Telecoms provider Airtel is set to create about 2,000 jobs for unemployed youth in the ICT sector by close of year.

With the launch of "Airtel App Challenge" an initiative to empower App developers in Ghana to come up with the innovative mobile applications that directly touch individual consumer needs, Airtel Ghana believes this will reaffirm the company's belief in empowering people.

Airtel Ghana in partnership with Singtel and Samsung launched the application challenge Wednesday August 5, for startup developers, designers and geeks to create innovative smartphone applications.

The five month Airtel App challenge will see participants develop consumer-centered mobile applications that will leverage on mobile network services.

"This initiative is a great opportunity for developers in Ghana to come up with innovative mobile applications that directly touch individual consumer needs to be deployed across the network of one of the biggest global telecom brands." Jean Claude Domilongo, Director of Airtel Internet announced at the launch of the competition.

Director General at the Kofi Annan ICT training centre, Dorothy Gordon told Joy Business the initiative is an amazing opportunity for young individuals to be placed in a production situation which will help transform the country’s economy.

She said the Ghanaian market is expanding which encourages the Ghanaian developer community to access the market of airtel users in Ghana and beyond.

The challenge is about getting winners from Ghana for the continental challenge and Airtel Africa will provide operational support by running campaign promotions while Singtel and Samsung to provide mentorship program for the regional winners as well as the finale in November 2015.