Airtel Networks Zambia Plc has for the 4th year running become the Platinum partner for the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) 2023 Innovation program Cohort.
The official announcement was made today at the Zambia Information Communication Technology Authority (ZICTA) offices when Airtel Zambia Chief Commercial Officer, Mr. Hussam Baday handed over a cheque worth K250, 000 to ZICTA Director General, Mr. Choolwe Nalubamba.
In a statement made available to the Zambian – ZBT – Baday said he was impressed with the various innovations that had emanated from the Program which ZICTA started in 2016 with the primary goal to provide business and technical developmental support services to ICT related innovators, start-ups and entrepreneurs that have innovative, viable and scalable ICT related ideas or business ventures that attempt to solve current challenges relating to any sector of the economy.
“We are extremely proud to be associated once again with the ICT innovation program whose objectives tie with our new tagline – A reason to Imagine. We are all about empowerment and providing a platform for all our customers to connect everywhere and we now see more people getting involved in e Commerce and Gaming for the younger generations showing us that technology has also given customers a way to express themselves,” Baday said.
And on receiving the cheque, ZICTA Director General, Mr. Choolwe Nalubamba said part of the mandate and strategy of the Authority is to grow innovation and digital entrepreneurship in Zambia.
Adding: “We have been doing this program since 2016 starting off with a small number of 20 and now we are at 60. In order for us to take this program to the next level we require strategic partnerships, and this is the reason we are all here today because Airtel have decided to help us achieve our goals with the innovation program by giving us K250, 000 effectively making them the platinum sponsor for the 2023 cohort,” Nalubamba said.
“What Airtel is giving us today is a significant contribution and we hope to see more local innovations so as we can help commercialise them because many of these innovators have brilliant ideas that can solve many of our problems as a country,” the ZICTA DG said.
Aside the cash injection, Airtel Zambia will through members of staff provide mentorship sessions with the 60 innovators and take them through basic business fundamentals.
The innovation program which will run through until November 2023 has several activities lined up including business and technical development workshops as well as group coaching and pitching sessions for the finalists.
