Facebook wants Nigerian students to build new solutions

Social media giant, Facebook has beckoned on Nigerian varsity students to build and develop technology solutions that can help the country move forward.

Facebook used its university wide roadshow, which was part of its ongoing commitment and investment in growing the tech ecosystem, and driving innovation across Nigeria, to call on the students to come up with innovative solutions.

The American technology company, which just opened its new NG_Hub space in Lagos, disclosed that the new FB Start Accelerator programme, a deep-tech focused research and mentorship-driven initiative, will be the focus of its roadshow.

Aimed at educating and attracting students to build solutions that utilise advanced technologies to solve problems and build solutions for the future using Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Internet of Things, Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) – the university tour will look to demystify myths surrounding “deep-tech” and promote the benefits.

Besides, it aimed at empowering start-ups and students with technical & business support, and funding to optimize their products for growth, the deep-tech focused accelerator programme will provide up to $20,000 in equity-free funding and support to innovative startups and student-teams.

As part of its University tour, Facebook will be visiting 13 cities across Nigeria in 30 days, with the team already completing events at University of Lagos (Lagos State), University of Port-Harcourt (Rivers State), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Anambra State) and University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu State). Other tour dates include: Oyo state, University of Ibadan, June 11; Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, June 12; Osun state, Obafemi Awolowo University, June 13; Ondo state, Federal University of Technology, Akure, June 14; Akwa Ibom state, University of Uyo, June 19; Plateau state, University of Jos, June 21; Kaduna state, Colab, Kaduna, June 25; Abuja, University of Abuja, June 26 and Kano state, Bayero University, June 27.

The FB Start Accelerator programme is part of trainings and longer-term impact programmes designed to train and support over 50,000 students, small businesses and creative entrepreneurs across the country in 2018. The trainings will also be conducted with partner hubs across the country including in Abuja (Ventures Platform), Jos (nHub), Kaduna (Colab Hub), Kano (DI Hub), Uyo (Start Innovation Hub), Enugu (Roar Hub) and Port Harcourt (Ken Saro Wiwa Hub).