Etisalat Nigeria has announced Akpos Jokes and Exam Mate as finalists of the Most Innovative Product/Service category of the 2014 Pan-African Prize for innovation.

Memmcol Interactive media interface design and MAMALET emerged finalists for the Most Innovative Idea category. The competition which is currently in its third year received entries from about 10 countries across the African continent, according to the organisers.

Announcing the finalists, Matthew Wilsher, Chief Executive Officer, Etisalat Nigeria and member of the Board of Innovators of the Prize says “Broadband is constantly revolutionizing the way we solve problems at the individual, community, business, and societal levels. There is also a growing evidence of the importance of broadband to job creation, productivity, economic growth, and social inclusion. The judging panel was pleased with the quality of entries and was impressed by the creativity of the submissions.”

The Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation judging panel was made up of the Audu Maikori, Founder/CEO of Chocolate City Group; Babatunde Fafunwa, Managing Director of Kitskoo Limited; Ehizogie Binitie, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Rancard Solutions; Henrik Palsson, Entrepreneur/Consultant and Otuyemi Otule, Chief Information Officer at Etisalat Nigeria.

Winners from each category will be announced at the AfricaCom Awards gala dinner in Cape Town, South Africa, on the 12th of November 2014.

Launched in 2012, the Etisalat Pan-African Prize for Innovation is aimed at encouraging and celebrating valuable innovative ideas and products in the African market and drive the use of mobile broadband. The first prize of $25, 000 is for the Most Innovative Product or Service launched in the last 12 months and a second prize of $10,000 for the Most Innovative Idea.