ATU launches the second edition of its Africa Innovation

Challenge
17-06-2021 09:50:00 | by: Nixon Kanali | hits: 1111 | Tags:

The African Telecommunications Union (ATU) has today launched the second edition of
ATU Africa Innovation Challenge. The  challenge seeks to provide both short and long-term
solutions and opportunities to the African Youth. The theme for this year’s competition is
“Best ecosystem practices in Africa enabling youth ICT innovation,”. It will run from 15th
June to 28th September 2021. 

“This initiative will be instrumental in supporting institutional solutions that will boost
innovation in Africa and address some of the challenges facing the African
community.”Secretary-General of the ATU, Mr John OMO said.

The competition, sponsored by Huawei (title sponsor) and Intel Corporation, is open to all
ecosystem stakeholders such as regulatory authorities, entrepreneurial support organizations,
incubators, accelerators, or institutions such as colleges or universities from Africa.

African organizations and institutions that have created an enabling environment for youth
ICT innovations to thrive are eligible to participate. The winning entity will be awarded USD
10, 000 aside from their practice gaining recognition as the best ecosystem practice in Africa
enabling youth ICT innovation.

“I want to thank our sponsors, especially the headline sponsor Huawei for once again
demonstrating their commitment to promote innovation and the wider ecosystem in Africa,”
said John OMO.

Honourable Dr Peya MUSHELENGA, Minister of Information and Communication

Technology, Namibia who was the chief guest for the event, applauded the two organizations
for the initiative and acknowledged the significance of public-private partnerships in
promoting development. “The collaboration between ATU, Huawei, and other partners is a
tool delivered to our hands. Let us use it to generate sustained economic growth in Africa,”
he said.

“ITU is proud and pleased to partner with ATU for this particular Challenge as it aligns with
our vision for inclusion of youth in digital transformation. Youth innovators are centrally
placed to ensure the sustainability of innovation in Africa, and they need an enabling
environment that fosters and nurtures innovation for them to thrive,” said Mr Stephen
BEREAUX from ITU, a specialized United Nations agency responsible for all matters related
to information and communication technologies.

The inaugural ATU Africa Innovation Challenge that took place in 2020 recognized and
awarded 11 finalists across Africa who had developed mobile applications helpful in
benefiting Africa’s fight against COVID-19 and its effects. Egypt’s Mai Nagy topped the
competition, followed by Mr Abdinoor Yerrow from Kenya and Ms Bequerelle Matemtsap
Mbou from Cameroon. Other countries that made it to the top 11 were Zimbabwe, Senegal,
Lesotho, Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Benin, and Tanzania.
Reflecting on the first Innovation Challenge and the anticipated benefits of the second
innovation Challenge, the title sponsor for the Challenge for two years in a row, Mr Samuel
Chen, Vice President for Huawei Southern Africa Region highlighted the strong partnership
with ATU and noted that: “Huawei is committed to developing innovations that bring the
benefits of technology to all alongside supporting and enabling innovation and digital
ecosystem development in Africa by Africans through training and partnerships alongside
infrastructure and digital services.”

Participants will be required to submit (via the ATU website) a unique practice that has
created an enabling environment for youth ICT innovation to thrive together with success
stories of two innovators that are beneficiaries of the practice. The practice must be an
original idea/concept developed by the ecosystem stakeholder and must have been
successfully implemented (and running) for a minimum of one year. It can be in the form of a
policy, an initiative, or a programme.

www.atuuat.africa