Three Nigerians, two Kenyans and five other African entrepreneurs who used the web to transform their lives are among 10 semi-finalists named in a first-ever Google-sponsored contest, Africa Connected: Success Stories Powered By The Web.
Google’s goal is to gather the largest collection of inspiring stories about ventures established online by Africans in Africa, TheIndependent reports.
The competition, launched in August, asked African entrepreneurs, creative innovators and web-lovers to share stories of how the web helped them create an income, according to Vanguard. A panel of judges selected the 10 semi-finalists from more than 2,200 entries and 35 countries.
Affiong Osuchukwu, Google’s head for Africa Connected, said at the August launch, “Google wants to hear from young, spirited entrepreneurial web adopters in Sub-Saharan Africa
who have a healthy disregard for the impossible and who are using the web and technology to do cool and extraordinary things to rise above their circumstances, change their world, and achieve success,” TheIndependent reports.
The online voting public gets to choose the five finalists. In addition to prizes of $25,000 each, the five winners will each work with a Google sponsor for six months to build on their online business success.
Finalists will be rewarded for the most inspiring stories on the continent where the web has played a pivotal role in achieving success, BizTechAfrica reports. The 10 semi-finalists include:
Nqobizitha Mlilo, Nafuna TV, Zimbabwe
Christopher Panford, Technol Services, Ghana
Lamine Mbengue, SenegalTV, Senegal
Eunice Namirembe, The Medical Concierge Group, Uganda
Timothy Maguire, Grace Communion International, South Africa
Steve Kyenze, Uweza Slum Gallery, Kenya
Sitawa Wafula, My Mind, My Funk, Kenya
Eric Obuh, Vocal Slender, Nigeria
Mayowa Adegbile, Ashake Foundation, Nigeria
Eseoghene Odiete, Hesey Designs, Nigeria
The public can vote for the winner at AfricaConnected.
When it kicked off the contest, Google said in a statement, “Whether you’re a photographer, an entrepreneur, a fashion designer or a community activist,
if the Internet and Google tools have played an important role in your success, Google wants to hear from you.”
Here’s a closer look at some of the semi-finalists, from Vanguard:
Mayowa Adegbile founded Ashake Foundation, a business school for widowed mothers. She used YouTube to raise funds to give widowed mothers the tools to make a living and support their families.
Eseoghene Odiete runs Hesey Designs, a line of women’s apparel and accessories all inspired by the African culture. Items range from handmade accessories to shoes, slippers, journals, bags, purses and jewelries. Eseoghene created international awareness for her fashion label using Google Products to promote her brand as a young entrepreneur. She runs workshops to train other women on how to generate income designing fashion accessories, Vanguard reports.
Eric Obuh aka Vocal Slender is a musician who used YouTube to distribute his content and Google+ to interact with his fans. His music and online popularity helped him earn a living from concerts and appearances. He uses his earnings to raise awareness about underprivileged youth in Lagos slums where he comes from, and encourages school attendance.
The U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) is partnering with Google in the contest.
