TNM grooms Smart Challenge finalists in advanced app development
The final 15 competitors who made the cut in the TNM Smart Challenge move into another exciting level of the inaugural contest when on Tuesday, 8th March they shall be drilled in advanced app development to enhance and perfect their skills and knowledge.
Launched in October 2015, TNM Smart Challenge initiative aims at identifying and nurturing local talent in mobile application development. And 15 finalists have emerged winners in the three categories of Smart Kid, Smart Student and Smart Community following a public vote.
TNM’s Head of Innovations, Frank Magombo said the challenge targets at grooming a young generation of entrepreneurs in Malawi inspiring them to become innovative problem solvers and the session on Tuesday is a big step towards that goal.
“Beyond the App development skills, TNM targets at imparting basic business management skills in the contestants. The programme promotes the development of mobile Applications that address some of the social-economic problems faced by Malawians, while at the same time promoting entrepreneurship culture amongst App students,” said Magombo.
Magombo said among the key presenters are representatives from IBM who are one of the technology partners for the initiative.Other partners in the competition include mHub, Facebook, Click Mobile, Google Opera Softwareand the University of Malawi.
The Tuesday event, dubbed incubation session also affords the 15 finalists an opportunity to interact with TNM’s top management and get oriented in the leading telecommunication provider’s operations.
The curtain shall be drawn for the first season of the TNM Smart Challenge on Friday when top winners shall be rewarded with various prizes including a trip to Silicon Valley, California, USA to visit Facebook, Google, Apple, and Stanford University for the Smart Student category.
Apart from the US trip, each member of the Smart Student team shall get a Samsung S6 Edge whilst the winner under Smart Kid shall be rewarded with an Ipad Pro Air. Smart Community winner (institution) shall get four computers to be for setting up a computer lab.
Whilst the final 15 were identified through a public vote, the final winners shall be determined by a panel of judges.
