Newsletter asked the 2024 competition winners to tell the readers about their contributions.
Atoms Empowering Africa 2025 will center on three key themes: Honor of the Past, Inspiration of the Present, and Dreams of the Future. This year’s competition is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Russian nuclear industry.
Contestants are invited to tell the story of nuclear technology’s contribution to global progress and Africa’s development, bringing together the past, present and future.
“The Atoms Empowering Africa competition has become a powerful platform for young African innovators to showcase their creativity and enthusiasm for science and technology. This competition provides a unique opportunity for participants to share their perspectives on how nuclear energy could drive innovation, sustainability and prosperity for the continent,” stated CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa Ryan Collyer.
Entries for the contest will be accepted until March 31; the rules can be found on Rosatom Africa’s social media pages.
Last year’s first prize was a trip to Russia. The winners toured the main sights of the capital and visited some of the Russian nuclear facilities.
Rosatom Newsletter asked the winners to say a few words about themselves and their videos.
Kamogelo Sehoole (South Africa) is a chemical researcher. Together with her teammates, Kamogelo is engaged in raising awareness about nuclear energy. “We saw the competition as an opportunity to share our knowledge and engage with a broader community,” says Kamogelo Sehoole.
The video that Kamogelo and her team created focuses on four aspects of nuclear and irradiation technology applications. First, these are possibilities of nuclear power and nuclear medicine. Second, this is a role of nuclear in combating climate change. Third, this is a contribution of irradiation technology to agriculture and food security. Fourth, the authors of the video emphasize the importance of safe use of nuclear technology.
“Nuclear power is energy of the future. Nuclear power plants produce large amounts of energy, but they do not emit greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Nuclear stations have a long lifespan and can offer many employment opportunities for young people. Many people still do not have access to electricity on the African continent. Africa needs reliable energy sources to effectively develop its industry – this is what nuclear energy can provide,” Kamogelo Sehoole believes.
Dr. George William Tinka from Uganda works in radiology. “This is an area of medicine where radiation technology is particularly important, both for diagnostics and treatment,” he says.
In his video, George Tinka spoke about the role of nuclear medicine in Africa. “The video was inspired by my daily experience because my colleagues and I use the possibilities of nuclear medicine on a daily basis. I believe that nuclear medicine plays a key role in healthcare,” Dr. George Tinka says. He also believes that nuclear power will play an important role in diversifying Africa’s energy mix, helping to address power shortages and supporting the region’s economic development.
Michelle Wafula from Kenya admits that she did not immediately decide to take part in the contest. “I am studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and nuclear energy seemed like a completely different world. But then, I asked myself: why not? It was an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and learn new things about the industry,” Michelle says.
In her video, Michelle tackled the key misconceptions associated with the nuclear industry. “Nuclear energy is not a threat, but an opportunity. It is not just for developed countries – it is key to Africa’s energy security. It is not just another option – it is our future,” Michelle believes. She thinks that Africa’s main energy problem is not a lack of resources, but an unreliable power supply. “We have solar, wind, rivers and even oil, but millions of people are still short of electricity. Being an uninterrupted source of energy, nuclear can empower the entire continent. It is clean, reliable and scalable – this is exactly what Africa needs to fuel its economic growth and remain committed to sustainable development. Africa is booming, and I believe nuclear power could be the force that will support the boom. My video is a call to action: it is time for Africa to rethink its energy future,” says Michelle Wafula.
Photo by: Rosatom International
