The software giant, Google has flagged off Africa connected
competition calling on entrepreneurs, creators, innovators and
web-lovers in Nigeria and across Africa to share their stories of how
the web has transformed their lives and work.
In the competition,
Five successful entrants are expected to win $25,000 each, and will
also have the opportunity to work with a Google sponsor over a six-month
period.
Google’s new initiative, ‘Africa Connected: Success
stories powered by the web’, aims to gather the largest collection of
inspiring stories about ventures established online by Africans, in
Africa.
“Google wants to hear from young, spirited entrepreneurial
web adopters in Nigeria and other countries in Sub-Saharan Africa who
have a healthy disregard for the impossible and who are using the web
and technology to do cool and extraordinary things to rise above their
circumstances, change their world, and achieve success. We want to
showcase the amazing achievements happening in the new Africa”, Affiong
Osuchukwu, Google Lead for the Africa Connected initiative, said.
Aspiring
filmmaker, cinematographer and editor Amuwa Oluseyi Asurf is one such
example. This Nigerian videographer has gone from spending nights in
internet cafes, so that he could watch YouTube to teach himself how to
edit films, to running a successful film and video production company in
Lagos, where he employs 10 people.
His company; Asurf Films is
today courted by Nigerian celebrities such as Basket Mouth, Iyanya,
Wizkid, Psquare and Bovi, to film their music/entertainment videos
locally and internationally.
“My journey started with a passion to
become a filmmaker. Unfortunately, even though I got admission to some
good universities, I couldn’t afford to go. Luckily I was introduced to
the internet and to YouTube. I discovered I could learn everything I
needed to know online. It feels great to have some of the top
celebrities in Nigeria inviting me to their projects. This inspires me
to want to become even better. I am still on the journey to becoming one
of the top names in African filmmaking, and I know the internet will
still continue to play an important role.”
The owner and creator
of Afrinolly, Chike Maduegbuna, based in Nigeria, is another online
entrepreneur. Afrinolly is a popular mobile app which lets people across
the continent watch short videos on their mobile devices.
This
app has transformed Nigeria’s Nollywood film industry by creating a
movie trailer platform for new audiences. With over 3 million downloads
already since its launch in August 2011, Chike hopes this will create a
platform that connects aspiring film professionals with global film
industry veterans.
Nigerian judge and radio personality / fashion
photographer Temilola Balogun commented, “The internet is truly helping
to reshape the story of Africa, and Nigerians are some of those taking
full advantage of its power.
|”Whether you are in technology,
agriculture, energy, fashion, education, or entertainment, if the web
has transformed your life, and you believe your venture can be scaled
up, then the judging panel is looking forward to hearing your story”.
Categories
for entries include Education; Entertainment/Arts/Sports; Technology;
Community and NGOs; and Small Businesses. 20 semi-finalists will be
selected from initial entries to take part in an interview and to
produce a short promotional video. A judging panel made up of Googlers
and external judges will then determine the 10 finalists. The 5 winners,
in whose lives the web and Google have played a pivotal role, will then
be selected by the online voting public. Submissions are open from
August 27, 2013 to October 11, 2013. The competition will run until
February 2014 when the winners will be announced.
In the next five
years, 7 out of the world’s 10 fastest growing economies are predicted
to be in Africa, and the Internet is playing an important part in this
No comments:
Post a Comment