Accra, Jan. 16, GNA - Zain Ghana has launched the Zain Africa Challenge 2009, an academic quiz programme involving students in universities across eight countries in Africa. The fast-paced game, the third in the series, will involve teams from the universities of Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. It is the first time universities in Ghana, Nigeria and Sierra Leone are participating in the question and answer game played between two teams of three players each.

Speaking at the launch, Mr Phillip Sowah, Country Manager, said the initiative formed part of the company's corporate social responsibility, which main focus was education. He said the Zain Africa Challenge was an initiative that complemented "Build Our Nation programme" that provided teaching aids and materials to underprivileged schools. The teams will be competing for the largest prize of $50,000 to the university and $5,000 to participants. Zain is awarding nearly $1,000,000 in cash, travel grants and educational materials.

Students will compete in various issues covering science, literature, history, geography and sports, among others. Each of the countries will hold qualifying tournaments among the participating universities in their home countries. The top teams from these competitions will advance to the Zain Africa Challenge Championship Festival to be held between February 13 and 23 in Kampala, Uganda.