5th Edition Of MTN Apps Challenge Competition

MTN Ghana has launched the fourth edition of its app challenge competition christened 'MTN Applications Challenge Version 5.0' aimed at equipping Ghanaian talents to develop digital solutions to address everyday challenges facing society.

The platform provides an opportunity for Ghanaians interested in developing their own apps and would reward the most innovative and locally-relevant mobile apps developer.

This year's challenge is on the theme: "Empowering the Youth in Developing Innovative digital Progress.'

The platform forms part of MTN's agenda to grow the App developer community in Africa and also increase local content across its footprints.

The fifth edition comes after four successful editions after the challenge was launched in 2013.

Mr Asher Khan, Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Ghana, launching the event said this year's programme, aside the three main categories for entries which are Internet of Things apps that address local problems, mobile apps and animated videos, there were two new additions-the introduction of the best female project and the katAppult initiative.

He said these additions were as a result of evaluations made of the previous versions that showed that the competitions over the years had been male dominated and the need to encourage female participation.

Mr Khan explained that the katAppult initiative was a commercialisation project that sought to refine and commercialise winning ideas of MTN Apps challenge creators.

He said this would be done in a four-pronged process of discovering the innovation, refining the business models while looking for early adopters, developing the innovation and commercialising the innovation.

He said application categories for the platform include; business, education, lifestyle and games, adding that participants would be expected to write scripts, create a storyboard and create 2D or 3D animation apps.

The first four seasons saw very innovative and interesting apps with BuzTrick, Oware, Wheeloo and Amatsii receiving top honours in the previous years.

The competition is open to university institutions, senior high schools and freelance.

GNA
By Kodjo Adams, GNA