Connect Africa App wins N$50 000 SEED award
Through the Old Mutual Sustainable, Economic & Empowerment Drive (OM SEED) initiative, Old Mutual Namibia along with Launch Namibia, the Financial Literacy Initiative (FLI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Accelerator Lab, awarded three entrepreneurs from Windhoek with their share of N$85 000.During the award ceremony, Ndapewa Teressius of the Connect Africa App walked away with the first prize of N$50 000.
Teressius could not hide her excitement when she was announced as the overall winner of the Windhoek edition of OM SEED. “The Connect Africa app provides good support to visual and hearing-impaired members of our society by giving them to access essential services independently by turning images into sound. Through the app, they can study at institutions of higher learning, participate at conferences and meetings without sign language interpreters, conduct banking services via their phone and so much more. The prize money will help us to add more features on the app and provide training within our 14 regions.”
Runners up
Johannes Nawa of Community Bakery took the second spot and won N$25 000. “I will use the money to get a better place for my bakery that will enable me to start using electricity instead of wood when I bake.”
Diana Nakuumbe, who produces Eembe Jam, won third place and went home with N$10 000. “With the money I have won, I will buy a pulping machine along with spending money to better market myself.”
Speaking at the awards, Mufaro Nesongano, Manager: Communications and Old Mutual Foundation, said that “a little under a month ago we launched OM SEED and thereafter our partner Launch Namibia travelled to the various communities in Windhoek, Keetmanshoop and Oshakati to sensitise them about OM SEED. When we closed entries on 22 July 2022, we had received over 800 applications from the three participating towns”.
“It was humbling to hear the various ideas pitched by entrepreneurs in business sectors such as pig farming, poultry, general dealer shops, technological apps, wellness services, beauty and hair products and agricultural produce. OM SEED has highlighted the need for initiatives that are aimed at our grassroots business.”
Training
During the Windhoek edition, entrepreneurs underwent business, financial, entrepreneurship and leadership training. During the pitches, the importance of such training became visible and showed how critical it is in enabling entrepreneurs in upscaling their businesses.
The winners will be incubated for a three-month period to assist them in utilising their training and capital in the most effective way to better position their businesses in the market.
In conclusion Iyaloo Ailonga, the Acting Secretariat Manager for the FLI said: “We want to congratulate the individuals that brought us all together - the OM SEED Windhoek winners for 2022. You have shown hard work, dedication and commitment to realise your dreams through your pitches, and we are excited to see how your business will grow in the future.”
The next town’s shortlisted candidates to receive training will be Keetmanshoop on 10 and 11 August, with Oshakati slated to take place on 17 and 18 August 2022.