Awards to spur industrial competitiveness launched

An awards scheme to challenge and motivate technology companies to help make Africa stay competitive, especially under the era of the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), has been launched in Accra.

The maiden edition of the Africa Technovate Awards and Fair was re-launched by the Africa Integrated Development and Communications Consultancies (AIDEC), the organisers, to pave the way for interested persons and institutions to submit entries.

A statement from the organisers said the awards and a fair were scheduled to come off on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).

It said the event would be on the theme: “Information technology and the way forward for Africa under the fourth industrial revolution.”

Benefits

The statement said submission of entries had opened until February 15, as part of efforts to allow for more inclusiveness and to bring out the best in technology, innovation and creativity in Africa.

“The technology and innovations awards ceremony is to recognise and reward African technology companies that have blazed the trail for several years and budding young innovative and creative tech companies charting a path for Africa in a fast digitally transforming world,” it said.

The Managing Director of AIDEC, Mr Ambrose Yennah, said the ceremony would be graced by different key stakeholders and a number of distinguished guests who would share knowledge and ideas about their best experiences and practices.

He said the speakers would also share experiences on how they had weathered the COVID-19 storm to help guide others.

Guest of honour

The statement said the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, would be the Special Guest of Honour at the awards event.

It said it would be chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Telecoms Chamber, Ing. Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, with the Country Director of Invest in Africa, Madam Carol Annang, as co-chair.

It listed the speakers to include the Chairman of Ghana Dot Com, Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor; the Executive Director of E-Commerce Association of Ghana, Mr Paul Asinor; and the President of the Accra Institute of Technology, Prof. Clement Dzidonu.

Categories

The statement said the award categories were broadly categorised into three sections: sector awards (silver category), regional awards (gold category) and the Africa awards (platinum category).

It said the sector awards would comprise Outstanding Edtech Institution of the Year, FinTech Company of the Year, Health/Medtech Company of the Year, Digital Agri-Business of the Year, and the Tech Insurance Company of the Year.

It said the regional awards would comprise the Digital Innovation and Creativity Award, Digital Business Transformation Award, Tech Startup Company of the Year Award, Young Tech Startup Company of the Year Award, Blossoming Tech Company of the Year Award, Mature Tech Company of the Year Award, and the Ambitious Tech Company of the Year Award.

It added that the Africa awards (platinum) category would comprise Outstanding Digital Entrepreneur of the Decade, Lifetime Achiever Award, Quality Standards Award, Digital Excellence Awards, and the Long-Standing Service Engagement Award.

Criteria

On the criteria for the awards, the statement said the nominated individual or organisation must be registered as an ICT company or service provider in the ICT sector and must show a track record of performance in the technology space.

Mr Yennah added that the awardees must have demonstrated creativity, originality and initiative in technology design, and programming, adding that they must also contribute to the development of technology products or solutions in the sector, country or region.