By Mackie M. Jalloh
On Friday 4 August 2023, one of the leading mobile telecom, Orange Sierra Leone, held its 5th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prizes (OSVP) at Limkokwing University, Hill station, Freetown.
The OSVP is basically divided into two categories, one which is the Tech Queen category, where they have three female contenders, and the other, which is the Innovation and grand final category, where 5 grand finalists will contend with both gender.
During the program, in an opening statement made by Martha, Head of Communications at the Marketing Department, said that five years ago they started a very long journey, which over the years, has empowered a good number of youths in the country, adding that they have created a platform where youths can showcase their talents, and that today they are making another History, empowering another youth in innovation.
Head of PR/CSR at the General Secretary Department, Kamal Abass, in his statement, welcomed everyone to the pitch night of Orange Social venture prizes (OSVP). He maintained that this is the 5th edition of the OSVP and the 13th edition in the Middle East of Africa, and that they will continue to make history in terms of technology, creating platform for start-ups and young innovators in the country, while at the same time push Gender equality.
Orange Sierra Leone CEO, Sekou Amadou Bah, in his statement,
Acknowledged the presence of all dignitaries, including the Chief Minister, Ministers of Government, Members of Diplomatic Corp, partners and stakeholders, and the media. Below is his address:
“Our journey of OSVP started in 2019 with the ambition to give Sierra Leonean innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to acquire funding, mentorship, and expansion of their businesses.
“The OSVP is an investment fund of the Orange Group that enables talented start-ups. It has played a major role to promote young entrepreneurs across our 17 Footprints in Africa and Middle East.
“As a mobile telecoms company, Orange is positioned to be the lead digital partner for startups in Africa and the Middle East to boost digital transformation.
“In the area of digital inclusion, Orange Foundation opened the first-ever Orange Digital Center in Sierra Leone last February, with the aim of democratizing digital access for young people, especially women. We give them an opportunity to pursue their venture into digital entrepreneurship. The center provides digital training course that is free of charge; and within just one year of its existence, more than 1600 young people have been trained through our digital center, 52% of which are women, among which more than 68% have been employed.
“We have also launched women’s Digital Centre in 2021 in partnership with NAYCOM to help train uneducated and unemployed women in basic commercial, digital, and financial management. More than 126 women have graduated from this center. We have committed to launch four digital centers in the provinces, two of which will be dedicated to women.
“Over the years we have accelerated the OSVP competition through the support of our partner, Innovation Sierra Leone, to bring more meaning to the innovation axis and increase empowerment for young startups/innovators/entrepreneurs in the country. The competition rewards innovative start-up projects in the fields of education, healthcare, e-commerce, and agriculture that contribute to achieving sustainable development goals.
“We have also included an additional prize to increase female participation in the competition to drive women’s empowerment in the development of technological solutions to improve the living conditions of women.
“In 2022, Usman Yaah emerged as the Winner of the national contest, and out of 17 countries with over 1,400 applications, Joseph Koroma emerged for the first time as the OSVP International Grand Prize winner for Sierra Leone out of 17 Orange affiliates. Adeola Carew emerged as the Tech Queen.
“We are very excited that through this competition, we are reassured that our ambition to lead the digital transformation in Sierra Leone is on course. We hope to give young people the key to a digital world and to provide the platform for more innovators and entrepreneurs to lead the future
Minister of Higher Education, Dr Haja Wurie, in her statement, 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 of telecom landscape in progress, technology stands out for transformational change, noting that they are here to celebrate the 5th edition of the Orange Social Venture Prizes (OSVP).
She continued that innovation holds the key to improving the living conditions of women and empowering them as agent of sustainable development, as education has a role to play in nurturing the mind and to also unlock potential.
Dr. Wurie furthered that innovation technology has emerged as empowering growth, knowledge and opportunities by holding innovation, E-learning platform, which could help to empower young learners.
Finalist of the Tech Queens: Jenneh Bokarie-Barnett from SierraSister, Hawanatu Sesay from IOT Plant Monitoring Device and Iye Mary Brima-Sellu showcased their pitch presentations, and general grand finalists: James Samba from Electric Quadricycle, Isha Abdulai Turay from Crescent Salone, Sia Chakanda from KeneCare Virtual Hopsital, Andrew Dosumu from Liquid Air Box, and Mariama Mbayoh from Cam Rent Ya, also presented their Pitch to the audience and judges.
Questions were asked by the judges to all finalists, who explained how they managed to invent their pitch and what are their plans in the next coming years.
After all presentations were made, the judges retired to deliver their verdict and later announced the winners of both the tech queens and general grand finalist.
Deputy Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Kadijatu G.A. Kamara, who was the Chief Judge congratulated all finalists for taking a huge step to show the world what they are capable of doing. She encouraged those who might happen to lose, that they must no stop their dreams and should bring in others to work as a team.
On announcing the winners, Kadijatu Kamara applauded Orange CEO for not sleeping on the dreams of young Sierra Leoneans, and also to help support technology and innovation.
Hawanatu Sesay with the IOT Plant Monitoring Device emerged as winner for the Tech Queens category, with a price of NLe 50,000,00. And James Samba with the Electric Quadricycle emerged as winner of the general grand OSVP 2023 5th Edition, with NLe 100,000,000 winner price.
Closing courtesy of the occasion
The Minister of Communication Technology and innovation, Haja Salimatu Bah, congratulated winners of the OSVP and said that this is a huge boost for them, adding that they should take advantage of it. She also encouraged losers who participated as well, and told them that this is not the end of their journey, and that this should serve as inspiration to work harder and make sure they achieve their dreams.
She concluded by thanking Orange SL, especially the CEO, for promoting Innovation and Technology, and that she’s glad to witness this year’s 5th edition.
