The federal government has awarded N10 million as seed funding to five winners of the 2021 Creativity and Innovation Challenge.
The five winners, who were given N2m each, emerged from 800 contestants that participated in the contest from the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The five winners are: Nwachinemere Emeka, from Ibadan, who invented Kitovu Technology Company to assist farmers; Muhammad Banre from Kaduna, who invented Scholar limited, a learning app; Jeremiah Kuro from PH, who invented Bliu-I Automation limited, an automotive app; Ajiboye Mayowa from PH, who invented a learning app, CBTNL.Com and Izu Freeman from Abuja, who invented another learning App, CAPSULE.
Presenting the awards at the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Resource Centre, Abuja, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami said apart from the grant, the winners will also get commendation letters from him to boost their Curriculum Vitae while they will join the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship scheme.
The Director General of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, said Nigeria has a bustling fintech ecosystem, with over 200 fintech, global attention and venture capital investment.
“Emerging superpowers like China are now reaping the benefits of their technology-innovation initiatives and policies. Innovations, particularly market-creating innovations, have the potential to transform nations and lift them out of poverty.”