NIG opens second session for I4J N1m grant

The Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) is receiving application for its N1 million grant for Internet Entrepreneurs under its Internet for Jobs (I4J) Initiative, which is on its second session with a theme: Web Solutions for National Development.

Nigeria Internet Group (NIG)

President of NIG, Mr. Bayo Banjo in a press statement endorsed by the Administrative Secretary, Mr. Fidelis Orji confirmed to ITRealms Online the opening of another round of applications, adding that the objective of I4J is to explore the potentials of the Internet to create jobs for the people and transform the nation into a knowledge society, where business and government services are available on-line and the citizens are positively engaged in knowledge driven activities.

He also said that every year, NIG gives out grants to young and innovative Information Technology (IT) entrepreneurs, who have built web-based solutions that have the potential of creating thousands of jobs.

As said by him, NIG’s core focus here is to identify good solutions and with the help of expert network, turn them into great solutions for national development.

“A grant of N1m will be given to every winner. Once winners have been announced they will undergo rigorous entrepreneurial training as well as extensive mentoring sessions,” he said, even as their solutions would be analysed by web-solution experts and a growth plan with milestones and deliverables would be developed and executed subsequently.

He pointed out that a close monitoring process is put in place to ensure funds are used appropriately and with the core focus of growing the business and to this effect, a dedicated mentor is assigned to every grant recipient, to ensure adequate guidance concentrated on the path of success and job creation.

Further, he outlined some of skill-list for potential recipient to include innovation, creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, prove of concept, versatility, implemented solutions, sustainable concepts, business models and solutions, collaboration and teamwork as well as presentation skills.

Mr. Banjo emphasized that a key difference this year, 2012 is that the I4J grant competition has a theme governing the entire competition, which is: Web Solutions for national development.

Also, he said, there are some five categories NIG is looking at namely E-commerce cum E-Business Solutions, Mobile web Solutions & Applications; E-Government Solutions; Cloud Solutions and Software as a Service in addition to Social Entrepreneurship Solutions, assuring that winners in each of the categories would get N1m each with the support of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Zenith Bank Plc among others.

Remmy Nweke

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