Nigerian pupils produced smart compost pit at Kids Innovative Challenge

A group of Nigerian students who participated in the 2023 edition of ‘Kids Innovative Challenge‘ have showcased their creative spirits by building a smart compost pit. The challenge which was held at Radisson Blu, Victoria Island, Lagos, was hosted by The Destiny Trust Foundation and attended by tech enthusiasts.

Oluyemi Sopade and his team GTC, who took the first position, alongside numerous other teen innovators, presented their ingenious technological concepts during this event. GTC secured first place in the Challenge by designing an Arduino-based smart compost system that converts food waste into fertilizer.

The Nigerian students’ smart compost pit

A compost pit is a simple and traditional method of decomposing organic materials. It involves digging a hole or trench in the ground, typically in your garden or backyard, and then layering organic waste materials into it. These materials can include kitchen scraps (like fruit and vegetable peels), yard waste (such as grass clippings and leaves), and other biodegradable items.

The compost pit allows these materials to decompose naturally over time. Microorganisms, insects, and earthworms break down the organic matter, turning it into nutrient-rich compost. This process benefits your garden by enriching the soil with essential nutrients, improving its structure, and increasing its water retention capacity.

A smart compost pit is a modernized approach to composting that incorporates technology such as sensors, controllers, and automation. It closely monitors and enhances the composting process. Key features include sensor monitoring for parameters like temperature and moisture, real-time data transmission to controllers, automation for tasks like turning and aeration, and the convenience of remote monitoring.

These systems are important because they ensure ideal conditions and reduce manual labour. A smart compost pit represents an innovative step towards more accessible, efficient, and faster composting compared to traditional methods, contributing to sustainable waste management and gardening practices.

In the competition, seven teams of Nigerian students vied for valuable rewards, including cash prizes, brand-new laptops, access to tech-skills development courses, and a year-long mentoring program aimed at nurturing and advancing their innovations.

Read More: #38 Techbytes: The life of a tech teen in Nigeria

Meet other competitors

Baby-watch team

One of the competitors, the Baby-watch team was composed of teenagers who had developed an innovative infant monitoring device. This device enables nursing mothers to remotely monitor their babies’ activities and well-being.

The Lafiya App team

This team introduced a micro-insurance platform designed to make healthcare more affordable for children from low-income households

The Lafiya App team’s innovation stands out for its targeted focus on the vulnerable demographic. This cost-effective solution offers tailored coverage, including routine check-ups and treatments, while modern technology integration streamlines administrative processes, enhancing accessibility to essential healthcare services.

The Medset App team

This team introduced a telemedicine platform designed to facilitate direct communication between doctors and patients, effectively reducing the physical distance that might otherwise hinder timely access to healthcare services.

This user-friendly application is a powerful tool that not only connects users with medical professionals but also provides them with valuable resources, including professional medical advice, prescriptions, and accurate diagnoses. This innovative approach enhances convenience and accessibility to healthcare, ensuring that individuals can receive the care they need promptly and efficiently, regardless of their geographical location or physical limitations.

The Normastics team

The Normastics team presented an innovative platform that serves as a vital bridge between farmers and potential buyers, streamlining the entire process of agricultural trade, transportation, and logistics. This comprehensive solution addresses several critical aspects of the agricultural supply chain.

The platform optimizes transportation and logistics, ensuring that goods move from farm to market with maximum efficiency. This not only reduces transportation costs but also minimizes food wastage due to spoilage during transit.

Moreover, the Normastics platform incorporates tracking and management features, allowing users to monitor the movement and condition of their goods in real time. This transparency enhances trust and accountability in the supply chain, benefiting both farmers and buyers.

By addressing these fundamental challenges in the agricultural industry, the Normastics team’s innovation has the potential to significantly boost food security, increase the income of farmers, and improve the overall efficiency of agricultural trade in the region where it is deployed. It exemplifies the power of technology in transforming traditional industries and driving economic development.

The Cradlecare Africa

The innovation introduced by the Cradlecare Africa team is a meticulously designed record-keeping system with a specific focus on managing the medical records of children between the ages of zero to 17 in Nigeria. This system represents a significant departure from traditional record-keeping methods, offering numerous benefits that extend far beyond its immediate application.

Firstly, the system digitizes and centralizes medical records, replacing paper-based documents with efficient electronic records. This transition greatly reduces the risk of data loss or damage and ensures that crucial medical information remains accessible, organized, and secure.

Secondly, the system is tailored to the unique healthcare needs of children, providing a comprehensive repository for information related to vaccinations, check-ups, medical history, and any other relevant health-related data. This comprehensive record-keeping enhances healthcare providers’ ability to deliver timely and accurate care, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for children.

Moreover, the Cradlecare Africa system likely incorporates features for easy sharing of medical records among healthcare professionals and institutions. This seamless exchange of information can significantly expedite diagnosis and treatment, especially in emergencies, potentially saving lives.

The benefits of such a system extend beyond individual healthcare. It can support public health initiatives by providing aggregated, anonymized data that helps identify health trends, allowing policymakers to make informed decisions and allocate resources more effectively.

Furthermore, the digital nature of this record-keeping system simplifies administrative tasks for healthcare providers, reducing paperwork and allowing them to dedicate more time to patient care. This increased efficiency can result in improved healthcare services overall.

The Learnovation team

The Learnovation platform is designed to address the educational disparities faced by children in rural areas. It offers a multitude of significant benefits that extend well beyond individual learning experiences. One of its primary advantages is providing access to quality education. By granting children in rural areas access to high-quality primary education, Learnovation empowers them with knowledge and skills crucial for their future development. This opportunity has the potential to be truly transformative, breaking down barriers that previously hindered educational attainment.

Community development is fostered through Learnovation’s provision of quality education. Educated individuals often become active contributors to their communities, bringing about positive change in various aspects, such as healthcare, economic development, and social well-being.

Additionally, Learnovation sets the stage for economic opportunities by opening doors to better job prospects and economic mobility. Quality primary education is the foundation upon which children can build their future careers, enhancing their earning potential and overall economic well-being.

In today’s technology-driven world, digital literacy is crucial, and Learnovation incorporates digital tools and resources to foster this essential skill among rural children. These digital skills are valuable not only in education but also in their future careers.

There is a need for other teens to develop technological skills as being tech-savvy fosters creativity and problem-solving abilities. Moreover, innovation and tech fluency empower teens to engage in global issues, such as climate change and healthcare, by developing innovative solutions.

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