Solaris, Knownow, Specxs win N30m at NCC’s talent hunt

Three companies – Solaris GreenTech Hub, Knownow Africa Limited, and Specxs Care Limited – have emerged the winners of the technology innovation talent hunt competition organised by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

The three companies, out of 81 companies that contested the competition, shared the N30 million prize equally.

According to a statement issued on Sunday by the NCC spokesperson, Reuben Muoka, nine other shortlisted companies went home with N500,000 consolation prizes each.

Solaris, whose team comprises Chiemela Anosike, Ineke Chinecherem and Onoh Chiemela, won in the Renewable Energy Solution category of the hackathon with their green energy solution that provides clean energy hubs for people in rural communities to be able to charge their phones and other mobile/electronic devices.

Knownow, with a team consisting of Abdulazeez Abiola, Dr. Mudasiru Taiwo and Dr. Oluwaseun Ojerinde, emerged winner in the Blockchain Solution category for their fraud-detection and prevention solution.

Specxs Care Limited, with team members comprising Isah Dahiru, Ameenat Bala and Musa Gambo, also lifted the trophy with their wearable devices called ‘Smart Bladder’, which can help manage urinary incontinence in elderly people and reduce the cost of their daily spending while ensuring proper personal hygiene.

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Speaking, the President of Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), Prof. Mohammed Ajiya, said the panel was painstaking in assessing all the entries, diligent in shortlisting the 12 participants, and meticulous in determining the three winners through strict compliance with the requirements stated by the NCC for the exercise.

Earlier in his keynote address at the event, the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NCC, Dr. Aminu Maida, who was represented by the Director, Research and Development, Ismail Adedigba, said the event aligned with one of the core objectives embedded within the new Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) of the Commission for 2023-2025, “which speaks to fostering the development of cutting-edge technologies through rigorous research to catalyse sustainable economic growth and overall development within Nigeria.”

He noted that this year’s event focused on three pivotal thematic areas that not only pertain to Nigeria but also resonate with global concerns.

Maida added: “The culmination of this competition is not confined to the grand prize of N10 million 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.”

The Star