Members of the African Union (AU) have prioritised a Samsung ICT access initiative as part of the continent's infrastructure development plans.
The New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), an AU subsidiary socio-economic development, has earmarked Samsung's solar-powered Internet schools (SPIS) initiative as central to its agenda.
SPIS aims to improve IT access to rural areas by operating solar-powered cyberlabs inside repurposed shipping containers, making them transportable by road to remote areas.
The project was launched in SA in 2011, further spreading to Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal and Sudan as part of a pilot programme. During a recent summit in Senegal, Nepad expressed increased support for the programme.
Ntutule Tshenye, head of public affairs and corporate citizenship at Samsung Africa, says the initiative will continue aiming to address the continent's energy and ICT challenges. "Remote areas often experience problems with power supply and rely on diesel- or petrol-driven generators."
Tshenye says the money saved by communities on electricity costs could be channelled towards infrastructure development in rural areas.
High targets
Samsung says its cyberlabs make use of interactive whiteboards, multipurpose printers and PCs, as well as teacher development through sharing best practices in using ICT for teaching and learning.
The company aims to reach 2.5 million learners as its project expands across the continent.
Meanwhile, an Abu-Dhabi-based organisation recently urged South Africans to submit entries to stand in line to win a share of $4 million for ideas optimising renewable energy use.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize aims to establish itself as a catalyst for innovative ideas for sustainable development by offering winning corporations, small and medium enterprises and non-government organisations monetary prizes for long-term green energy use.
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