Tecno awards 10 UoN Students for Innovative ideas

On Friday, November 29, 2024, the University of Nairobi hosted an inspiring award
ceremony for the TECNO Innovation Competition, a month-long initiative aimed at
fostering student creativity and practical approaches to product design. The competition,
conducted primarily online, drew participation from 60 talented students, with 10
emerging as winners after showcasing their groundbreaking ideas for enhancing local
features in TECNO phones.

The top prize—a state-of-the-art Camon 30 smartphone—was awarded to Ismael Lennox
S. Ojore, an electrical engineering student, whose ideas stood out as the most innovative.
Brian Richard and Brian Ouma, the first and second runners-up, received Spark 30
smartphones in recognition of their impressive contributions. The remaining finalists—
Elias Derick Orwa, Stella Njambi Ndungi, Zenica Jepkogei, Daniel Muteti, Erick Simion,
Muriithi Geoffrey Kibiri, and Maina John Rokorio—were honored with TECNO earbuds as a
token of appreciation for their creativity and effort.

The competition was spearheaded by the University of Nairobi’s TECNO Club, which
provided a platform for students to propose innovative solutions and ideas for improving
TECNO phone features. The event celebrated ingenuity, collaboration, and practical
problem-solving.

Speaking at the ceremony, Naomi Nyaboga, the Head of Career Services at the University
of Nairobi, applauded TECNO for their dedication to empowering students and fostering
innovation. "This competition not only highlights the creativity of our students but also
strengthens the valuable partnership between TECNO and our university," she remarked.
TECNO’s Head of Research, Mr. Peng Yuan, described the event as the start of a deeper
collaboration with the University of Nairobi. “We are committed to nurturing innovation
and look forward to more engagements with the university,” he said. Other TECNO officials
shared in his sentiments, including Mr. Kevin Kiarie, Team Leader for Research, and Mr.
Peter Katei, Senior Product Specialist and the lead analyst for the submitted ideas.

This competition not only celebrated student innovation but also paved the way for
stronger partnerships between TECNO and the University of Nairobi, emphasizing the
importance of integrating fresh, locally driven perspectives into cutting-edge product
designs. The success of this initiative serves as a testament to the ingenuity and potential
of Kenya’s young innovators.