MTN Ghana Partners Leann Consult to Launch University Geek Challenge for Students

Competing students of UniGeek Challenge, and judges

Accra, Ghana, February 29, 2020//-MTN Ghana has partnered with Leann Consult, an Accra based brand and marketing management consultancy to launch the maiden University Geek Challenge (UniGeek) for students of Ghanaian universities.

The UniGeek Challenge which was launched on February 28, 2020 began a journey of eight weeks of contest and coaching and a DigiFair culminating in a change in mind-sets and attitudes towards technology and digital opportunities for the years ahead.

Speaking at the launch at the MTN Ghana headquarters in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Crescendo Consult Lld, Madam Doris Ahiati, explained that UniGeek Challenge is a technology and digital-based academic competition among Universities in Ghana.

“The UniGeek Challenge is all about channeling the mental energies and attention of our youth, especially those at the tertiary level to the benefits of technology and how they can use this to change the world around them and make a positive impact”, she added.

Being the maiden edition, this is but the first of many more to come over the years, affording many more academic institutions the opportunity to participate subsequently, Madam Ahiati, assured.

Judges andcContestants

The occasion was also used to announce the judges of the challenge which include Madam Farida Nana Efua Bedwei, a Ghanaian software engineer; and Marian Ampofo, ICT expert.

For this maiden edition, with the help of university faculty members and the SRC leadership on the respective campuses, contestants have been drawn in teams of five comprising  three students from the field of ICT and two students from non-ICT fields from the nine competing universities.

These universities are-Ashesi, Ghana Technology University College (GTUC), Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Central University, University of Cape Coast (UCC), University for Development Studies (UDS), University of Ghana (UG), University of Professional Studies Accra (UPSA) and All Nations University .

These contestants, over the next six to eight weeks will be coached and groomed with the help of mentors to shape their delivery during the contest and beyond, according to Madam Ahiati

The contest she further explained would be grouped into five stages including the knockout, and four combat sessions before the ultimate combat. During these stages, some contestants will be dropped until the overall winner emerges on the 25th of April, 2020.

Contestants will compete in pop quizzes and project based activities during the challenge. Contestants will also benefit from mentorship as she stated earlier.

“The mentorship programme will afford contestants the opportunity to hone their entrepreneurial skills including financial management and tech industry knowledge through the guidance of carefully selected Mentors with a wealth of experience and exposure.

This phase will also prepare and equip students with commercial acumen and a strong network of industry stalwarts so that they are ready to embark on their entrepreneurial journey within the digital space in confidence”, Madam Ahiati stated.

 Awards

This is not a winner takes all contest though the ultimate winner will receive the highest support. There is the ultimate Cash Prize of GHC50,000 which will be presented to the University Geek Challenge winning university.

The cash prize of GHC50.000 is earmarked for undertaking any project relating to Information Technology within the University; with the view of empowering the University to compete globally and within the digital space.

Contestants representing the winning University will be recognized and celebrated as a means to empower them. Whilst the winning team from the University Geek Challenge will be awarded with cash prizes of GHC 5,000 and technological devices (laptops & handsets).

The first runner up will receive a cash prize of GHC2,000.00, products and branded souvenirs while the 2nd runner’ up will receive a GHC1,000.00, products and branded souvenirs.

There will also be a special prize for the winners of the project task and each contesting university will go away with some packages from MTN Pulse, including products and branded souvenirs.

Beside the contesting universities, any youth can join the contest by courtesy of MTN Pulse. Youth with access to a mobile phone or internet can participate in the MTN HotSeat Challenge where they can answer simple ICT related questions.

They will then be required to take screen shots of their score and post on the UniGeek Social media handles. On Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at @UnigeekOfficial.

The Geek with the highest score each week wins a surprise package from MTN Pulse and will get a chance to support one of the finalists at the main UniGeek Challenge.

Meanwhile, participants of the family-friendly Digital fair which will run alongside the UniGeek Challenge will also participate in competitive fun games where winners will walk away with various prizes in addition to world digital fun experience including Virtual reality and Augmented Reality.

The Minister of Education, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh pledged his ministry’s support for the UniGeek Challenge.

African Eye Report

 

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