Whereas the Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF), an arm of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), recently in Lagos began the 2017 edition of Changemaker Challenge to select best technology innovators, industry pundits have decried poor performance of previous participants in the multimillion naira contest.
The lost in radar of former participants, according to observers, tends to place question mark on the impacts of the programme and activities of the USPF over the years.
In an interview, a software analyst, Seun Adeola expressed worry on how the event is yearly organized without any form of trackback to find out how previous winner are faring in order to make sure that government money is not wasted in the yearly challenge.
“We have been hearing of this ‘Changemaker Challenge’ by USPF every year, but we are not made to see or know how previous winners are doing after winning fortunes. Time has come for the promoters of the challenge to at least, present to Nigerians those who have worn it over the years so that new winners this year will be truly challenged,” Adeola argued.
According to the Principal Manager, Strategy and Corporate Performance Monitoring for USPF, Joke Atte, “USPF is challenging Nigerian youth to engage their ingenuity to solve relevant problems and bring about change through creativity and innovation”.
She noted that “The aim is to tackle a selection of identified problems based on the sustainable development goals (SDG) as they apply to Nigeria and offer working solutions to them.”
Innovators, software developers, UX designers, students, and other ICT enthusiasts across Nigeria are gunning for the prizes.
According to USPF guidelines, the entry is open to teams – minimum of two and maximum of four members.
“Teams with female members will have definite added advantage as USPF seeks to encourage more gender diversity in technology innovation,” the statement read.
“Thirty teams will be shortlisted (consisting of the top five entries from each geopolitical zone). They will be invited for the national finals.”
Business Hilights recalls that registration for the challenge opened on July 4 and closed on August 14 this year.
Key areas to be covered in the challenge include Agriculture and Creation of Mass Employment in the production, storage or distribution of food; Environment; Oil & Gas, Flood, Erosion/Climate ChangeNational e-data on Poverty, Disease, Security; National e-data on Poverty, Disease, Security Health/Lifestyle: Medical Doctors Information Exchange Tool; Health Insurance etc
Epidemic Mobility Tracking Solutions: e.g. Ebola, Lassa feverDisease Destroyer Games: Educational games on disease eradication e.g. Malaria, Polio, and HIV
Disease Destroyer Games: Educational games on disease eradication e.g. Malaria, Polio, and HIV Education: Virtual Education, E-Library & E-Learning Systems
Education: Virtual Education, E-Library & E-Learning Systems Intelligent Technologies for Scientists, Science Teachers, Engineers, etc
Intelligent Technologies for Scientists, Science Teachers, Engineers, etc.
Girls4Tech: Interactive solutions aimed at getting young girls interested technology and innovation
Girls4Tech: Interactive solutions aimed at getting young girls interested technology and innovation Fraud whistle-Blowers: Enabling or assistive technology
Fraud whistle-Blowers: Enabling or assistive technology Information Technology: Communications Quality of Service.
Information Technology: Communications Quality of Service. National Security: Cybercrime and Cyber security Solutions, etc.
National Security: Cybercrime and Cyber security Solutions, etc. E-Government: Government Automation Processes.
E-Government: Government Automation Processes. E-Commerce: e-Transactions, Payment Systems, etc.
E-Commerce: e-Transactions, Payment Systems, etc.
