By Boris Esono Nwenfor
22-year-old Nzometia Tetsop Nervis has won the best ICT Project for 2020, bringing to an end this year’s edition of the Digital Innovation Week. Nervis Tetsop Nzometiah, a student at the University of Buea, in the South West Region, wins a check for 10 million FCFA and many prizes estimated at 5 million FCFA for his project E-Waste 3D Printer.
His concept is about developing a 3D printer for education. The printer will be made from recycled electronics components, the national broadcaster reported. This way, the product will be more affordable for most educational institutions, explains the startupper.
The young engineer equally aims to manufacture mufflers and protective masks to fight against the spread of the coronavirus.
His package is divided into a cash prize of 10 million CFAF, a laptop, smartphone, 4G internet modem, six months internet connection and three online pieces of training amongst which is one by the renowned Tony Elumelu Foundation.
This year was the Second Edition of the ICT Innovation Week organised by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng, who chaired the closing ceremony at the Polyvalent Sports Palace in Yaoundé, said it is an initiative which aims to arouse vocations in ICT and create an environment conducive to the emergence and development of viable businesses in the digital sector.
“Beyond the financial support, the prizes offered to the laureates mainly concern training and incubations, all costs included, in various specialized institutions recognized at the international level such as the training centres of the International Telecommunications Union; admissions to the famous Tony Elumelu Foundation mentoring and coaching platform; full support in the SUP'PTIC Business Academy and computer equipment and high-speed internet connections,” she stated.
The Cameroon E-translate project, which allows texts to be translated from French or English into local languages, won the second prize and a check for 5 million FCFA, as well as several prizes worth 5 million FCFA. BNRLABS, a virtual laboratory that offers virtual practical work for teaching, ranks third. The project won a check for 3 million FCFA and prizes estimated at 4 million FCFA.
About the 2020 ICT Innovation Week
ICT Innovation Week is organised by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MINPOSTEL). It is aimed at boosting the development of ICT-driven business projects initiated by youths.
This year’s edition of the ICT Innovation Week was under the theme of focus "Young Cameroonians amidst the challenges of ICT Innovation in a context of the health crisis.” The competition aims at providing long-term support for the emergence of a mature and sound digital ecosystem in Cameroon.