Emma Okonji
Three technology savvy startups, Tutor Finder, PlayJoor and House of Uwe, have emerged winners of the GenesysIGNITE 2017 technology competition, which held in Enugu recently.
The winners were presented with a cheque of $10, 000 each for their brilliant and outstanding performances during the pitch that was witnessed by over 2,000 attendees, and presided over by panelists with proven technology skills. The GenesysIGNITE startups pitch was organised by Genesys Tech Hub in collaboration with CFAtech.ng.
Speaking at the technology gathering with over 2,000 startups drawn from Enugu, Abia, Uyo, Imo, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi and other neighbouring states in attendance, the former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, explained that the future of Nigeria belongs to the digital economy.
Nnamani, who chaired the event, underscored the need for educational institutions, especially the universities, to train students with technology skills that will enable them fit into the technology industry space after graduation, where skilled manpower is needed.
He commended the organisers for their foresightedness in organising the event, which he said was capable of igniting mind-shift among the youths from election ballot box snatching to technological evolution in the region.
“What Genesys is trying to ignite in the South-east and Enugu State in particular is awesome, by opening the eyes of our young people to tech disruptions and opportunities. It is important, because our people are ingenious and if we can apply the ingenuity in the tech ecosystem, then we can compete with the Silicon Valley,†Nnamani said.
Founder and CEO of Genesys Tech Hub, Kingsley Eze, said the main objective of GenesysIGNITE was to discuss latest technology trends that impact on the region, and to proffer strategies for unearthing benefits in the various sectors of the Nigerian economy at large.
According to him, through the technology competition, those who pitched were promoting innovative business solutions and ideas, currently propagated in the form of startups, within the region, culminating in capacity building and other exigencies to help them thrive.
Presenting the cash prizes to the winners, the Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, said it was high time various research and development results were pulled off the shelves from the Nigerian universities and turned to commercial products.
“Any nation that produces science and technology experts is always the toast of the world. Genesys is doing what the government has in mind with regards to youth development, capacity building, incubation, and providing venture capitals. I can tell you that the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology will support this platform to ensure that the young people are given a space to express themselves and add value to the economy,” Onu said.
Founder, CFAtech.ng, Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr., who moderated the panel session informed the youths in attendance that such competition had in the past, helped fueled the tech revolution in other parts of the country and that they owe themselves a duty to take full advantage of the opportunities that come with GenesysIGNITE 2017.
