To build a future-ready digital Nigeria and promote innovation and entrepreneurship, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through the Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has launched the 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge.
This initiative aims to address the country’s infrastructure challenges.
In a statement signed by NITDA’s director of corporate affairs and external relations, Mrs. Hadiza Umar it was disclosed that the three-stage competition will run from September 11 to October 23, 2024, under the theme: “Mapping Nigeria’s Future – Infrastructure for Development.”
Through ONDI, NITDA is creating opportunities for digital job creation, entrepreneurship and innovation by nurturing the next generation of tech talent.
The statement emphasised that the 2024 Innovation Challenge is designed to empower Nigeria’s brightest innovators. More than just a competition, it provides an opportunity to leverage technology and creative problem-solving to address the country’s pressing infrastructure issues.
This initiative plays a crucial role in advancing the core objectives of President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda, driving economic growth, and fostering job creation.
Aligned with NITDA’s mission to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, the challenge supports Nigeria’s progress toward a thriving digital economy as outlined in the Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy’s strategic blueprint.
Participants will collaborate in teams, utilising digital tools to map key infrastructure across Nigeria. These digital maps will highlight essential facilities like hospitals, schools, roads, and utilities, providing critical insights to drive sustainable development nationwide.
Structure of the 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge
The competition will unfold in three stages:
1. State Level: Competitors from all 36 states and the FCT will compete, with 37 teams advancing to the next round.
2. Regional Level: The qualifiers will represent their regions across the six geopolitical zones, with six regional winners emerging.
3. National Level (grand finale): The regional champions will gather in Abuja for the grand finale at the Digital Nigeria Conference.
Each of the six regional winners will receive ₦1 million, while the national winner will take home the grand prize of ₦5 million.
Focus Areas of the Challenge
Participants will create comprehensive, data-driven maps that illuminate critical infrastructure in Nigeria’s 36 states and the FCT. The key areas of focus include:
– Healthcare: Mapping hospitals, clinics, and health centers.
– Education: Identifying schools, colleges and universities.
– Transportation: Highlighting roads, bridges and public transit systems.
– Utilities: Pinpointing water supply, electricity and waste management systems.
– Public Services: Including police stations, fire stations, post offices and government offices.
Objectives of the Initiative
– Engage participants in real-world data collection and digital mapping.
– Highlight critical infrastructure needs and opportunities across Nigeria.
– Foster community engagement among diverse groups of participants.
– Enhance skills in geographical information systems (GIS), data science and storytelling, particularly among youth and professionals.
This challenge is not only about competition but about building Nigeria’s future today. Through their work, participants will help spotlight the nation’s infrastructure needs and opportunities, making a significant contribution to sustainable development.
