APC member's ZittNet qualifies for the Stockholm Challenge Award 2008

By FD for APCNews

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Apr 07

Fantsuam Foundations community wireless internet network access project, ZittNet, has been selected a finalist in the Stockholm Challenge Award 2008.

The Stockholm Challenge 2008 features a six category award for ICT for development projects. The best projects will win a Stockholm Challenge trophy and receive a 5,000 Euro stipend. The prize ceremony will take place in Stockholm, Sweden on May 22.

APC’s Nigerian member Fantsuam Foundation is competing in the “Economic Development” category of the Stockholm Awards. As “the first rural wireless internet network service in Nigeria”, Fatsuam “aims to provide affordable internet and rural telephony access to a rural population of 150,000 annually.” The Zittnet project is designed so as to “enhance youth employability through ICT skills training,” Fatsuam says.

ZittNet is based on a social entrepreneurship model that uses microfinance to support its rural network service. “We keep looking for innovative technical ways to get internet access that is of reasonable quality and affordable,” the project description reads, before detailing how this will be technically possible.

Read on here .

Fantsuam Foundation’s website:
http://www.fantsuam.org

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