Following
the recent closure of entries for the 2013 Off-Grid Energy Challenge by the
General Electronics (GE) and the United States African Development Foundation
(USADF), winners are set to emerge on November 21 in a ceremony in Lagos, NaijaAgroNet reports.
NaijaAgroNet recalls that the
challenge was recently launched in Kenya and Nigeria thereby commencing the
judging process in anticipation of the announcement of this year’s winners from
both countries.
Investigations
by NaijaAgroNet reveals that over
the next three years, some 20 individuals and indigenous African companies who
come up with innovative solutions that address the energy challenges of African
communities and businesses stand a chance of winning up to USD 100,000 in
grants to support their initiatives.
According
to NaijaAgroNet searches, the
judges are looking out for off-grid energy solutions that have created
innovative approaches to metering, payment, collections, or transmission.
“They
will also look out for entries that deliver sustainable energy to underserved
marginal populations without degrading the environment,” a source told NaijaAgroNet.
The
President and CEO, GE Africa, Jay Ireland expressed excitements that the
Off-Grid Energy challenge is generating increased awareness about the plight of
communities that are either underserved by the national grid or are not
connected at all.
“We
have no doubt that great solutions will emerge from this initiative, which will
ultimately provide some insight to how to tackle some of the off-grid energy
challenges in Africa” he said.
USADF
President and CEO, Shari Berenbach said the initiative will help leverage more
marginalized and underserved communities into positions where they could engage
in and benefit from inclusive economic growth.
She
noted that over the last 30 years, the USADF has championed initiatives that
have contributed in catalyzing Africans out of poverty, stressing, “We are
proud to be in partnership with GE on this initiative, which clearly resonates
with everything that USADF stands for.”
NaijaAgroNet equally recollects that
the Off-Grid Energy challenge is the initiative of global infrastructure
giants, General Electric (GE) and the United States Africa Development Agency
(USADF), which rides on the back of the Power Africa initiative announced by
President Barack Obama during his recent visit to Africa.
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Pix: Lazarus Angbazo, President/CEO General Electric, Nigeria
