The search begins for Africa's brightest ideas in female inventors and innovators awards.Women across the African continent have the chance to be recognised as the Pan-African Inventor or Innovator of the Year 2010 with the opening of the latest competition by the Global Women Inventors & Innovators Network (GWIIN). This would include women that are exceptionally creative, inventive, innovative, entrepreneurs, scientists, engineers, technologists, designers from all sectors and background right across Africa.
The award nominations which officially opened on the 24 August is organised to celebrate and promote the creative, inventive and innovative products and services by women right across the continent. This year includes award categories for innovative women in technology, finance and investment, best product design and packaging, exceptional creative items such as jewelleries, arts and crafts, innovative new talent, innovative eco-friendly fashion, and a category for Education & Learning Institutions such as universities, colleges and innovative school projects. There are 10 categories in total including the Chairman’s discretionary Award, a posthumous recognition Award and the main award – The Pan-African Female Inventor of the Year 2010.
The first of this most remarkable event was held in Ghana in 2005 in partnership with GEM- International Finance Corporation, the private arm of the World Bank Group and Ministry of Women (MOWAC) Ghana including the significant support of Ministry of Trade & Industry, Ecobank and Barclays Bank.In 2008, under the South African Women Inventors & Innovators Symposium (SAWIIS) the 2nd of the PAWIIN successful event was held in partnership with the Ministry of Minerals & Energy, South Africa with generous support from various multi-national companies including Shell, IBM, Faberge and many others.With an expected delegation of over a thousand guests this year from across Nigeria, Africa and beyond, this international and celebratory event continues to be the first of its kind to put the spotlight on Africa's most exceptional creative, inventive and innovative women entrepreneurs and professionals while highlighting their immense contribution and potential to the social and economic growth of Africa.The PAWIIN Awards forms a significant part of the forthcoming 3 day event scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria and also comprises of a symposium and exhibition. It has become the most extensive platform for the recognition of women’s inventive and innovative ideas developed in scientific laboratory to the ideas developed at home on the humble kitchen table.
Founder, Bola Olabisi who has since launched the competition in other countries, says that the Africa event is growing from strength to strength."The 2010 event will be the most significant so far, reflecting a diversity of innovations from various sectors especially in terms of sustainability and development terms. We in fact welcome ideas from women of all backgrounds - scientists and engineers working on patented inventions to women with no previous research and development experience who have come up with an excellent gadget or a new way of doing something," says Bola.Previous winners include: Margaret Owino from Kenya for the solar cooker – ‘Oywa Cookit’, Gloria Asare Adu from Ghana for using bamboo to generate a wide range of socio-economic and environmental benefits , J.H. Ghartey from Ghana for Floriculture, Foliage and Secondary Fish Farming, Aissa Dione Tissus from Senegal for eco-friendly textile and furnitures and Dr Alexandra Graham from Nigeria for the first purpose built fully integrated pharmaceutical production for HIV and malaria in West Africa.
The theme of this year’s event is ‘Innovative Women in Africa with Innovative Solutions for Africa’ and will include several high profile industry speakers from various backgrounds. The closing date for awards entries is 6 October 2010. For further information about the award categories and entry forms visitwww.gwiin.com or email us on office@gwiin.com
