The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), through its subsidiary Office for Nigerian Digital Innovation (ONDI), has unveiled the 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge. The competition, themed “Mapping Nigeria’s Future – Infrastructure for Development,” will run from September 11 to October 23, 2024, with the final pitch event scheduled for October 23 at the International Conference Centre in Abuja.
Mrs. Hadiza Umar, Director of Corporate Affairs and External Relations at NITDA, highlighted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by fostering economic growth and job creation. She emphasized that the challenge supports NITDA’s mission to drive innovation and entrepreneurship, contributing to Nigeria’s digital economy under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy’s strategic blueprint.
“The 2024 Innovation Challenge is set to empower the next wave of Nigeria’s brightest innovators. It’s more than just a competition; it’s an opportunity to leverage technology and creative problem-solving to tackle the nation’s pressing infrastructure challenges. With a focus on building a future-ready digital Nigeria, participants will collaborate in teams, using digital tools and techniques to digitally map key infrastructure across Nigeria.”
The challenge unfolds in three stages:
- State Level: Competitors from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) will compete, with 37 teams advancing to the next round.
- Regional Level: The advancing teams will represent their regions across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, with six regional winners selected.
- National Level (Grand Finale): The regional champions will compete in Abuja for the final showdown at the Digital Nigeria Conference.
Each of the six regional winners will receive One Million Naira (₦1 Million), while the national winner will be awarded the Grand Prize of Five Million Naira (₦5 Million).
The challenge focuses on creating comprehensive, data-driven maps that highlight critical infrastructure across Nigeria, including:
- 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.
- Public Services: Including police stations, fire stations, post offices, and government offices.
NITDA’s spokesperson noted that the challenge aims to engage participants in real-world data collection and digital mapping. It will also showcase critical infrastructure needs and opportunities in Nigeria, while also fostering community engagement and enhance skills in Geographical Information Systems (GIS), data science, and storytelling.