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CEDA/DBSA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE AWARDS THE GRAND PRIZE

Wednesday, November 1, 2017 - 18:15

MEDIA RELEASE

2017 CEDA/DBSA UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE AWARDS THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER

The 2017 CEDA/DBSA University Challenge came to an exhilarating end on Tuesday 31 October 2017 with the Official Prize Giving Ceremony held at the Gaborone International Convention Centre (GICC). This was the first of its kind competition in Botswana and proved to be successful as it attracted and unearthed some of Botswana’s finest and brightest minds from the 10 (ten) participating tertiary institutions. The competition dubbed the University Challenge managed to garner over 222 submissions from across the country.

After the closing date on 25 September 2017, the Secretariat and panel of judges further managed to narrow down the submissions to the Top 10 Finalists, by means of screening, evaluation and judging. The process of selecting the Grand Prize winner consisted of a well written proposal and a presentation in defence of their submissions. The submission constituted 80% whilst the presentations accounted for 20% of the overall score. After conclusion of the Top 10 presentations on the 24th of October 2017, the judges further deliberated and selected the overall winner.

Present at the prize-giving ceremony was the Vice President of the Republic of Botswana, His Honour Mr. Mokgweetsi E.K. Masisi as the patron and keynote speaker of the University Challenge. With the Vice President was the Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI), Honourable Vincent T. Seretse, Permanent Secretary for MITI, Ms Peggy Serame, CEDA CEO, Mr. Thabo Thamane, Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA) CEO and Chairman of the Association of African Development Finance Institutions (AADFI), Mr. Patrick Dlamini and the CEDA Board Chairman, Dr. Alfred Tsheboeng.

Speaking at the ceremony was the CEDA Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Thabo Thamane who gave an overview of the University Challenge and its key milestones. Mr. Thamane also went on to reaffirm the Agency’s commitment in further incentivising and developing the University Challenge to become an annual event which will be rolled out on a larger platform and marketed to a wider and more diverse audience with the aim of attracting a stronger pool of applicants. In closing his overview Mr. Thamane went on to thank both DBSA and the Government through the Vice President for advocating and accepting the challenge that was offered last year at the World Federation of Development Finance Institutions (WFDFI) 3rd Joint CEO’s Forum.  

In his keynote address the Vice President, His Honour Mr. Mokgweetsi Masisi applauded the leadership of CEDA and DBSA for coming up with this initiative and for seeing it through. “I wish to commend CEDA and DBSA leadership for initiating this Challenge. I believe this process has also evoked the spirit of entrepreneurship while creating an environment of competitiveness amongst the youth. I encourage you to keep the dream alive, as I believe this provided a platform of innovativeness that would contribute to a knowledge economy that we aspire to become,” said Mr. Masisi. The Vice President further implored other institutions in the public and private sector to get actively involved in either provision of resources or monetary contributions to help grow the Challenge.

In response to the Vice Presidents plea to various stakeholders of the University Challenge, Mr. Patrick Dlamini, CEO of DBSA commended CEDA for seeing the competition through and unearthing the Top 10. Mr. Dlamini also expressed his satisfaction in the level of thinking that the Top 10 Finalists had displayed. “The quality of the Top 10 Finalists gives DBSA the confidence that it will in future support this competition in partnership with CEDA. In years to come I envisage that the University Challenge will offer a Grand Prize of P1 million and also give the winner the opportunity to populate and implement their ideas and proposals to serve the rest of Africa. Solutions should not be kept within Botswana but also to the rest of the African continent as we see the industrial revolution through”.

In closing off the night, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry, Ms Peggy Serame announced the first ever winner of the University Challenge as Mr. Lebogang Eugene Pule a 4th year student from Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN). Lebogang walked away with the grand prize of P200 000.00 and a P10 000.00 bonus which was also awarded to all 10 Finalists for having made it to the finale.

Mr. Lebogang Pule is a young and aspiring 4th year student from BUAN. His proposal focused on production of fertilizer produced from organic waste that can sourced from our local landfills. His project focused on creating viable and sustainable employment by producing locally made products through organic waste.

Below is Mr. Pules profile:

LEBOGANG EUGENE PULE

Lebogang is an aspiring agriprenuer who was born and raised in Francistown, currently studying BSc Soil and Water Conservation Engineering at Botswana University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (BUAN).

The 30 year old’s proposal, which entailed producing fertilizer from organic waste, aims at reducing farmers’ expenditure on chemical fertilisers. He wants to use earthworms to accelerate the aerobic decomposition of organic waste into fertilizer.

Pule believes his project is cost effective as it uses readily available raw materials. These include household waste like food and newspapers; agricultural waste like dairy slurry and cow dung; as well as industrial waste from food manufacturing industries.

“The waste is collected, processed and mixed with water. Worms are added to consume the waste and later produce castings, which are used as fertilizer. These castings contain reduced levels of contaminants and a higher saturation of nutrients,” explains Pule.

Lebogang’s project is environmentally friendly, as it will complement currently existing waste management strategies. The project also produces worm juice, which is a very nutritious liquid fertiliser that is utilized to irrigate crops. Pule believes that there is a ready market for the product in Botswana. Further, the project can be adapted and used to produce food in areas where soils may not be conducive for arable farming.

Pule heard about the CEDA/DBSA University Challenge on Yarona FM and social media. The CEDA team also visited BUAN to sensitise students about the Challenge. With his winnings Pule intends to further his dream of becoming an Agripreneur by using the prize money to purchase equipment for his project.  

For further details regarding the CEDA/DBSA University Challenge kindly contact:

Leatile Bakwena

Communications Manager

Tel: +267 399 1084

Fax: +267 395 1823

Email: lbakwena@ceda.co.bw