…to represent Malawi at Commonwealth Innovations awards next year…
The former Chancellor College Student won two awards at the just ended Information Communication Technology Association of Malawi (ICTAM) Innovation forum which was held at Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi on Friday and Saturday.
23-year old Melvin Kalipinde won in both the education sector and in business process through his innovation of E-class and Iris to automatically be selected to represent Malawi at Commonwealth Innovations awards in Rwanda next year.
More than 16 innovators competed for the top prize with Kalipinde outshining his fellows to scoop the main award.
And speaking to the media soon after being announced the winner, the innovator said: “I started developing the project I won the award with a year ago with the help of an architect who was also working on a project and asked me for
a platform to be able to present his vision to potential clients for them to understand the whole concept. I am very delighted with this award and I will try my level best to improve my innovation before Rwanda next year as per the recommendations from the judges and other innovators,” he explained.
ICTAM President Wisely Phiri said he is very confident that Kalipinde’ innovation is capable of scooping the big award next year in Rwanda.
“As ICTAM, we will be doing the mentorship and coaching for the innovators especially the one who will be representing the country in Rwanda next year in order to make Malawi proud at the awards. I believe that his innovation is capable of scooping the top prize if we improve on what the judges and other innovators have recommended,” he explained.
Apart from Kalipinde, Alfred Andrew Kankuzi and Dumisani Kaliyati were also awarded for innovating Peza and Sunga.
Peza is a location based mobile digital marketing platform for informal sector which connects low technical skilled people to potential clients as one way of reducing unemployment while Sunga is a financial app which makes village banking digital.
The forum was attended by Malawi Vice President Saulos Chilima.
