The CEO of Google, Sundar Pichai had announced that the company would commit $20M in grants to non-profit organizations in Africa within five years. This was made known when he visited Nigeria in 2017. Then, less than a year later, that promise becomes a reality with the launch of the Google Impact Challenge Africa in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa.

Particularly, the launching event for Nigeria took place in Lagos on May 23 2018 at the instance of the Google Nigeria’s management team. Affiong Osuchukwu, the Head of Marketing said the take off stage will see twelve non-profits in Nigeria granted varying sum totaling $2M. According to him, four winners will emerge to be awarded $250k each while eight runners up get $125k each in the challenge.

How it Works

Application is invited from non-profits, duly registered in the respective countries engaging in projects with community impacts. The organization must have a well thought out plan and a well equipped team to execute their economically viable projects, and submit a proposal to the effect.

Finalists will be selected by Google and its partners. The ideas of the 12 finalist would then be subjected to public voting to select their favorites. Afterwards, the 12 finalists will be invited to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges who will select three winners. The fourth winner would be according to the public vote. Ultimately, the winners will be trained, supported and be given the mouth-watering largesse.

Unique information and application guidelines are available for Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa respectively.

Application closes on July 4, 2018.

Although the Africa Google Impact Challenge is just debuting in Africa, Google Impact Challenge has been taking place annually in other regions of the world. Google has been giving grants in support of projects such as mobile app for protecting women from violence; solar power light for excluded communities, smart camera for surveillance on wildlife, and so on.

Talking about the Google Impact Challenge in Nigeria, the caliber of people appointed to be judges in selecting the winning ideas speaks volume. These are people at the top echelon in their various fields. They include:

• MI Abaga – Rapper and CEO of Chocolate City Music
• John Momoh – Chairman and CEO of Channels Media Group
• Oluseyi Oyebisi – Philanthropist and ED of Nigeria Network of NGOs
• Leo Stan Eken – Chairman and CEO of Zinox Technologies
• Parminder Vir OBE – CEO, Tony Elumelu Foundation
• Eghosa Omoigui – Managing General Partner, EchoVC Partners
• Kanu Nwankwo – Retired Footballer
• Mo Abudu – Chairman and CEO of EbonyLife TV
• Juliet Ehimuan – Country Director, Google Nigeria.

Google is truly committed to helping Africa drive community impact through this challenge. So, if you are a non-profit organization in those countries of interest, this might just be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for. Grab it! You may visit www.google.org to learn more about their philanthropic activities.

PRACTICAL GUIDE

No more career woes! Get it right from secondary school levels, OR learn how to guide someone.

Explore

Hot Topics