…Announces N5Mn Grand Prize For National Winner
The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its subsidiary, the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has launched its three-stage ‘2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge’ competition scheduled to run from September 11 until October 23 this year, and the final pitch event will take place on October 23, 2024 in Abuja.
A statement on the competition issued by the agency’s Director, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, indicated that the 2024 Innovation Challenge was set to empower the next wave of Nigeria’s brightest innovators.
According to the agency, the 2024 DNI challenge is more than just a competition; it is an opportunity to leverage technology and creative problem-solving to tackle the pressing infrastructure challenges facing the nation.
NITDA further clarified: “This initiative plays a pivotal role in achieving the core objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, driving economic growth and fostering job creation. Aligned with NITDA’s mission to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, the challenge supports Nigeria’s leap towards a thriving digital economy under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy’s Strategic blueprint.
“With a focus on building a future-ready digital Nigeria, participants will collaborate in teams, using digital tools and techniques to digitally map key infrastructure in across Nigeria. The maps will highlight essential facilities like hospitals, schools, roads, and utilities and provide insights needed to drive sustainable development across the country”, it added.
The 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge unfolds in three exciting stages, namely State Level where competitors from all 36 states and the FCT will battle it out, with 37 teams moving to the next round; Regional Level where qualifiers will represent their regions across 6 geo-political zones, with 6 regional winners emerging; and National Level (Grand Finale) during which the regional champions will gather in Abuja for the final challenge.
According to the Director, each of the 6 regional winners will win N1 million while the national winner will take home the Grand Prize of N5 million.
Umar pointed out that this challenge was about building Nigeria’s future today as participants will create comprehensive, data-driven maps that shine a light on critical infrastructure across the country.
She listed the key areas of focus as including Healthcare: Mapping hospitals, clinics, and health centres; Education: Identifying schools, colleges, and universities; Transportation: Highlighting roads, bridges, and public transit; Utilities: Pinpointing water supply, electricity, and waste management systems; and Public Services: Including police stations, fire stations, post offices, and government offices.
The Director expatiated that through this initiative, NITDA aims to engage participants in real-world data collection and digital mapping; showcase critical infrastructure needs and opportunities in Nigeria; foster community engagement among diverse groups of participants; and Enhance skills in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), data science, and storytelling among the youth and professionals.
Umar assured that NITDA would continue to shape Nigeria’s Information Technology landscape with innovative policies and standards, stressing that through ONDI the agency is creating opportunities for digital job creation, entrepreneurship, and innovation by nurturing the next generation of tech talent.
