Qataloog wins NCC emerging techs competition

A Lagos-based startup, Qataloog, has emerged winner of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) Emerging Technologies competition.

Qataloog’s learning content distribution solution emerged the best from a list of 21 tech innovators from across the country that pitched their ideas/projects before captains of the Telecommunication Industries as well as key sectoral agencies of government.

While Qataloog’s innovation won N3million for emerging champion, the first runner-up, WICRYPT from Enugu state with its Wifi Hotspot Sharing solution won N2million. The second runner-up from Kano state, Phaheem Pharmaceuticals Ltd with its footfall energy resource got N1million from NCC.

The Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Qataloog, Martins Fidelis explained that Qataloog automates learning content distribution across Universities and Colleges in Africa.

“What we brought to the table is cost effectiveness of learning content purchases directly from publishers and vendors to learning content consumers including students, government organizations and corporate organizations among others. An average content costs about $85 but on our platform, same content can be gotten for less than $35. So students stand to gain cost effectiveness, convenience and access,” he said.

The NCC had as part of its move to promote innovation and creativity in the telecoms sector organised a three-day ‘Emerging Technologies Research (ETR) Innovation Competition and Exhibition’ which ended yesterday in Lagos, the hub of telecoms activities in Nigeria.

The maiden edition of the exhibition which brought together tech hubs, Captains of Telecommunications Industries as well as key sectoral agencies of government was aimed at impacting positively on the development of the telecommunications industry and supporting the growth of the nation’s economy.

According to the Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCC,  Professor Umar Garba Danbatta; the ETR Innovation competition and exhibition was organized to bring together competitors from technology hubs, with novel ideas/projects that meet the criteria required to achieve the desired purpose and to showcase their talents and innovations in ICT.

“Other objectives of the forum include: to foster business innovation and entrepreneurship, building people-to-people ties and responding to national challenges using ICT. Through this exhibition, the Commission will assist contestants to bring their ideas to fruition, find the best business innovations that have the potentials to succeed in the commercial environment and provide opportunity for them to present their plans to both local and global venture capitalists.”