The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it will organize editions of its national Hackathon challenge in three states.
The three states are Adamawa, Oyo, and Cross River.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Mrs. Hadiza Umar, who heads the agency’s Corporate Affairs and External Relations, made this known, said the gesture was to drive digital innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NITDA Hackathon challenge is a national event held with academic institutions.
The aim is to drive digital innovation and entrepreneurship to challenge Nigerian youths to create and develop solutions from inception through commercialization.
Umar said the challenge, expected to hold this month, would be coordinated by its subsidiary, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence (NCAIR).
In Adamawa, she said the first edition would hold in Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, from Jan. 18 to Jan. 20. The second edition would be at the University of Ibadan from Jan. 25 to Jan. 27.
The third edition will hold at the University of Calabar, Cross River State, from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2.
“The hackathon is set to develop and grow a global network of IT experts, comprising Nigerian youths within the country and in the diaspora.
“It is targeted at teaching entrepreneurship spirit in academia, creating a platform where industry and public institutions will leverage the academic research ecosystem to solve national challenges using technology.
“This year, the focus is on agriculture, security, and logistics,” she said.
According to her, the challenge is open to all students, entrepreneurs, and innovators. At the same time, the successful startups’ groups in each category will receive cash prizes. They will have the opportunity to develop their idea further for commercialization with NITDA’s support.
She urged interested Nigerian youths to visit the link: https://bit.ly/32FshGF.
The NCAIR is one of NITDA’s special purpose vehicles created to promote research and development on emerging technologies and their practical application in areas of national interest.
NCAIR aims to create a thriving ecosystem for innovation-driven entrepreneurship (IDE), job creation, and national development.Â
