The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has awarded N20 million grant to four Nigerian tech startups towards encouraging development of indigenous technologies and contents.
The four tech startups, according to the Commission’s chief information strategist, Dr. Ikechukwu Adinde, in a statement today, November 8, are: Clearflow System Hub, Aelaus Engineering Teams/Hyech Electronics Solutions, Kalibotics, and CyberNorth Tech.
The statement said that the lucky ones emerged winners of Virtual NCC Internet of Things (IoT) Code Camp and Hackathon 2021, and received N5 million each on their innovative technology solutions aimed at making life better for Nigerians.
It said that while Clearflow System Hub and Aelaus Engineering Teams/Hyech Electronics Solutions emerged winners on IoT category on kidnapping and banditry, Kalibotics and CyberNorth Tech, emerged winners on assistive robotics for effective e-waste management solutions.
It said that the grant is for the novel digital solutions of four startups, aimed at finding innovative digital solutions in addressing the challenges of insecurity and to stem the growth in national e-waste rates, while advancing the frontier of Internet of Things (IoT) in Nigeria.
The statement quoted the Commission’s Director of New Media and Information Security, Dr. Haru Al-Hassan as saying at the prize-giving ceremony, held at the Commission’s headquarters, in Abuja, that the Commission is a frontline driver of innovation in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Dr. Al-Hassan, who stood in for the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Danvatta, said that the organized event was aimed at driving the creation of problem-solving tech innovations.
Professor Danbatta said that the initiative is in line with the objectives of the Nigerian Economic Sustainability Plan (NESP) 2020, NCC’s Strategic Vision Plan (SVP) 2021-2025, Executive Order 5 of 2017, and Section 1 (f) of the Nigerian Communications Act (NCA), 2003 which focuses on promotion of Nigerian content in contracts, science, engineering and technology.
The Executive Vice Chairman said that the occasion also symbolises the NCC’s commitment to deliver objectives of pillars 4, 7 and 8 of the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) 2020-2030, and the aspirations of the Commission’s SVP 2021-2025 in promoting innovative services and maintaining effective partnership and collaborations with relevant stakeholders.
This was even as the Executive Commissioner, Technical Services, Ubale Maska, who was represented by Head, Research and Development, Kelechi Nwankwo, said that the event demonstrated the critical role that the telecommunications sector plays in addressing Nigeria’s social and environmental problems with innovative solutions. He reiterated the Commission’s commitment towards continuously supporting innovations for nation building.
He stressed the determination of the Commission towards harnessing the potentials of Nigerian youth in addressing emerging challenges through ICT, adding that the event boldly demonstrates Commission’s resolve to champion the efforts of government to leverage telecommunications-based solutions to address societal issues that need urgent attention.
Representatives of agencies in the security governance sector, telecommunications operators, National Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) that attended the event lauded the NCC for the meaningful initiative.
