NITDA announces ₦5M grand prize for Innovation Challenge, calls for participation

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has launched the 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge, a competition aimed at empowering young innovators to address critical infrastructure challenges in Nigeria.

According to a statement signed by Hadiza Umar, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Relations, NITDA, the three-stage competition, which runs from September 11 to October 23, 2024, culminates in a grand finale event on October 23 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.

Participants will leverage digital tools to map key infrastructure across the country, providing valuable insights for sustainable development.

The statement noted that this challenge aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and NITDA’s mission to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, and seeks to drive economic growth and job creation.

By focusing on building a future-ready digital Nigeria, participants will create comprehensive maps of healthcare facilities, schools, roads, utilities, and public services.

The NITDA 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge unfolds in three exciting stages:

1. State Level: Competitors from all 36 states and the FCT will battle it out, with 37 teams moving to the next round.

• Regional Level: These qualifiers will represent their regions across 6 geo-political zones, with 6 regional winners emerging.

• National Level (Grand Finale): The regional champions will gather in Abuja for the ultimate showdown at the Digital Nigeria Conference.

Each of the 6 regional winners will walk away with One Million Naira (₦1 Million) while the national winner will take home the Grand Prize of Five Million Naira (₦5 Million).

Participants will create comprehensive, data-driven maps that shine a light on critical infrastructure across Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT.

Key areas of focus include:

• Public Services: Including police stations, fire stations, post offices, and government offices.
• Healthcare: Mapping hospitals, clinics, and health centres.
• Education: Identifying schools, colleges, and universities.
• Transportation: Highlighting roads, bridges, and public transit.
• Utilities: Pinpointing water supply, electricity, and waste management systems.