Renowned US TEDx Speaker and Founder of Boatly, Kate Hancock, will be the keynote speaker at the Innovation Makers Challenge (IMC) 2023 Conference, as announced by the Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) during the official launch of the IMC held recently in Ikoyi, Lagos, Nigeria.
IMC is an initiative of TTSWG that aims to promote sustainable innovations in the technology and telecommunications sectors of Nigeria by showcasing and rewarding emerging talents in these fields and providing a platform to scale up their solutions.
The IMC Conference will be hosted at the Eko Convention Center on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. It will facilitate transformative discussions about the future of technology and telecommunications in Africa while highlighting emerging innovations in Nigeria. The event will feature a diverse lineup of industry leaders, including Oluwole Asalu, CEO and Founder of Quomodo Systems Africa; Lanre Bamisebi, Executive Director of Access Corporation; Chuks Ekwueme, Chairman of UNICCON Group, and more.
Prior to the conference, there will be an Innovators Challenge where individuals aged 18 to 35 from across Nigeria can participate by pitching their sustainable innovations. Successful finalists will present their ideas to a panel of judges who will select the winners at the Grand Finale Conference and Exhibition on November 9, 2023. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of ₦2,000,000, ₦1,000,000, and ₦500,000, respectively.
In addition to the cash prizes, participants have the opportunity to benefit from world-class expert training and mentorship through the Innovation Bootcamp, pitch to investors, network with established tech professionals, and showcase their innovations for free at the IMC Conference 2023.
Chris Uwaje, Mobile Software Solutions CEO and Board Member of the Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG), emphasized the significance of the IMC, stating, “The world is moving so fast, but Nigeria is being left behind. Discovering talent is a crucial strategic tool for competing as a great nation. We cannot reap the benefits unless we overcome the challenges within the realm of technology. Through the IMC, TTSWG aims to identify disruptive ideas, discover and nurture emerging talents that can disrupt the existing system and lead the country into the future.”
Bankole Oloruntoba, Chief Executive Officer of NCIC, also praised the IMC and stressed the importance of establishing a dedicated funding pool to support emerging innovative ideas. “We are supporting these young individuals from their current stage to gain global recognition and address tangible and functional challenges related to sustainability and other environmental issues facing the telecom sector,” he added.
Interested and qualified parties can submit their applications through the official website: www.ttswg-imc.com/apply. The application window remains open until October 16, 2023. The Innovation Makers Challenge 2023 is proudly sponsored by IHS Towers and supported by various partners.
The IMC launch event was attended by notable figures including John Isiekwene, Sustainability Manager at IHS Towers; Chris Uwaje, CEO of Mobile Software Solutions and Board Member of TTSWG; Adedoyin Segun-Noibi, General Manager of Quomodo Systems Africa; Bankole Oloruntoba, CEO of Nigeria Climate Innovation Center (NCIC); Faderera Segun, Program and Partnership Manager at Arnergy Solar; Precious Francis, Communications and Knowledge Officer at NCIC; and Gbolahan Awonuga, Executive Secretary of ALTON.
