A second-year Manufacturing Engineering student at MUST, Innocent Mandili, has represented Africa at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, earning where he was awarded as Champion in Clean Energy Technologies for his innovation, Thermo EL Stove.

Selected among 32 finalists from across Africa, Innocent showcased how African-led solutions can address global challenges. 

Inspired by his upbringing in Phalombe District, Malawi, where his family relied on firewood and charcoal, the multi-award winning Innocent has always desired to change this narrative through technology and innovation.

“This innovation was born from my own lived experience. I wanted to create a solution that responds to African realities while contributing to global sustainability,” said Mandili.

Using carbon-neutral briquettes, the innovation delivers clean, affordable, and sustainable cooking solutions, proving that solutions developed from African realities can change the world.

MUST is proud of Innocent for this outstanding achievement, which reflects the university’s commitment to innovation, problem-solving, and producing graduates who respond to real-world challenges.