An atmosphere of joy and celebration hanged on the walls of Limkokwing University in Freetown marking the end of fifth OSVP (Orange Social Venture Prize) competition. Two winners clinched enviable prizes awarded by the country’s leading Telecoms company, Orange Sierra Leone (OSL).
James Samba and Hawanatu Sesay took home NLe150, 000 or Le150, 000, 000 (one hundred and fifty million Leones) after they emerged 2023 OSVP (Orange Social Venture Prize) winners. NLe50, 000 or Le50, 000, 000 (fifty million Leones) went to Hawanatu of Wi-Agric Tech and NLe100, 000 or Le100, 000, 000 reserved for Samba of Sierra Electric Technologies.
Wi-Agric Tech seeks to digitise agriculture by introducing smart farming technologies to increase productivity tenfold while Sierra Electric Technology invents a tricycle powered by a solar or charged battery.
The two innovations are timely as Sierra Leone grapples with food insufficiency and carbon pollution. They were eight with three battling for the Tech Queens while five finalists fought for the grand prize. Hawanatu came first among the Tech Queens while Samba made his way through among the five finalists.
Hawanatu is a graduate of the Orange Digital Centre which has empowered a good number of Sierra Leonean youth. Both are founders and chief executive officers of their companies, and were thrilled for words after they were awarded. Hawanatu who is investing in agriculture says: “I will use the money to grow my business, and help others.”
Samba too holds similar dream as he commends Orange SL for empowering him in business venture.  “I am happy that I have won the prize.  I will use the money to expand my business,” he said with a smile immediately after the ceremony.
All eight competitors were given five minutes each to present their business initiatives via power point before judges announced the winners. The judges are eminent and credible personalities from different walks of life.
Held last Friday at Limkokwing University, the occasion was graced by top government and OSL dignitaries. Explaining the thrust of OSVP,
OSL Women’s President, Martha Sumaila described the ceremony as a “Pitch Night” where competitors could sell their business ideas to the public. The competitors can pitch in such specific areas as health, agriculture and education and technology among others. These areas form an important part of the national development agenda. It is all about innovation for nation building.
“We have made history again in helping the youth in entrepreneurship, innovation and creativity,” Martha informed the audience.
The OSL President who looked back at recent history said OSVP was deployed in Sierra Leone five years ago, and had yielded much dividends. Several entrepreneurs have been empowered as OSVP is an ideal platform for the youth to showcase their talents.
In his address ahead of the competition, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sekou Ahmadu Bah said OSL would provide digital opportunities for the youth especially women making reference to those who have been trained by the company.
“1, 600 youth have been trained and 52 percent are women,” the OSL CEO said.
58 out of the 52 percent of women trained have been employed adding that OSL had launched Women’s Digital Centre from which126 women have graduated. Assurance for more digital centres was by the CEO.
“We will launch four digital centres in the provinces, and two will be dedicated to the women,” he assured.
The CEO took the audience’s minds back to Osman Yaah and Joseph Koroma of the Auto Smart Irrigation and Blood Bank businesses respectively who won last year’s OSVP competition within and outside Sierra Leone.
Yaah won the local chapter and Koroma was the International Grand Prize Winner who defeated 1, 400 candidates from 17 countries from the Middle East and Africa. In her keynote address, Minister of Technical and Higher Education, Dr Ramatulai Wurie saw the ceremony as a “celebration of technological innovation” which holds the key to national development. The innovation project, she said, played an immense role in improving women’s situation in Africa and the Middle East.
Digital education, she went on, was particularly important in a rapidly evolving world and called on women to break barriers and reach their full potentials. “By harnessing such digital platforms, women can play big role in entrepreneurship,” she expressed hope.