February 26, 2018. Nairobi, Kenya.
Shupavu291, Eneza Education & Safaricom’s mobile learning product was announced a winner of 2018 Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO) on February 26, 2018, as the Best Mobile Innovation for Education.
Eneza was among 33 winners, mostly composed of industry leaders like Huawei, Samsung, Apple and Netflix. Shupavu291 is one of 3 winners from Africa. The panel of judges, chaired by Shaun Collins, CEO of CCS Insight, were impressed with Eneza’s remarkable access and broad reach. They added “This affordable service is proving that effective mobile services can have a hugely positive impact on education levels.”
Announced at the GSMA Mobile World Congress in Barcelona by hosts TV presenters Suzi Perry and Ortis Deley, the GLOMOs showcase those companies and individuals that are driving innovation in the rapidly evolving mobile industry.
Michael O’Hara, Chief Marketing Officer, GSMA congratulated all the winners and nominees of the 2018 GLOMO Awards. “The GLOMOs recognise the best of the best in mobile, highlighting the technologies, products, companies and individuals that are pushing the boundaries of ingenuity and innovation and creating a better future for all of us. We thank all of our entrants, judges, sponsors and partners for supporting the 2018 GLOMOs,”he said.
Receiving the award, Eneza’s Chief Business Development Officer, Millicent Mwendwa said “We are excited to receive this award. This means that the amazing work we do in the communities we serve is gaining global recognition.” She thanked the team at Eneza, the parents who continuously allow their children to access their phones in order to consume our content, and our partners, especially Safaricom for walking with us along the way. Eneza has replicated the Shupavu291 SMS/USSD model in other African markets like Ghana, with other telco partners and are soon launching into Francophone Africa via Ivory Coast.
Shupavu291, is Safaricom and Eneza’s virtual classroom available on any mobile phone. Through USSD/SMS, the most basic of dumb-phones can provide interactive chat-based lessons and assessments for primary and secondary school youth in Kenya, sessions with local tutors, gaming and competitions on a national level and even access to internet resources like Wikipedia without an internet connection. It is accessed through the shortcode *291# on any Safaricom line.
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