On Thursday, the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) presented N10 million to each of three technology startup companies located in Abuja.
These three firms emerged as winners in different categories of the NCC 2023 talent hunt research via a hackathon, where a total of 12 tech startups were shortlisted, with four in each category.
The categories included assistive technology solutions for the elderly and people with disabilities, blockchain-based data protection solutions for regulatory compliance enhancement, and technology solutions for renewable energy in rural areas.
Knownow Africa Limited secured the top position in the blockchain-themed category, Solaris GreenTech claimed the first place in renewable energy solutions, and Specx Care Limited emerged as the leader in the assistive technology category.
Other startups in each category that made the shortlist received a compensation of N500,000 each.
During the hackathon’s closing ceremony in Abuja, the NCC’s Executive Commissioner of Technical Services, Ubale Maska, announced that the Commission would implement a comprehensive strategy to support these innovations beyond just financial assistance.
They would closely monitor the progress of these startups as they evolve into fully functional prototypes.
Maska, represented by Mr. Ismail Adedigba, the Director of the Research and Development Department, emphasized the importance of an incubation and mentorship program designed to equip startups, innovators, and tech entrepreneurs with the necessary skills to refine their ideas.
This phase would cover critical aspects such as determining product-market fit, handling intellectual property challenges, and constructing robust business plans.
Additionally, it would provide an opportunity to assess the impact of these grants and prizes on the recipients and the industry.
It is noteworthy that the NCC had successfully implemented all three winning solutions from the 2020 Hackathon.
