On the same day, Shaun Esua-Mensah ’27, Victor Asum ’27, and Eldad Opare ’27 tested their skills in two different hackathons, walking away with top-three finishes in both competitions 

Their achievement highlighted not only their technical skill but also their resilience, teamwork, and commitment to solving real-world problems through innovation. 

At the Ideas to Industry Hackathon organized by Obsessive Innovations,  the team developed Code Endelea, a video-based coding education platform designed to transform programing education across Africa. By integrating video lessons with an interactive terminal, the platform allows learners to pause and code directly within the lesson. The project aims to make coding fun, hands-on, and accessible for learners, particularly across the continent. Their presentation earned them second place in the competition. 

Earlier the same day, the team also participated in the Yango Mobility Hackathon, hosted by Zindi and powered by Yango, where they secured third place. This six-hour challenge tasked teams with developing a machine learning model capable of predicting average ride times for Taxi and Yango vehicles in Accra, using real trip and weather datasets. Their solution, designed to enhance route planning and urban mobility in the city, impressed the judges and positioned them among the top competitors. With shared ideas and trust in one another, they demonstrated that the right synergy could make even the most daunting challenges achievable. 

Recognition aside, the students highlighted the experience as a good lesson in collaboration and perseverance. “At Ashesi, working on multiple projects with back-to-back deadlines, trained us to prioritize and adapt quickly. On the hackathon day, those same skills came alive as we divided tasks, trusted each other, and worked seamlessly as a team,” Opare shared. He added, “It showed us how much teamwork and multitasking, habits we built at Ashesi, can make all the difference.”  

They expressed gratitude to Obsessive Innovations, Zindi, and Yango for providing platforms that encourage problem-solving and innovation, as well as for the mentorship that made the experience even more rewarding. 

Esua-Mensah, Asum, and Opare see these wins not only as achievements but as part of a larger journey toward their ambition of using technology to create meaningful impact across Africa. They believe the future holds even greater opportunities to innovate and inspire.”