Nigeria has begun search for local e-content that has global relevance for the United Nation 2013 world summit award.
This year series will be hosted by ICTA, the Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka.

With WSA database already open to nominations starting from April 1st until June 1st 2013, contestants are expected to submit their project for their country’s pre-selection through national expert until July 31st, 2013.

The ultimate highlight of the global WSA 2013 is celebrating international e-Content delicacies at the WSA World Congress 2013.

With the great support of ICTA, WSA is going to host the smartest and most creative e-Content producers in Colombo, Sri Lanka from October 23 through 25, 2013.

The World Summit Award (WSA) is a global initiative to select and promote the world’s best e-Content, started in 2003 in the framework of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) with the 1st WSIS conference held in Geneva.

The award which takes place on a biannual basis, in collaboration with UNESCO, UNIDO, UN GAID is done through national contests, a global contest, held every 2 years, and numerous content-focused national and international conferences and workshops. One of such event is the upcoming the WSA road show.

The UN World Summit Award is being coordinated in Nigeria to promote an increased the impact of Nigeria technological innovations in global stage as charity in Nigeria by the Eminent WSA National Expert for Nigeria , Mr Amos Emmanuel.

Speaking last week in Lagos in a press conference to flag off the 2013 UN WSA, the national expert coordinator for Nigeria Mr Amos Emmanuel told IT Journalists that Nigeria is looking for local e-content with global relevance.

Emmanuel, who is also the 1st Vice-President, Information Technology (Industry) Association of Nigeria, ITAN, explained that the WSA is a global activity to select and promote the world’s best e-Content and most innovative ICT applications.

According to him, the award offers a worldwide platform for all who value the creative use of ICTs and who are committed to making today’s information society more inclusive.

Initiated by Austria in 2003 in the framework of the United Nations’ World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and is organized by a global partner network, coordinated by the International Center for New Media, he said that partners come from governments, private sector and civil society in over 160 UN member states.

As a UN-mandated initiative, WSA showcases digital contents that really make a difference and contributes to the global knowledge society. It selects the best e-Content products from more than 160 UN-member countries and puts it on a global stage at a world congress for digital content.

To participate in WSA 2013, contestants need to get in contact with their national expert who will nominates and submits country’s eight best projects – one in each contest category.

After the national pre-selection period, a jury of eminent experts will come together in Estonia to evaluate the submissions and select the 40 best products – five in every contest category. The WSA Board of directors is in charge of appointing an experienced and gender reflected jury. The Board is still open to new juror recommendations.

Sharing his experience, Ihezie Peter who brought joy to Nigeria through his solution iPoliceMobile that won the award said that the UN WSA has changed his life.

IPoliceMobile , he said was developed in response to security challenges faced by Nigerians in recent times. As a security and safety app, the application he said aims at providing Nigerians and tourist to Nigeria with tools and information to live safely and security conscious.

The mobile application provides users with following benefits and functionality
* Security tips and Education from many security experts from within and outside Nigeria, thereby improving the overall security awareness and consciousness of Nigerians.

Using location capability of most phones, the app leverages on this to locate the nearest police stations with contact details and phone numbers of the DPO. Users can also search for any police stations given any location.