Orange Empowers Two Winners Of OSVP 2023 With NLE150,000
By Abdul Rahman Bah
At its 5th edition Of the OSVP Pitch, held on Friday 4 August 2023, at Limkokwing University, Hill Station, Freetown, Orange Sierra Leone delivered prizes to Two contestants, from 8 finalists; Hawanatu Turay, bagging NLe 50,000 for the Queen Tech category and James Samba getting NLe100,000 For the OSVP 2023.
Welcoming guests and dignitaries to the program, Martha SUmaila, Head of Communications at their Marketing Department, said that a journey they started five years ago has empowered a good number of youths in the country, and this is not only in respect of innovation for their customers, but they created a platform where youths can showcase their talents.
“Today we have made history again in helping somebody move in terms of innovation,” she disclosed.
Mr Kamal Abass, Head of PR/CSR, welcomed the audience to the auspicious event, furthering that this is the 5TH Edition of the OSVP in Sierra Leone and 13th in the Middle East and Africa, and that they will continue to make history in terms of technology, and will continue to create platforms for start-ups and young innovators in the country, and at the same time, push Gender equality.
Orange Sierra Leone CEO, Mr Shekou Amadou Bah, in his statement, gave a brief background to the establishment of the Pitch (OSVP), stating that it started in 2019, with the aim of helping young talented innovators to show case their talents, and also to help Africa and the middle east to boost digital transformation. He furthered that Orange Sierra Leone’s OSVP is also intended to help women in the digital system, hence the Tech Queen category, which targets women.
Dr Haja Wurie, Tertiary and Higher Education Minister, said that the establishment of the OSVP will help in creating great impact in the area of Education, Health, Agriculture, E-commerce and the improvement of women living conditions and sustainable development in Africa and the Middle East.
She furthered that in the dynamic landscape of the progress of technology, they stand for transformational change, and this is seen in the holding of the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP). She maintained that innovation holds the key to improving the living conditions of women and empowering them as agent of sustainable development, and education has a role to play in nurturing the mind and unlock potential in the realm of education. Innovation technology has emerged as empowering growth, knowledge and opportunities by holding innovation E-learning platforms, which could help to empower young learners.
The Minister of Communication Technology and innovation Ms Haja Salimatu Bah, said that the Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) will help to improve the lives of young learners, especially women in Sierra Leone.
