Three tech start-ups, KlasConnect, SmartClinic and Elizade University Team have won the first Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) COVID-19 Virtual Hackathon Challenge held today. Each of the firms went home with a sum of N3 million in solution research grants after emerging the top three winners out of 56 startup finalists that participated in the event.
KlasConnect is an edtech startup that provides academic institutions with an online gateway which enables students to learn remotely and execute tasks such as course registration, receiving real-time lectures and submitting assignments.
SmartClinic is a healthtech startup which plans to provide medical technologies through its upgraded Electronic Medical Records (EMR) solutions for hospitals and its already designed SmartClinic Patient Mobile App. The company integrated the COVID-19 self-assessment feature which allows individuals to run basic tests and consult with doctors.
The Elizade University Team completed the final three and offers a device that traces and monitors potentially infected people via temperature tests which may or may not require a means of identification.
The event was attended by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of the Nigerian Communications Commission, Prof Umar Garba Danbatta, the Director, Research and Development, NCC, Dr Henry Nkemadu, the Chairman, Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Engr. Gbenga Adebayo and other dignitaries.
Speaking on the award in his keynote address, Pantami stated, “My advice to the three winners is to tell you that when you come up with your startup you need mentorship.”
“We need to work hard on how to mentor our startups. It goes beyond awarding a prize to them,” he continued.
The Minister implored the startups to work very hard and further explained that the success of any startup relies on three things: Willingness to invent and innovate, long term thinking and customer impression.
In his speech Dr. Henry Nkemadu, Director, Research and Development, NCC said: In our clime, the need to harness the potentials of these technologies to address our societal challenges and meet our unique needs becomes very important. It is also a national aspiration to spice some of these technologies with local content as a way of improving availability of local manpower, and advancing ICT skills,” he added.
He further reiterated the NCC’s commitment to the promotion of Nigeria’s digital economy, citing the establishment of the Department of Digital economy in the Commission.
