Winners of COVID-19 hackathon get NCC’s N9m grant

The three tech start-ups, who emerged winners in the COVID-19 solution hackathon, have been rewarded with N3million each by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).

Primed E-Health, which came up with SmartClinic solution, Cyberfleet with its innovation called KlasConnect and Elizade University Team with their Automated Temperature Scanner with Contact Tracing Capability, were all rewarded for their tech solutions developed to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on Nigerians.

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Speaking during the ceremony in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, said the reward encourage more innovation-driven enterprise and Micro Small and Medium Enterprises to come up solutions that could develop Nigeria’s economy.

“We are all aware that innovation is a key driver to the fast growth of the global ICT industry, which in turn drives today’s global economy.

“The importance of ICT innovation accentuating solutions in the health sector, especially at this time of a global pandemic is becoming evident,’’ Pantami said.

He said digital solutions might become the difference in making the health sector smarter in addressing the problems of the current pandemic.

In his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, said the Hackathon threw up innovative and adaptable solutions that would address the present and future impacts of pandemics and epidemic diseases in Nigeria.

He reiterated NCC’s commitment to the promotion of the Nigeria’s digital economy by coming up with more innovative ideas to further develop the country’s economy.

The NCC’s Director of Research Department, Dr Henry Nkemadu, said 298 start-ups entered the hackathon while only 56 qualified for the final. The three winners were chosen from the 56 finalists, he said.