Intel Launches Digital Solution for Kenyan Education

Prof. Kaimenyi and students go through the Intel Explore & Learn app

Intel Kenya has launched Intel® Explore and Learn, an education application that offers learners and players in the education sector easy access to quality digital content developed for the Kenyan education system.

The solution, designed for learners of all ages, provides access to wide variety of content including text books, set books, revision books, interactive past exam papers, rich multimedia (audio, video and animations) for Kenyan students from Primary to High School level.

This app was developed in collaboration between Intel and Rancard, an African-based mobile technology company that provides a cloud-based software platform for mobile content discovery, delivery and monetization.

“The aim of the Intel® Explore and Learn solution is to provide a resource hub where learners can find relevant content to enrich their studies while at the same time provide publishers with access to a platform that will enable them to easily share their learning content,” said Intel’s Middle East and Africa Business Development Director, Cigdem Ertem during launch of the product at the Tribe Hotel in Nairobi.

The application which is available for Intel powered PCs and Tablets running Android, Windows 7 or Windows 8 devices is user-friendly and interactive improving learning experience to students and teachers. “We would like to call upon all publishers and other content providers to partner with Intel in delivering exciting quality education content to Kenya’s children to transform how they study and enable children to create their tomorrow,” said Ertem.

Intel's Cigdem Ertem, Education Cabinet Secretary Prof Kaimenyi and Danie Steyn GM Intel East Africa 

Present at the launch was Cabinet Secretary in the Minisitry of Education Prof. Jacob Kaimenyi who encouraged players in the education sector to take up the product to enhance learning in schools. “Indeed, towards the realization of Vision 2030, the education system will be guided by placing emphasis on new developments and subsequent innovations in science and technology.  It is initiatives such as these that promote the socio-economic, technological and industrial skills needed for the country‘s development,” he said.

Intel plans to roll out training sessions for teachers interested in digitizing their content in conjunction with Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) as well as with Kenya Private School Association (KPSA). For more information on the training, teachers need to contact KICD and KPSA.

“The content currently available through Intel® Explore and Learn at launch is targeted at upper primary grades and Form4. Our partners are working hard on developing content for other grades. As additional content is developed and as new content providers and publishers sign up, content for additional grades will be added,” noted Danie Steyn General Manager Intel East Africa.

Internet access is only required when downloading the content. This not only means parents have control over internet usage but it also saves them the cost of continuous internet usage. Users can only download what they need and make payments through mobile money or internationally accepted credit and debit cards.

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STAK Seed Congress Set for Early November

The 2nd edition of the Seed Trade Association of Kenya (STAK) will be held in Nairobi between 6th-8th November. The forum which gives players in the seed industry a platform to discuss and find common solutions on different issues in the seed industry will be sponsored by Syngenta to the tune of over Kshs. 2 million.

Speaking during the announcement which culminated in the presentation of the sponsorship cheque, STAK Chairman Rogers Mugambi noted that this year's event has attracted a lot of delegates who will participate in the 3-day event. "This year's event will be bigger and more exciting given the number of stakeholders and industry players who have confirmed participation," he noted.

The conference is expected to address, among others; proposed management strategies for the Maize Lethal Necrotic Disease, Implications of the amalgamation of Agricultural Acts and devolution to county levels on agriculture and the seed industry, the role of biosafety and use of biotechnology to increase agricultural productivity genetics resources as a solution to agricultural challenges among others.

"We believe that we all need to pull togehter in finding lasting solutions to perennial food shortagesin our country. As Kenya turns 50, we need to be able to increase our food production in order to feed our 43 million populations hence reduce poverty levels," said Walter Njenga, Syngenta Managing Director.

The theme for this year's event will be "Embracing Novel Technologies for Agricultural Solutions" and is open for all farmers. It will include a trip to Marula Farm.

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Unilever Kenya Launches 2nd Edition of the Idea Trophy

Unilever Kenya has launched its 2^nd edition of the Idea Trophy, an inter-university competition that seeks to improve the development of personal and entrepreneurial competencies amongst Kenyan undergraduates.

The 3-month challenge will see students from 5 campuses in Kenya compete for the 2013 honours that will not only give the winners an internship opportunity with the company but also earn them a trip to South Africa to represent Kenya in the Idea Trophy Africa championships slated for end of the year.

This is a development initiative designed to create an “out-of-the-classroom” learning experience that focuses on the development of personal and entrepreneurial/ business competencies amongst Kenyan undergraduates.

The IdeaTrophy was launched by Unilever in 2012 in collaboration with Rexona Brand and partnered with 9 universities. Students generated and submitted innovative ideas on creating brand awareness and growing usage of Rexona among their peers in the target universities. The ideas were subjected to judging based on creativity and feasibility.

Out of these, there were three winners and the grand prize was a trip to the Unilever Africa headquarters office in South Africa, interaction with the Africa Leadership Team and an internship opportunity in the Kenya office.

 

This year, the project is bigger and better. It will offer students exposure and the opportunity to stretch their potential as they unearth their creative abilities.  Speaking during the launch event, Ellen Bvekerwa, HR Director Unilever ESA said there is so much in it for the students, “they will have personal development, gain different perspective and experience in readiness to business life gained through working with a global brand – Lifebuoy and a global organization – Unilever”.

Expounding on why Unilever is investing in this challenge, Yaw Nsarkoh, Managing Director, Unilever ESA, explained that Unilever has a moral obligation as a responsible citizen to contribute to development of the youth.

“Unilever also wants to grow a talent pool and improve the quality of future graduates who are well equipped to match industry expectations”, he further said.

Yaw also outlined Unilever’s commitment to sustainability and making sustainable living commonplace. “It is Unilever’s ambition to grow the size of the business whilst reducing our environmental footprint and increasing our positive social impact”

This challenge will trigger creativity and nurture innovation, a pre requisite demand for industry. Speaking during the event, Anna Othoro, Nairobi County Executive for Trade, Tourism, Industrialization, Cooperatives Development reiterated the urgency in preparing graduates who will match Africa’s growth potential and in particular Kenya which is increasingly becoming an investors hub. “The key enablers which will drive the goal of industrialization are creativity and innovation”, she said.

The challenge will include public and private Universities in Kenya and it will be phased in three stages. The first stage will be the online registration and submission of business ideas. This will be followed by zonal competitions with 9 teams competing at the zonal championships. Two finalists from each zone will emerge from this process. The third and final stage where the finalists will present their execution plans.

The first prize is a trip to South Africa to visit our Africa Region Head Office & iPads, while the first and second runners up will win laptops and blackberry phones with certificates. The winners also stand a chance to represent Africa in Singapore for the Talent league which will bring together finalists from across the globe. 

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PZ Cussons Relaunches its Flagship Brand, Imperial Leather

From left, Lilian Mackenzie, Head of marketing, Valerie Mbaya, Assistant brand manager, Dimitris Kostianis MD and Group Brand Manager Evelyne Alaro

PZ Cussons has announced the relaunch of their iconic brand Imperial Leather bathing bar with a new look packaging that the company says will continue cleansing and caring families. The relaunch of the flagship brand, Imperial Leather, coincided with it’s 75^th anniversary which the company will be celebrating later this year.

“Starting from a humble perfume laboratory in United Kingdom, Imperial Leather has grown to a leading global iconic brand,” said Dimitris Kostianis the Managing Director of PZ Cussons East Africa. “As we celebrate our 75 years in Africa, we take this opportunity to thank our consumers and customers for their continued loyal support and promise them even more exciting years ahead,” he added.

Lilian Mackenzie, Head of Marketing at PZ Cussons said "We are excited to celebrate 75 years with our consumers who have walked with us over the years. As part of the celebrations, consumers will be rewarded through the just launched National Consumer Promotion dubbed ‘Oga Na Milli’ in which they stand a chance to win millions in cash and other exciting prizes. Consumers are encouraged to see press and posters for details on the promotion for their chance to win as Imperial Leather celebrates its’ relaunch and 75^th anniversary."

The company's portfolio of products in East Africa include Imperial Leather, Ushindi, Venus, Cussons Baby and Morning Fresh among others.

 

Intel Corporation ups its Investment in Kenya

Intel Corporation has announced a new initiative that will see Kenyan developers become the first in Africa to benefit directly from Intel® Software and Services Group (SSG), a global division of the company. In the course of this new initiative, Intel will work with Kenyan developers to provide them with design tools, resources and expert consulting.  Further, the tech company will this year sponsor three local tech start-ups for online training and mentorship program conducted by UC Berkeley Faculty members and Silicon Valley entrepreneurs.

In the next 6 months,  Intel aims at reaching over 400 developers and having 100 new applications created locally that will offer users differentiated experiences across mobile phones and tablets running on Intel® Architecture. The division will be led locally by Agatha Gikunda the newly appointed Lead for Intel Software and Services Group in East Africa.

Speaking at a developers’ conference hosted by Intel that saw more than 250 developers in attendance, Danie Steyn, East Africa General Manager said “We recognize that software is a vital element of all Intel platforms and processors. Therefore, Intel Software and Services Group seeks to enhance local innovation and provide tools to developers that enable them create applications with rich user experience on devices running on Intel technology. We are very excited about the growing developer engagement in Africa and seek to increase collaborations with tech hubs, independent software vendors and universities.”

The company will collaborate with Strathmore University and University of Nairobi** to provide resources in the universities’ hardware labs, build a student Developer Partner Program and integrate High Performance Computing into the university curriculum. These activities are aimed at enhancing the ability of student developers to create rich user experiences on Intel®-based hardware as well as test their software applications.

Through an established program between Intel, iHub and m:lab**, Intel Software and Services Group will provide training to developers enabling them to create and port Android** apps for Android-based devices running on Intel® architecture. In addition, starting from 24^th June 2013, Intel and iHub** will on a quarterly basis host intensive coaching sessions for developers dubbed Ideation camps that seek to empower upcoming tech entrepreneurs and social innovators with tools to turn complex problems into great business opportunities.

“Programs that provide opportunities for local software developers to nurture their skills, to access the latest tools and to get exposure on the global stage are critical components in the growth of our local software economy. Intel’s approach to collaborate and support tech hubs, independent software vendors and universities provides a good opportunity for both upcoming and established developers to exploit.” Victor Kyalo Acting CEO, Kenya ICT Board

Intel Software and Services Group will further enable Kenyan developers to engage with more than 20,000 independent software vendors (ISV) worldwide through a collaborative online application and software development community dubbed Intel® Developer Zone. It is a global program that enables developers to engage with Intel on topics related to software and is designed to answer today’s software development challenges.  In addition, Intel Software and Services Group will also seek to build a foundation for robust solutions and industry innovation, working with the software community to set standards, establish industry benchmarks and participate in open source projects.

“As part of the investments we are making in the continent we would also like companies across Africa to be aware that Intel Capital, the global investment and M&A organization of Intel, is looking to invest in innovative technology companies. We have recently invested in 2 companies: Altech in South Africa and Rancard in Ghana.” said Tobi Oke, Investment Director, Intel Capital.

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