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ISA Pantami, minister of communications and digital economy, has advocated the need for all stakeholders to join hands with the ministry and its agencies in their quest to promote the development of indigenous digital solutions in Nigeria. He commended the leadership of the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, for embarking on the tech contest.
Pantami made the call during the presentation of N3 million prize to each of the three promising startups that emerged winners in the COVID-19 Virtual Hackathon, organized by the NCC in Abuja. The Virtual Hackathon was initiated by the commission to ignite the Nigerian youths to develop adaptable and innovative digital solutions that can address some of the challenges that have come about as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The minister said the initiative was not only in tandem with the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy, NDEPS, but also aligns with the implementation of the Executive Order 003, which aims to promote indigenous content development and patronage in Nigeria. “No country will develop without taking deliberate decisions to promote its indigenous solutions to solve national problems. Through this contest, the NCC has demonstrated its resolve to drive the ministry’s efforts in leveraging indigenous digital solutions to address challenges thrown up by COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” he said.
On his part, Prof. Umar Danbatta, executive vice chairman, NCC, noted that the hackathon is expected to throw up innovative and adaptable solutions in five thematic areas namely health, community, productivity, economy and education. He stated that the commission is committed to encourage innovation and has regularly sponsored Nigerian youths with innovative ideas to various competitions organised by the International Telecommunications Union, ITU, and other international bodies.
“The NCC has in the past two years, facilitated similar ICT-based innovations and research competitions among tertiary institutions in the country,” he said, while reiterating the NCC’s commitment to driving indigenous digital innovations to address national challenges.
The start-ups that made it to the top three are Elizade University Team, Primed E-Health Solutions and Cyberfleet. The Elizade University Team’s tech solution is an Automated Temperature Scanner (ATS), a device designed to conduct automatic temperature screening and contact tracing of persons with body temperature above the normal level for human beings.
Primed E-Health developed a mobile and web solution called SmartClinic, which can link a patient- based mobile health app with a hospital-based information management system, while ‘KlassConnect’ by Cyberfleet is an online platform that can be deployed by schools to continue with teaching and learning activities regardless of any health challenges that may prevent face-to-face physical interactions.
The COVID-19 Virtual Hackathon is a follow-up to the first hackathon by the Commission, which culminated in the hosting of an ‘ICT Innovation, Competition/Exhibition Forum’ at the Lagos Campus of Digital Bridge Institute, DBI, in December, 2019. At the end of the maiden edition, three (3) Startups namely, Quataloog, Wicrypt and Phaheem Nigeria Limited emerged winners. The annual Hackathon is part of the strategic initiatives of the Commission to promote ICT innovation and investment in the Nigerian telecommunications sector and improve the nation’s competitiveness in the global digital economy.
– Sept. 4, 2020 @ 18:25 GMT |
Tags: Danbatta call for promotion of indigenous digital solutions Pantami
