The partnership supports the broadcaster’s vision to serve public service broadcasting across the continent through total citizen empowerment. Group Chief Executive Officer of the SABC, Dali Mpofu, has explained the vision of the SABC as four strategic pillars viz, operations (content), technology, people and funding. He exclaims; “There is a continued need to fast track the deployment of technology infrastructure to aid people development and access to information, a core contributor to making this the century for Africa, the theme of the 2006 African ICT Achievers Awards.”

“We must not lose sight of the important role that recognition of achievement plays in stimulating growth and development, which is why we have chosen to support the African ICT Achievers Awards for its important role in promoting excellence through the use of technology” he says.

The African ICT Achievers Awards Programme recognises and rewards the efforts and achievements of organisations and individuals within the ICT sector across Africa through the Awards component. The second component, an Annual Summit aims at promoting business opportunity through investment in ICTs, specifically in Women, Youth and SMMEs and the third component comprises a strong Corporate Social Investment element.

Initiated by ForgeAhead in South Africa in 1999 the awards banquet is by far the premier event of its kind in the sector across Africa. The South African Minister of Communications, Dr Ivy Matsepe Casaburri is quoted as saying: “What makes the African ICT Achievers Awards so special is that it has evolved to become representative of African achievement across the continent”. “The SABC partnership in the African ICT Achievers Awards represents a huge step in the development and growth of the programme as the SABC holds a well respected position as a leading broadcaster on the continent.”

comments Jane Mosebi, managing director at ForgeAhead. “We truly believe that Mushinge will be learning from the best reporters our country has to offer and wish her all the best in reporting news that is accurate, innovative, and breaks down the communication barrier of perceiving technology as a tool only meant for the elite,” she says.

ForgeAhead greatly supports the concept of CSI and therefore felt it necessary to incorporate such a component within the Awards programme. The fact that the Awards is an African Awards programme, reaching across African borders, the company believes that unselfish donations such as these CSI prizes will truly assist in making this the century for Africa.
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