The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has opened entry for adaptable digital solutions for addressing the impacts of pandemic and epidemic prone-diseases from technology hubs, startups and innovation digital SMEs in Nigeria.
The commission, aside from being the regulator of the country’s telecommunications industry, also supports amongst other things, the development of innovative services and life-changing solutions, leveraging on Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) to promote indigenous content development, economic growth and social advancement in Nigeria.
“Pursuant to this objective, the commission invites entries from tech hubs, startups and innovation digital SMEs with promising and adaptable digital solutions that will aid in containing the impacts of pandemic and epidemic-prone diseases in Nigeria to a virtual Hackathon.
“The top three startups with the most promising digital Solutions will receive a grant of N3, 000,000.00 (Three Million Naira) each from the commission to aid the development and deployment of these solutions in Nigeria,” the NCC said on Tuesday.
According to the commission, interested applicants will need to have solutions that address issues in the under fields of interest including:
Health: finding ways to empower Healthcare workers on the front lines and bring support to individuals isolated at home. It should also include solutions to prevent, trace and contain the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
Community: help with digital communications that will aid the sustenance of economic activities and people to people communication while encouraging social distancing.
Productivity: Enhance productivity of people working from home during this Lockdown and beyond.
Education: Easy to Deploy, accessible and cost effective eLearning Solutions for Public Schools.
Transportation: Improve safety in public transportation facilities in Nigeria.
According to the NCC, criteria for evaluation of the proposed digital solutions include adherence of proposal to stated requirements, novelty, clear problem statement and explanation of the proposed solution.
Other measure of acceptance for the solution are that each solution including prototype development must be concluded within two months of receipt of the grant and proof of concept, that is, feasibility of idea with diagram, algorithm, among others.
NCC explained that submissions of proposal will undergo preliminary assessment.
It said: “The proposals that are adjudged most promising and capable of positively impacting the fight against COVID-19 may be invited for defense of the proposals before a decision is taken on winners.
“Interested tech hubs, startups and innovation digital SMEs are invited to submit soft copies (email to yikabir@ncc.gov.ng; fbruce@ncc.gov.ng; chimezie@ncc.gov.ng) on or before 5pm, Monday 17th July, 2020.
“Please note that all emails should indicate ‘Digital Solutions for Covid-19’ in the subject field. Any proposal submitted after the deadline will be rejected automatically.”
