Nigeria, Morocco and Egypt clinched the first positions in their various categories at the 5th edition of the Global Conference on Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things (IEEE GCAIoT 2021) themed “Societal impacts of digital disruption” held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The IEEE TEMS and Bunya Group -the official sponsor of the Africa IoT and AI Challenge- which is the leading group in the field of communications infrastructure and digital transformation in Egypt, the Middle East, and the African continent, and the IEEE Africa Council and WAKANDAI, announced that Nigeria ranked first, Uganda ranked second, Morocco ranked third in the graduation projects category, while Egypt was the only one in first place in the STEM school’s category.
It further announced that Morocco came first, Kenya ranked second and Egypt and Uganda shared third-place in the start-up category.
The global conference which ended today (December 16) was sponsored by the University of Dubai, IEEE TEMS, IEEE Region8 and The Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship (GIE), a leader in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship programmes and initiatives in the Middle East and North African region, amongst others.
Twenty-one teams from six African countries – Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco – participated in the challenge and they were divided into two main axes – graduation projects for university students and startups in the fields of IoT and AI – of the challenge.
Commenting on this development, chair of IEEE TEMS Regional Activities, MENA Region, Eng. Mohamed Aboud, said: “We are proud of the results achieved by African youth in the Africa IoT & AI Challenge, as the demand for participation and competition reflects the enormous capabilities for human cadres on the African continent and their ability to lead the future development process and achieve the ambitious visions of governments in digital transformation initiatives.”
Similarly, the chairman and CEO of ‘Benya Group’, Eng. Ahmed Mekky, declared that: “The group’s sponsorship to this imperative challenge is based on our keenness to support striving calibres in the IT & Technology field and our belief in the ability of the qualified calibres to adapt to technology and use it efficiently. This comes in parallel with the huge acceleration in technical developments that requires training and continuous updating to all parties. This will enable the digital system to be the main driver that Egypt relies on its plan towards digital transformation”.
Mekky pointed out that ‘Benya Group’ is keen to develop the skills of young calibres, and support their innovative projects in Egypt and various countries of the African continent. The group aims to build the capabilities of students, whether at the undergraduate or pre-university levels, as well as support entrepreneurs with creative ideas in the fields of Internet of Things, and artificial intelligence, especially in light of the Egyptian government’s orientation to support the field of entrepreneurship, which requires joint efforts from all concerned parties, whether governmental or private, to support this path, which is the main pillar of the global economy in the upcoming period.”
In the same vein, the founder & managing director of WAKANDAI, Eng. Ahmed El Beheiry stated that: “WAKANDAI, being the founding and managing partner of IEEE Africa IOT & AI challenge is a manifestation of its vision delivering IOT & AI solutions & applications to African communities, thus we are proud of what has achieved & hopeful for Africa economy future growth from IoT & AI”.
It is noteworthy that the Africa IoT & AI Challenge is an integrated capacity building programme for high school and university students and entrepreneurs, with ideas and emerging technology companies on the African continent, by supporting and sponsoring graduation projects as well as embracing creative and innovative entrepreneurs, owners of ideas and emerging technology projects. And in partnership with many governments and regional, local, and international institutions.
