Evans, Udoh, others emerge judges for Etisalat Prize for Innovation

INNOVATIONS

By Kokumo Goodie, Lagos, Nigeria

Etisalat has announced the members of its judging panel who will decide winners of the most innovative mobile broadband product or service in Africa at the first edition of the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’.

The judging panel will be Chaired by Steven Evans, CEO, Etisalat with Bill Best, former CTO of GSM Association and Co-Chair of Judges. Joining them are Usen Udoh, Senior Director at Accenture Nigeria, Chukwuemeka Afigbo Head of Developer Outreach across Africa for Google, and seriel entrepreneurs Ken Banks, Founder of Kiwanja.net, , Sim Shagaya, Founder and CEO of DealDey and Konga.Com along with Tayo Oviosu, Founder and CEO of Pagatech.

Announcing the confirmed judges, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Steven Evans said, “The thinking behind the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ is to encourage and celebrate valuable innovation for driving or facilitating mobile broadband use in the Africa market. Having some of these notable professionals in their different fields as judges will further encourage and reward corporate organisations; small and growing businesses as well as individuals who are constantly making efforts to the development of mobile broadband solutions and platforms in Africa”.

Each of the judges' experience and knowledge of the telecommunications industry will make them valuable assets to the ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ judging panel, as they will recognize the best individual or organization with the most innovative broadband products and services.

Entries for the award close on Thursday 6th of September 2012 and should be made via the Etisalat website on www.etisalat.com.ng/innovation.

The entries must show demonstrable impact on broadband usage, impressive uptake from customers and would have made a visible commercial or social impact in the community.

Entries are open to African Mobile Network Operators (MNO) and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) with innovative Broadband products or services using the GSM network family (2G GPRS & EDGE, 3G, HSPA, LTE), Handset and/or Device manufacturers, App Developers and other Software service providers making use of mobile broadband capability, Radio and Core network Infrastructure suppliers enabling broadband products and content developers.

The ‘Etisalat Prize for Innovation’ which will be one of the major attractions at the 15th Annual Africa Com Conference scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa in November 2012 is aimed at encouraging and celebrating valuable innovation in the African market and will be awarded in 2 categories; both prizes will be for driving or facilitating mobile broadband use in Africa. The first prize of USD25, 000 is for the most innovative product or service launched in the last 12 months and a second prize of USD10,000 for the most innovative idea.