By: James Kamara-Manneh
Sierra Electric has won the prestigious Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) National Grand Prize 2023 over the weekend. The ceremony was held at the Limkokwing University in Freetown.
James Samba, a Software Engineering Student from the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology- Sierra Leone bagged the 2023 Orange Innovations Award.
Sierra Electric is owned by a young Sierra Leonean Innovator James Samba who invented an electric vehicle and retrofitting services, which aim to combat air pollution, reduce fuel costs, and ensure accessibility for all, including persons with disabilities.
This was a fantastic opportunity for all seven contestants who made it to the grand finale to showcase their innovative ideas and to contribute to making a positive social impact.
In the welcoming remarks by the head of Public Relations, Kamal Abass said the 5th Edition of the Orange Social Venture Prize is to create imprint and driving impact in providing the platforms as start up for young innovator across Sierra Leone. He further that this platform is used to burst gender equality inclusion promoting access for women.
Whereas, a senior staff of the company, Francis Philip George said the OSVP is not just a competition rather it is used to help build the Ecosystem and goes beyond. He said the company act as watchdogs to upcoming innovations and helps them reach the pinnacle of hope.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Sekou Amadu Bah said the journey of OSVP started in 2019 with ambition to give Sierra Leoneans Young innovators and aspiring entrepreneurs to opportunity to acquire mentorship and expansion of their businesses. He pinned that the OSVP is an investments found of the orange group that gurantee start-ups for young innovators across the seventeen footprint of the company in Africa and the Middle East.
He said in the area of digital transformation inclusion orange has set the first ever foundation for digital center in the country. Mr. Bah said the OSVP focuses on various projects such as education, health care, E-commence and agriculture that contribute to achieving government developmental goals. The CEO reveals that they have improve on winner’s prize in a way of attracting women to become or partner in such innovative competitions.
On the side of the government, Madam Ramatulai Wurie Minister of Higher Education said in the dynamic landscape of Africa’s progress technology stands as a catalyst project for transformative change. She said through Social Venture Prize competition transformative change; pray that it has positive impact in the lives of Sierra Leoneans as it hinges on education, E-Commerce, Agriculture and health care. The Minister added that by embracing innovative E-Learning platforms, virtual classrooms, and digital resources the government can empower both young learners and lifelong students to acquire the necessary skills for the rapidly involving world. These transformative solutions enable girls in respective of their location or circumstances to break barriers and to reach their full potentials. With regards to agriculture, the Minister said technology holds the premise to nurture sustainable practices and elevates the livelihood of small holder farmers, especially the women.
Madam Wurie said the innovative program resonant the government big five agenda programs and it capacity to empower women and girls in technological innovation.
After the speeches, each of the contestants was asked to make five minutes peaches on their project and its impact to societal change.
It was concluded that James Samba of Sierra Electric won the grand prize of one hundred thousand Leones (Le100, 000) and the runners-up Hawanatu Sesay won the Female Tech Queen award with a reward of fifty thousand Leones (Le 50,000).
