Prime rapper and Chief Executive Officer, Chocolate City Music Group, MI Abaga, and Chairman/CEO of EbonyLife TV, Mo Abudu, have been selected as the judges of a recently launched Google initiative known as the “Google Impact Challenge”.
The challenge, which is the leading search engine’s first innovation competition in Africa, targets non-profit organisations in Nigeria who are using technology to solve problems in their communities.
According to the Google Country Marketing Manager, Affiong Osuchukwu, who spoke during the launch in Lagos during the week, about 12 successful non-governmental organisations will be sharing 2 million US dollars in funding at the end of the competition, four will stand to win $250 000 each while 8 other runners up will each get $125 000 in grants.
Osuchukwu said that “the winners will be decided by a panel of local judges and a public vote. The public vote provides a chance for the people to decide which organisation gets an extra portion of funding to help them impact their community.
“The winning non-profits will get cash as well as access to guidance, technical assistance and mentorship from Google, which they are free to take up should they so choose.
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“We believe technology can help local and national organisations to better reach their goals and solve some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, and we are eager to back people who are using technology in new ways to make a positive difference in their communities,” she said.
Talking about how the entertainment cum creative industry can cash into the competition and his role as judge, Mr Incredible, told Saturday Tribune that while the entertainment industry is bedevilled by structural inadequacies, individuals and companies who have ideas on how to solve the problem can apply.
“I believe that my entertainment background will help me in terms of understanding what is relevant in our community.
“We are looking for specific projects, projects that solve problems or meet needs in the society. And part of my job is just to grade the applicants and find out which candidates best qualify.
“Any initiative that can improve the structure in the entertainment industry; that will make our country better and the entertainment industry better, I am all for it 100 per cent,” he said.
Last year, Google CEO, Sundar Pichai announced Google’s commitment to providing $20m funding to African non-profits over five years. This is the first initiative aimed at realising that commitment and the company will invest $4M to run three Google Impact Challenges in South Africa and Kenya as well.
Applications are open for the next six months (until 4 July, 2018) as nonprofits can apply online at www.https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/nigeria2018 or g.co/nigeriachallenge. The final winner selection / award ceremonies will be held on 26th of November in Lagos, Johannesburg and Nairobi.
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