Tech Firms Throw Weight behind TTSWG’s Innovation Challenge

Omolabake Fasogbon

Stakeholders in the Nigerian technology sector have lent credence to Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group, TTSWG’s sponsored Innovation Makers Challenge (IMC), calling on qualified young Nigerians to participate via the group’s website. 

The challenge is aimed at fostering sustainable innovations in Nigeria’s technology and telecommunication sectors by showcasing and rewarding emerging talents in these fields and providing a launchpad to scale up their solutions.

At a press conference announcing IMC in Lagos, recently, Board Member, TTSWG, Chris Uwaje said, “The world is moving so fast but Nigeria is being left behind. The discovery of talent is a part of the strategic tool fit competing for a great nation. We cannot have benefits unless we surmount the challenge within the realm of technology”.

The press conference was honored by several stakeholders in the telecom and technology space including Sustainability Manager at IHS Towers; John Isiekwene; Executive Secretary of ALTON, Gbolahan Awonuga and CEO of Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC), Bankole Oloruntoba, amongst others. 

The challenge closing October 16, is targeted at young innovators between ages 18 – 35 who are expected to showcase their original technology-driven ideas and products.

 Successful applicants who reach the final stage will get to pitch their ideas to a panel of judges that will select the winners at the grand finale conference and exhibition holding November 9, 2023. Top three winners will be awarded a cash prize of N2,000,000, N1,000,000 and N500,000 respectively.

More so, successful participants stand a chance to benefit from world-class expert training and mentorship through the Innovation bootcamp, opportunities to pitch to investors, network with established technology professionals and exhibit their innovations for free at the IMC Conference 2023. 

On the conference, Uwaje disclosed, “It will ignite transformative dialogues on Africa’s technology and telecommunications future while showcasing emerging innovations in Nigeria.  It boasts a diverse lineup of global speakers including Founder, Metaverse XYZ and TEDx Speaker, Kate Hancock; Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Quomodo Systems Africa, Oluwole Asalu and Executive Director at Access Corporation, Lanre Bamisebi, amongst others.

Commenting, CEO of NCIC, Bankole Oloruntoba lauded the IMC initiative while emphasising a need to establish dedicated funding pool to support emerging innovative ideas.

 “We are supporting these youngsters from their current stage to be more globally accepted and solve tangible and functional challenges regarding sustainability as well as other environmental issues confronting the telecom sector,” he said.