Recently updated on January 31st, 2023 at 12:08 pm
Russell Oasah and Charles Umeh have emerged among the best innovators at the 2018 Youth Connekt Africa Summit in Kigali winning the Digital Inclusion Award with a $10,000 reward.
The Nigerians received 50% ($10,000) of the 4 winners of this year’s innovation projects, out of 18 competitive final projects submitted at the summit.
The competitors came from Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, Angola and Nigeria.
The summit was held under the theme; “Connekting Youth for Continental Transformation”.
Rwanda’s David Kinzuzi was also among the winners and saw his innovative ‘My Green Home Project’ win $5000, while Kenya’s Emma Stella Gaku was awarded for her project that addresses rural dairy products management through mobile cooling for milk products for rural Kenyans.
David Kinzuzi’s ‘My Green Home Project’ – was an idea co-worked on with his colleague Rosette Umuhoza. Both are students from Kigali-based Kepler University.
The award is expected to add on Kinzuzi’s dream of implementing the goal of creating green cities – starting with managing the Nduba landfill, and venture upcountry and other East African countries.
Over 2,800 youth from across Africa and beyond ended the Youth Connekt Africa Summit in Kigali with determination to own the struggle to transform Africa.
For three days, the youth were full of energy as they discussed different topics of at the summit, which touched on innovation, economic integration, closing the gender gap, job creation, urbanisation and volunteerism.
According to Rwanda’s Minister of Youth, Rosemary Mbabazi:
“If you have good ideas we will be looking for you. We don’t take the credit for this great work but you do take credit.
Everything is possible and as youth we have confidence that you will be the center of transformation.
We have heard you, dear youth of Africa, and will work collaboratively to ensure we deliver the platforms and services you need.
We invite you to be partners in the delivery of the transformation of Africa
As we witnessed through the many sessions and side conversations, African youth are brilliant, creative and have the will to drive the continent’s transformation.”
