NCC awards N10m each to three startups in talent hunt hackathon

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has awarded three startups with N10 million each in its 2023 talent hunt research through hackathon.

The hackathon focused on three thematic areas: blockchain-enabled data protection solutions for enhancing regulatory compliance, assistive technology solutions for the elderly and people with disabilities, and technology solutions for renewable energy in rural areas.

The winners are Solaris Greentech, which won the renewable energy thematic area; Knownow Africa Blockchain, which won the blockchain thematic area and Specxcare Limited, which went home with N10m for the assistive tech thematic area.

Nine other startups were also awarded N500,000 each for their hard work and participation.

Speaking at the event, Ubale Maska, NCC executive commissioner of technical services, said the hackathon aligns perfectly with one of the commission’s core objectives in its new strategic vision plan (SVP) for the years 2023 to 2025.

He said the NCC’s aim is to foster the development of cutting-edge technologies through rigorous research for the overall development within Nigeria.

“In a world where innovation is paramount, we often witness the remarkable potential of hackathons to showcase, fresh perspectives on existing challenges,” he said.

“These events serve as instrumental tools in sustaining innovation and mobilizing the collective intelligence of the innovators to tackle pressing real-world issues, both in the business realm and within our social fabric.

“Throughout the years, the commission has actively promoted hackathon competitions, each with a thematic focus aimed at addressing significant challenges within our industries and society as a whole.

“The culmination of this competition is not confined to the grand prize of ten million naira awarded to each winner from these three thematic areas for the development of their solutions, but goes beyond this, as the commission takes a holistic approach to support these promising innovations.

“We closely monitor the progress of these solutions as they evolve into full-fledged prototypes.”

Maska said the hackathon will be preceded by an incubation and mentorship programme, which will be designed to equip startups, innovators and tech entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to refine their ideas.

“This phase encompasses critical aspects such as determining product-market fit, navigating intellectual property challenges, and constructing robust business plans,” he said.

“Additionally, it offers us the opportunity to gauge the impact that these grants and prizes have had on the beneficiaries and the industry.

“The journey does not end here. The next stage involves the adoption of digital innovative services and products stemming from the hackathons.

“In this initiative, our commission takes the lead in sponsoring the deployment of the finalized products within select government agencies and institutions.”