Fifth edition of MTN Apps Challenge launched

 MTN Ghana has launched the fifth edition of its app challenge competition christened “MTN Applications Challenge Version 5.0” in Accra on Monday.

This year's edition is on the theme, " Empowering the youth in developing innovative digital project"

The platform provides opportunity for Ghanaians interested in developing their own apps as well as, reward the most innovative and locally-relevant mobile apps developer.

Launching this year’s APPS challenge Version 5.0, the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN, Mr Asher Khan said two more additions have been added to the three main categories namely Internet of things (IoTs), Mobile Apps and Animated Videos.

He named the two additions as the Bes female project developer and the KatAppult initiative.

He explained that an evaluations made on the previous versions showed that the MTN APPs Challenge over the years has been male dominated hence a category to encourage females to participate in the challenge.

Mr Khan said on the other hand said the KatAppult initiative is a commercialization project which seek to refine and commercilise winning ideas of MTN APPS challenge creators.

This, he said would be done in a four – throng process of discovering the innovation, refining the business models while looking for early adopters, developing the innovation and commercializing the innovation.

Background

Mr David Narh presenting the project to the audience 

The Manager of App and IoTs of MTN, Mr David Narh said the Apps Challenge competition was introduced by MTN in the spirit of living its corporate value of innovation to encourage local App developers to develop applications that are locally relevant to all subscribers.

MTN’s main objective of organising the competition is to harness local talents in application development, build strong affinity with the developer community and provide an opportunity for developers to market their content via MTN platforms.

Highlighting on the programme, Mr Narh said the project categories for innovator participant remain the same.

He said the competition is open to university institutions, senior high schools and freelance.

section of the audience

Awards

M Narh said winners of Internet of things (IoTs) , Mobile Apps , Animated Videos, Mobile Apps business, Mobile Apps lifestyle and Mobile Apps Game and Entertainment in the freelance categories will take home GH20,000 respective.

He added that Mobile Apps Prize winners for both the university and Senior High School category will receive GH15,000 respective while the overall best project and the best female developer will also receive cash prize of GH 20, 000 respectively.

The first four seasons saw very innovative and interesting apps with BuzTrick, Oware and Wheeloo, Amatsi receiving top honours in the previous years.