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The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has expressed its continuous commitment to Nigeria’s startup ecosystem and said that young people must continue to push ahead with innovations to address the country’s numerous challenges.
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Executive Vice Chairman of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, in his keynote address in Osogbo city at the recent Osun Hackathon Competition and Demo Day 2023 with the theme: ‘Unboxing Innovation’ said young people are at the forefront of innovations and Nigeria’s economic recovery plan. He added that they, therefore, constitute a point of strong institutional backing by the NCC and underscores the commission’s support for the event in the capital city of Osun State.
According to Maida, the NCC sees the sustainability of the entire ICT industry in the ability of Nigeria to build capacity in its young people thus its continuous support for the startup ecosystem. A senior official, Mr. O. Adedipe, represented the country’s chief telecom regulator from its Ibadan Zonal Office.
In addition, former President of Opay, Mr. Olu Akanmu, tasked the startup ecosystem to focus on solutions able to alter their immediate environment for good while also meeting the needs of the global arena. He said that technology and innovation are constantly changing to reflect the dynamics of a society that is not static.
Chairman of Osun Startup Hub Advisory Board, who is also Chairman, Youth Advisory Council to the Osun State Government, Mr. Kunle Ademola~Sadipe, said growing innovation with building capacity among communities of young people is the responsibility of all stakeholders whether in government or in the private sector. CEO of Qitech Technologies Limited, Olusegun Oruame, agreed. He stressed that the future of the ecosystem is in collaboration.
The grand finale of the three-day event was the Demo Day 2023 pitch competition preceded by the official unveiling of ‘3080 Eats,‘ a new startup in Osun focusing on food delivery within Osogbo and its environs.
Three groups emerged winners out of ten different groups whose pitches were scrutinized by the judges. The winners went home with N200, 000 cash-support.
WINNER – 100,000NGN
Group 7
- Adesina Marvelous
- Kehinde Olamide
- Samuel Ibiyemi
1ST RUNNER UP – 60,000NGN
Group 9
- Raji Roqeeb
- Otunla Oluwatimilehin Isaac
- Oladimeji Sherrif
2ND RUNNER UP – 40,000NGN
Group 4
- Ajibade Quwiyu
- Olawuyi Oluwatimileyin
- Kazeem Kaosarat
While commending the winners, Team Lead, Osun Hub, Tokode Abiodun Theophilous, tasked them on sharpening their pitching skills and improving their solutions to become better go-to market products. The hub will be supporting the company registration for five participating teams and will be closely following up with all the teams that took part in the competition, added Theophilous.
