Team Nigeria wins 2015 global technovation challenge

NIGERIA has emerged winner in Technovation Challenge world pitch held at San Francisco, USA.

The winning team comprised four tech savvy young girls, including Praise David-Oku, Sonam Kumar, Nmesoma Ogbonna, and Grace Akpoiroro. They collectively developed a mobile app to tackle waste disposal challenge in Nigeria. They pitched their app called, ‘Discardious’.

Founder of Women In Technology In Nigeria (WITIN) and Coordinator of the program in Nigeria, Mrs. Martha Alade, enthused that this years’ team was exceptional and have done Nigeria proud.

Alade said their solution solved a major problem in Nigeria. “This is the first time a Nigerian team would come first globally in Technovation World Pitch,” she stated.

Grace Ihejiamaizu, an International Exchange Alumni and founder of iKapture Networks, who mentored the winning team said they faced a lot of challenges on their way to success but overcame.

64 countries participated in the competition with 380 apps submitted, 10 teams from all over the world were given the opportunity to explain their project in form of a pitch and tell their app story in a creative way. The girls also attended life-changing workshops including a networking session.

One of the team members, Praise David-Oku, who spoke for the team, said the competition has totally changed their views of technology. “It has given our team a platform to use technology to solve problems in our community. It has also motivated us to think outside the box. It has boosted my self-confidence and helped me build new relationships and networking skills. I have met new people from different parts of the world and shared ideas. It has also made me realize that I am not too young to start achieving my goals.”

Sonam, one of the team members said: “It was wonderful, tough and very competitive. It was challenging for us, as we met and listened to people from different parts of the world tell their stories and share their powerful ideas.