In a bid to promote research and innovation, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) recently awarded a total sum of N30 million to three startups at the grand finale of the 2023 Talent Hunt Research through Hackathon. The event took place in Abuja and aimed to harness the potential of young innovators in addressing significant challenges within the telecom industry and society as a whole.
Speaking at the event, Ubale Maska, the Executive Commissioner of Technical Services at the NCC, expressed the Commission’s commitment to supporting hackathons that focus on thematic areas relevant to global concerns. This year’s hackathon emphasized three pivotal thematic areas: renewable energy, blockchain-enabled data protection, and assistive technology for the elderly and people with disabilities.
The winners of the hackathon were Solaris Greentech, known for their innovative solution in the renewable energy thematic area, Knownow Africa Blockchain, who excelled in the blockchain thematic area, and Specxcare Limited, recognized for their outstanding assistive tech solution. Each of the three winners received a cash prize of N10 million.
In addition to the top three winners, nine other startups were awarded N500,000 each for their hard work and participation in the hackathon.
The NCC aims to go beyond merely acknowledging the winning solutions from the hackathon by adopting them for practical use. In fact, all three winning solutions from the 2020 hackathon, which addressed challenges related to pandemics and epidemics, have already been adopted by the NCC.
Furthermore, Maska mentioned that the hackathon will be followed by an Incubation and Mentorship Programme, aimed at equipping startups, innovators, and tech entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to refine their ideas, navigate intellectual property issues, and construct robust business plans. The Commission sees this phase as an opportunity to assess the impact of the grants and prizes awarded on the beneficiaries and the industry as a whole.
Ismail Adedigba, the Director of Research and Development at the NCC, emphasized the importance of regularly hosting hackathons to uncover and adapt to new technologies. He recognized that young innovators play a pivotal role in addressing industrial challenges and developing technology-driven solutions with tangible social impact.
Adedigba further highlighted the significance of innovation in communication technologies for the telecommunication industry. He assured participants that the NCC is committed to building and strengthening the bridge between Tech Hubs and the Telecom industry.
The 2023 Talent Hunt Research and Hackathon attracted twelve startups from various geopolitical zones across Nigeria. The NCC hopes that events like this will not only nurture creativity and entrepreneurship but also drive the advancement of the telecommunication sector in a sustainable and ethical manner.
By rewarding creativity and innovation, the NCC is playing a significant role in empowering young entrepreneurs to contribute to Nigeria’s technological development. In the future, we can look forward to witnessing the real-world impact of the winning prototypes that emerge from these hackathons.
