Tech Giant, Google has announced the launch of the Google Impact Challenge Nigeria, 2018.
The company made the announcement on Wednesday saying it will be offering $2m worth of grant funding to nonprofits in Nigeria through the challenge.
According to Google, four non-profits in Nigeria stand the chance of winning $250 000 each while eight runners-up will each get $125 000.
It says winners will be decided by a panel of local judges and a public vote.
Apart from the cash prizes, winners will have access to guidance, technical assistance and mentorship from Google, which they are free to take up should they so choose.
The Nigerian judging panel includes chairman CEO Channels media group John Momoh, chairman CEO, Zinox Technologies Leo Stan Ekeh, chief executive officer Parminder Vir, Rapper and CEO of Chocolate City Music Group MI Abaga, Philanthropist and Executive Director of Nigeria Network of NGOs Oluseyi Oyebisi.
Others are Philanthropist and Media entrepreneur Mo Abudu, Ex-footballer and founder of the Kanu Heart Foundation Kanu Nwankwo, Managing General Partner, EchoVC Partners Eghosa Omoigui and Google Country Director Juliet Ehimuan-Chiazor.
The Challenge kicked off Wednesday (May 23) and will close on July 4, 2018, after which a final awards ceremony will be held during the week of November 26.
At Google for Nigeria in July last year, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced the company’s commitment to providing $20m funding to African non-profits over five years.
This, however, is the first initiative aimed at realising that commitment.
Speaking on the announcement, Google Country Marketing Manager Affiong Osuchukwu said: “This is the first time we are running a Google Impact Challenge in Africa. Many African nonprofits are doing great work with real impact and we’re keen to shine a light on them, and give a financial boost to innovative projects and ideas.
“We believe technology can help local and national organisations to better reach their goals and solve some of the continent’s most pressing challenges, and we are eager to back people who are using technology in new ways to make a positive difference in their communities.
“We also want to highlight the healthy state of social enterprise in Nigeria today, and encourage non-profits to consider how technology can help them reach their goals,” Osuchukwu says.
Other Google Impact Challenges around the world have supported ideas ranging from smart cameras for wildlife conservation to solar lights for off-grid communities to a mobile application that helps to protect women from domestic violence.