By Doh James Sonkey
Y’ello Digital Talent competition has been launched for university students.
It was launched by the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng last December 9, 2022 at the Cameroon Digital Innovation Centre in the presence of the Secretary of State to the Minister of Basic Education, Asheri Kilo Vivian, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of MTN Cameroon, Mitwa Ng’ambi etc.
The competition, to run till February 2023, will enable institutions of higher learning compete across the ten regions of the country, forming teams of IT developers and each team will try to propose the best solution to the problem they shall be given.
The CEO of MTN Cameroon said “candidates will implement ideas capable of revolutionising distance education and thus reinventing the future where digital technology will be at the centre of everything. Y’ello Digital Talent is a beautiful opportunity offered to our youths to develop an idea or an app which tomorrow can be at the core of the creation of a start-up or company as was the case with young students from the University of Buea, winners of the first Hackathon in 2018 organised by MTN. After incubation at MTN, they shall set up their own company, which today employs other young Cameroonians and is increasingly being solicited by several African countries.”
She said beyond the prize to be won, the winners of the competition will be retained for incubation at the Cameroon Digital Innovation Centre created by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications to drive innovation in Cameroon and will receive proper training to further develop and sell their idea.
This challenge is an opportunity to contribute to the development of digital economy in Cameroon. Providing solutions to the progress of our continent is dear to our hearts. MTN is doing this in Cameroon through its innovative products and services that help customers to stay connected to their loved ones and achieve their daily goals.
Minister Libom Li Likeng Minette said organised by the MTN Cameroon Foundation under the
sponsorship of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the competition is between engineering students of Cameroons’ Universities and Institutions of Higher Education in areas such as Computer Science, Technology, Telecommunications and related fields.
The purpose is to stimulate digital innovation among young students, to encourage the development of relevant and impactful digital solutions for the expansion of our digital economy.
The Minister concluded that, “It is no exaggeration that digital innovation is the bedrock of every modern economy which cuts across all professions, societies, communities, and organisations. It is hardly imaginable how the world may continue to function without digital technologies. As a source of wealth and job creation, digital development appears to be the way forward for States and provides a very viable option for developing economies to catch up with their development needs within an increasingly competitive global economy.”