USPF Changemaker Challenge 2018 rewards to Hackathon winners

By: Ikenna Oluka

• 3 Teams emerge winners
• 14 Teams contested
• Over 500 applications received

It is often said that the future of any economy depends on how many new businesses it can generate particularly within the small business and start-up segments.

This is the idea behind the establishment of the USPF changemaker challenge, a unique hackathon designed to solve a number of issues confronting us as a Nation. 

The 2018 USPF changemaker challenge with the theme THE FUTURE IS HERE: Disrupting Legacy Ecosystem with Technology ended on a very high note with three teams emerging as winners namely;

1st Prize Winner – N1,000,000

• Team Name: Real Media
• Product: Places and Services (placesandservices.com.ng)

Team Members:

1. Nwosu Oluebube
2. Ijaola David

2nd Prize Winner – N750,000

• Team Xavier
• Product: Beza X

Team Members:

1. Ogunranti Adebayo
2. Samson Okubanjo

3rd Prize Winner – N500,000

• Team iNeeds
• Product: iNeeds.ng

Team Members:

1. Nwosu Isochukwu
2. Mfonobong Umondia David
3. Jideofor Ochiabutor Chuka
4. Peter Cynthia

The decision was reached by a panel of judges comprising of Kolapo Solesi, Managing Partner, Abridge Consulting; Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr., Co-founder, GoDo.ng; Chioma Agwuegbo, Founder, TechHer; Adetunji Obakeye, IT Professional; Deji Olarinre, Co-founder, Hullnet, Aisha Amoka, Founder, Makifa Network and Moses Malan Faya, Technology Lawyer, all with diverse experiences that helped guide the various teams until the winners emerged. The selection was made based on a number of criteria such as marketing viability, ease of implementation, go-to-market strategy, needs analysis as well as communication skills.

According to the Secretary of the Universal Service Provision Fund, (USPF), Ayuba Shuaibu, the Innovative ICT Solutions and Entrepreneurship Development (IISED) project is one of the initiatives of the Universal Service Provision Fund which provides platform for ICT start-ups to create fully working prototypes of ICT solutions capable of deepening ICT penetration in Nigeria while creating employment for the young ICT entrepreneurs.  Over 48 hours, teams developed impactful technology driven applications by building fully working prototypes of their solutions through specific technical guidelines.

The Hackathon held from the 25^th to 27^th of January 2019 at Kanem Suites, Utako Abuja and it afforded the teams who participated from all over Nigeria the opportunity to network and connect with brilliant, software developers, UX Designers, Data Scientists, ICT Experts, Budding Entrepreneurs, Strategists, Angel Investors, Idea Funders, Public Policy Experts, Incubation Experts and Technology Enthusiasts.

The USPF Changemaker Challenge 2018 has indeed lived up to expectation and paved the way for the birthing of more business ideas, which would hopefully add value to the economy.

Source: TechEconomy.ng