Digital Innovations: Nigerian Presidency honours 7 ITU-WSITS start-up winners

*Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, has directed the Nigerian Communications Commission, and two other government agencies to pick the outstanding solutions that won the awards for Nigerians, and support them to become global brands

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

For making the West African country proud at the global stage, President Muhammadu Buhari has honoured seven Nigerian start-ups that won at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and World Summit on Information Technology Society (WSITS) championships/awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

ConsumerConnect reports President Buhari presented awards of recognition and commendations to the champions Wednesday, August 10, 2022, in Abuja, FCT.

The Nigerian President, represented at the awards presentation by Prof. Isa Ali Pantami, Honourable Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, stated that the seven start-up winners had made the country proud at the global stage.

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The honours for the champions comprised awards of recognition, commendation, and cash prizes.

Behold! The Winners

The champions are Chipsbrain Nigeria, 2020, Category Seven for an e-health start-up by Mr. Oluwaseyi Akinola; Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre, 2020, Category three for  access to information and knowledge, by Maryam Abdulsalam; and Afrilingo, an ICT start-up for Indigenous Language and e-empowerment in 2020, by Franca Igwe.

Others were Association of Women in Technology in Nigeria, Category seven, 2022, ICT applications e-empowerment, by Martha Alade, and Special Needs Initiative for Growth (Africa), Career development initiative for mothers with cerebral palsy children in Nigeria, 2021, Category six,  enabling environment by Rachel Inegbedion.

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The last two categories were Top up and Get Reward Limited,  Teleconomy, 2021, Category two; ICT infrastructure by Mr. Samuel  Babatunde and Green Fresh Nigeria; Wizwish International farm, Category seven, e-business, by Mr Wisdom Ikpechukwu.

Buhari also declared that Nigeria could produce the likes of Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Mark Zuckerberg of Meta (Facebook), and Bill Gates of Microsoft Incorporated in the near future.

The Minister as well said that the Federal Government was proud of the global award winners in various categories in ICT and Digital Innovation sector, especially those who bagged the awards at a time he (Pantami) chairs the global body.

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According to the Minister, before the Nigerians won the coveted 2022 Awards, 996 applications were submitted online with 360 selected for votes, while 1.3 million people voted across the world in 193 member countries for the winners to emerge.

NCC, NITDA, Galaxy Backbone to support start-up to global brands, says Pantami

Pantami, subsequently, directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and Galaxy Backbone Limited to pick the solutions that won the international awards so as to support them to become global brands.

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The Minister also disclosed that President Buhari is currently considering the Start-ups Bill, which will be a major achievement of the administration.

Pantami said the proposed bill contains provisions that would transform the industry in terms of benefits, incentives, loans and grants.

“The Start-ups Bill, when passed into law, will become the major achievement of the digital transformation era of President Buhari because there are provisions in the Bill that will change the narratives of the sector.

“There will be a Council on Start-ups and Mr. President as the Chairman.

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“The Private sector will collaborate with government to address challenges and proffer solutions to make Nigeria produce her own Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg,”  said he.

On behalf of all the winners, Martha Alade of the Association of Women in Technology in Nigeria, applauded the present administration in the country for its passion, commitment to the growth and development of the digital economy programme.

Alade stressed that the start-up owners and winners were inspired and overwhelmed by Federal Government’s dedication to the digital transformation efforts in the economy.

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