NASENI challenges young Nigerian innovators to develop local tech solutions

This call was made by NASENI's Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Khalil Halilu, as 60 young innovators began live pitch sessions during FutureMakers Week. These innovators progressed from developing prototypes in a four-day hackathon to presenting their solutions publicly. Halilu emphasized that the pitch sessions would assess the innovators' ability to defend practical solutions for challenges in their communities.

The 60 innovators were selected from a virtual regional hackathon held from August 17 to 20, representing Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. The live pitch sessions, which started on Monday and continue until Thursday, August 27, are streamed across various social media platforms. NASENI announced that the program would reward innovators across the six geopolitical zones with cash prizes: 1.5 million naira for first place, 1 million naira for second, and 500,000 naira for third.

The six zonal winners will advance to the NASENI Invention Fest to compete for a 5 million naira grand prize. The overall winner will also receive a fully funded international study tour and scholarships to two leading Nigerian universities. Halilu stated that the FutureMakers program aims to provide a platform for young Nigerians to demonstrate practical, local responses to community challeng