By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Eight young Cameroonians have emerged as winners of the 2024 edition of the Cameroon Telecommunications, CAMTEL Blue Tech Challenge Competition. The winners were announced on October 2 in Yaoundé after a rigorous selection process involving over 30 finalists.
Launched in May 2024, the competition was open to youths aged 15 to 35 and aimed to showcase the innovative talents of Cameroonian youth in the ICT ecosystem.
One of the winners in the Blue Star category, Moses Anuagueleh Afobezi, expressed his gratitude to CAMTEL for the opportunity to present his work. Afobezi, co-founder of AgricFresh, a Cameroonian startup, explained that his inspiration came from his mother’s struggles with storing perishable tomato crops.
“AgricFresh is an agricultural startup dedicated to helping small-scale farmers to reduce post-harvest losses,” Afobezi said. “Our innovations include solar panels, sensors, and batteries.” He added that the company also provides market access through its website and offers farmers educational videos on improving their yields.
Meanwhile, Judith Yah Sunday, General Manager of CAMTEL, while opening the session stressed that the Blue Tech Challenge is more than just a competition. “It’s a showcase for digital excellence made in Cameroon,” she said. “We are here to honor the innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit of our youth.”
The three winners in the Blue Star category were Moses Anuagueleh Afobezi (AGRICFRESH), Cedric Hugues Ngbwa Ngbwa(MENDO COTI), and David Kenfac (TSAF).
Treasure Bah Nkwambi (E-FARM), Murielle Nahomy Kombou (CommuneConnect), and Johan Megnemo Wirdzeyii (Input Automatic Transfer Switch with with Lo T and Data Logging Features) won in the Blue Academic Innovation category while Grace Megaptech Djambou (SolarSync) and Rayan Hessack (LINA) emerged as winners in the Blue Tech Women and Handi Blue categories, respectively.
The competition attracted 289 applicants, from which 50 were shortlisted and 30 advanced to the final stage with eight crown as winners. The Blue Tech Challenge is part of CAMTEL’s 25th anniversary celebrations and aims to identify, assess, reward, and promote innovative projects and technological practices from universities, researchers, and startups.
Candidates submitted solutions addressing the needs of Cameroonian populations, the government’s development plan, SND30, CAMTEL, or public administration. The competition featured four award categories: Blue Star Award, Blue Academic Innovative Award, Blue Tech Women Award, and Handi Blue Award.
Finalists and winners received visibility, funding opportunities, networking connections, and mentorship to support their technological advancements and contribute to a sustainable future.
The Blue Tech Challenge Competition is a significant initiative by the state-owned operator, supported by its top management. This competition demonstrates their unwavering belief in the ingenuity of Cameroonian youth and their commitment to fostering the growth of digital startups and projects that drive the development of the digital economy and digital transformation in Cameroon.
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