ATU launches contest to support young African innovators and combat COVID-19

The Africa Telecommunication Union (ATU) recently launched the ATU Africa Innovations Challenge 2020; a competition designed to identify and support young African innovators who have developed mobile applications useful for benefiting the fight to contain COVID-19’ and possibly other emergency situations in Africa in future.

According to the ATU Secretary General John Omo, top prize winner in the competition is expected to carry home a cash award of USD5, 000 aside from being engaged in other mentorship and partnership programmes.

“This challenge will be instrumental in recognising, testing and highlighting disruptive innovations and new business models that have the capacity to redefine Africa,” said Omo, who also stressed on the importance of African institutions to support initiatives that create, innovate and deliver for the continent. To do so, he suggested, requires a concerted effort from stakeholders at all levels. The launch event whose discussion centered on the theme: How Africa Can Stay above the Impact of COVID-19 through Innovation; brought together a number of innovators, ICT Ministries and regulators, the academia and ICT organisations.

Editor's Comment
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