CEDA UNVEILS TOP 50 NOMINEES IN CEDA/DBSA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

PRESS RELEASE

Date: 04 September 2018

CEDA UNVEILS TOP 50 NOMINEES IN CEDA/DBSA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE

The Citizen Entrepreneurial Development Agency (CEDA) has unveiled the Top 50 nominees for the 2018 CEDA/DBSA University Challenge. 144 applications were submitted by university students from all over the country from 25 March when the competition was launched until 3^rd August when the deadline for submissions lapsed.

The Top 50 nominees were selected after a rigorous evaluation process that considered among others originality, marketability, practicality of implementation, scalability and social impact.

“We are happy to announce that 29 of the Top 50 nominees are male while 21 are female, which shows an increase in female participation. The competition will now move onto the next stage, where the Top 50 submissions will undergo further evaluation and review until they are whittled down to 10,” said Anno Tshipa – Head of Marketing & Communications at CEDA.

The Top 10 finalists will undergo training on presentation in preparation for the next stage of the selection process; where they will be expected to present their proposed solutions to the Selection Panel, as well as industry and thought leaders. The final winner will be unveiled at a gala dinner later during the year.

Now in its second instalment, the popularity of the University Challenge has grown tremendously the past two years. It was co-founded by His Excellency Mokgweetsi Eric Masisi, President of the Republic of Botswana and Mr. Patrick Dlamini - Chairman of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI) and CEO of the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA).

The Challenge offers a P200 000 cash prize for any student who comes up with an implementable solution to key challenges facing Botswana; plus a further P50 000 if the solution comes from a female student. It is open to Botswana youth aged 18-35 who are enrolled in institutions of higher learning accredited by the Botswana Qualifications Authority (BQA). The Challenge also urges students to come up with implementable solutions to issues affecting the country, primarily in the areas of women and youth empowerment, employment creation and poverty eradication.

ENDS....

For Further clarity regarding this press release kindly contact

Leatile G. Bakwena

Communications Manager

Tel: +267 3170895

Fax: +267 3170896                                           

Email: lbakwena@ceda.co.bw