Ghanaian entrepreneur, Joseph Owiredu has qualified to the final of the 2024 edition of the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge. The 6th in the series, the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit is scheduled to take place from 28th to 31st May 2024 in Windhoek, Namibia.
Joseph Owiredu is the CEO of Fihankra ComTech Limited, a limited liability technology start-up that specializes in developing personal safety and security innovations, products and services to serve the growing African tourism industry, journalists and institutions.
The organisers of the summit, the Africa Tourism Partners announced the top five finalists for the 6th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge 2024 this week. The other four finalists Devin Itaagie from Uganda, Kedumetse Liphi from Botswana, Ajena Jafar from Uganda and Gerald Muema from Kenya have all qualified to proceed to the next level of adjudication.
The Challenge opened on the 1st of November 2023 for the youth to submit their projects and closed on the 1st March 2024. It attracted over 154 entries from young entrepreneurs and innovators across Africa.
The countries that participated in the Innovation Challenge include, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
As part of the process, the projects were submitted to the judges for adjudication to determine the qualifying projects. The five shortlisted innovators will present their demo/ Minimum Viable Product at the Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit in Windhoek, Namibia.
The Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge is an exclusive platform for innovative African youth in travel and tourism looking for funding, partnership and mentorship opportunities to present their projects to the global marketplace in order to find the required support for their programmes.
Speakers for this year’s Summit include Teofilus Nghitila – Executive Director of Tourism, Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Namibia, Samiya Abdulkadir Godu – President, Ethiopian Youth Entrepreneurs Association, Evah Mosetlhane – Tourism & SMME Development Consultant, Botswana, Mbali Mngomezulu – Manager Of Business Development at Mastercard | Grading Assessor Accreditation CATHSETA, South Africa and more.
Young Namibian innovators were also recognised and given the opportunity to compete amongst themselves. Sarome Natalia Nalooliwa Hamata, Sarah Anghuwo and Rosalia Laudika are the top 3 finalists for the 2024 and 6th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation challenge.
Hosted by the Government of Namibia through the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism in collaboration with Africa Tourism Partners, UN Tourism, BDO and other partners, the 2024 Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit is scheduled for 28th to 31st May 2024.
This is the third time and final year Namibia will host the Summit and it has used the opportunity to market and promote its tourism attractions.
One of the greatest attractions that Namibia Boasts about is the Sossusvlei desert. Sossusvlei is all salt, clay, and sand, with remarkable red dunes arching and curling seemingly forever. The popular tourist attraction is in the southern part of the Namib Desert and is part of the Namib Sand Sea, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Meanwhile, registrations for both physical and virtual participants to the 6th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Challenge and Summit are ongoing. Interested persons may visit “http://www.youthtourismsummit.com” www.youthtourismsummit.com.
Previous hosts of the Summit include Ghana, South Africa and Rwanda.
Note to the Editor:
About Africa Tourism Partners
African Tourism Partners (ATP) is a UN Tourism – affiliated and award-winning Pan-African tourism development and strategic destination marketing advisory firm. The firm specializes in tourism and MICE strategy formulation, investment facilitation and promotion, research, master planning and destination market development and capacity building across Africa’s travel, tourism, hospitality, aviation and golf sub-industries.
Our clients and partners include but are not limited to UN Tourism, The World Bank, Mastercard Foundation, NEPAD, AfCFTA, South African Tourism, Ghana Tourism Authority, Tourism KwaZulu- Natal, Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Convention Bureau, Rwanda Chamber of Commerce, SAACI, RwandAir, SAA, Ethiopia Airlines, Tanzania Tourism Board, Kenya Tourism Board, Uganda Tourism Board, Gauteng Tourism Authority, Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, Tourism Business Council of South Africa, Nigeria and more.