AFRICAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CONTEST LAUNCHED
BY ALAN GREEN
In West Africa, the high cost of roaming has long been a disincentive for travelers in the region to place calls while away from home. But, on 31 March 2017, several countries in the sub-region adopted a flat roaming rate. It’s a welcome relief to farm workers, multinational families and others who now travel more freely across the region as a result of the regional integration policies enacted by governments in the region. The flat roaming rate in itself is a contributing factor to the decades-old strides toward regional integration in West Africa.
After the authorities have done their part, it is now up to the actors in the economic sphere to devise innovative solutions to turn the various needs into wealth. Hence the need for a platform to boost this revolutionary development. And this is where The African Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (AFFEED) has stepped up to the plate to bring hope and provide the knowledge needed by the mass of youth to play their part in the efforts geared toward the long-lasting economic and social development of Africa. (AFFEED, an NGO founded by African economist Dr. Samuel Mathey, promotes entrepreneurship and the concept of Zero Capital and Export-Driven Entrepreneur, ZCE).
So this past 11 October in a major hotel in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, AFFEED launched the New Information Technology Contest that aims primarily to reward a start-up that would have created an app allowing telecom operators to offer their clients free roaming capabilities for tablet and smartphone. Besides the “Grand Roaming Prize,” AFFEED also plans to reward participants in several other categories including the following:
PRIZE CATEGORIES
- Best integration entrepreneur in agriculture
- Best integration entrepreneur in industry
- Best integration entrepreneur in services
- Youngest entrepreneur
- Best female entrepreneur
- Best spiritual entrepreneur
- Best social entrepreneur
- Jury’s special award
- Best cultural entrepreneur
- Best green entrepreneur
In sum, Dr. Mathey tells “The African Magazine,” these awards are intended to:
1- Promote the innovation and entrepreneurial culture among the youth in the West African Economic and Monetary Union zone based off the ZCE model
2- Popularize digital solutions and increase competition among SMEs
3- Make NIT projects more visible and encourage African start-ups’ best initiatives
4- Create a new market for entrepreneurs and facilitate B2B connection
5- Serve as the beacon for the most innovative projects in Africa
Application is open until 15 March 2019. The results will be announced during a dinner gala on 27 April 2019.
AFFEED
Cocody Angré 8eme Tranche, Côte d’Ivoire
Tel.: +225-41-95-68-68 / 72-77-22-35 / 88-49-07-05 / 22-45-89-26 Email: contact@intiative35-3.com
Website: contact@intiative35-3.com ONG # 0875/PA du 26.05.2017