The Google Country Marketing Manager, Affiong Osuchukwu, has said his company is accepting application non-profit organisations in Nigeria to receive their share of $2m in funding.
Mr Osuchukwu, who disclosed this during the unveiling of the grant on May 23 in Lagos, said four non-profits in Nigeria will stand to win $250 000 each, while 8 runners-up will each get $125 000, the tech giant said.
According to him, Google says it is identifying non-profits using technology and innovation to tackle complex global challenges.
“Understand the needs of marginalized and vulnerable populations” in Nigeria, and those who are bringing “change to everyone” through their work creating new and unexpected solutions to address inequities are encouraged to apply for the $2 million grants.
“In addition to funding, we connect our grantees to tools, products, and technical expertise from Google volunteers that accelerate their progress,” Mr Osuchukwu said.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that non-profits looking to participate in the application which closes July 4 are encouraged to apply at www.https://impactchallenge.withgoogle.com/nigeria2018 or g.co/nigeriachallenge.
Winners are expected to be decided by a panel of local judges and a public vote. “The public vote provides a chance for the people to decide which organisation gets an extra portion of funding to help them impact their community,” a written statement from Google explained.
Adding: “The winning non-profits will get cash as well as access to guidance, technical assistance and mentorship from Google, which they are free to take up should they so choose.”
It will be recalled that at Google for Nigeria in July last year, Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced Google’s commitment to providing $20m funding to African non-profits over five years. This is the first initiative aimed at realising that commitment, Google said.
According to information on the website dedicated to the challenge, although this is the first time Google Impact Challenge is launched in Africa, other 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,
