WSIS 2022: FG Lauds Nigerian Champions Tasks NITDA, NCC, Galaxy To Support Their Innovation

Minister of Communications and Digital Economy and Chairman of WSIS 2022, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami made this known in Abuja during the awards presentation ceremony of WSIS Champions for 2020, 2021 and 2022.

He said; ” I want to use this opportunity on behalf of federal government of Nigeria to direct NITDA, Galaxy Backbone and NCC to look at your solutions and identify where you need support so that the solution will not just remain as a startup, but we want to build the solution here to become the tech giant at least in the next few years. This is our ambition”, he said.

The Minister stated he is hopeful after the three institutions of government have had sessions with the WSIS champions, saying that they will have their performances reviewed and support rendered where necessary so that the solutions will go beyond where they are presently to meet global standard and benefit.

The WSIS event, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland had technical sessions where youths around the world were challenged to submit their projects covering e-health, e-agriculture, e-education among other fields.

Prof Pantami noted that the heads of the technical session presented their results to him in Geneva and that he was glad some of our young innovators emerged as the global winners and champions.

The winner for the WSIS 2022 Hackathon is Afrilingo by Franca Umasoye Igwe while the other six champions were, Association of Women in Technology in Nigeria by Martha Alade (2022); Initiative for Mothers with Cerebal Palsy Children in Nigeria by Rachael Inegbedion (2021); Top Up and Get Reward Limited by Samuel Babatunde (2021); Wizwish International Farm by Wisdom Ikpechukwu (2020); Chipsnbrain by Oluwaseyi Akinolu (2020); and Makerspace Project by Oreoluwa Lesi (2020).

According to Prof. Pantami because there wasn’t any formal sessions for 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19, the winners and champions for the aforementioned years were presented their awards during WSIS 2022.

The Minister informed that the Federal Government through the ministry and office of the Chief of Staff to President worked on the Nigerian startup bill which has already been passed by both arms of the  National Assembly, ” adding that in the next few days Mr President will sign the bill and it will become a law”.

He stated that when the startup bill is eventually signed into law, it will be among the major achievements of not only this administration but throughout the history of the Digital Economy and ICT in Nigeria.

“In that bill, there are provisions of so many benefits for our young innovators and startups, like pioneer status, grants, incentives, loans and also the law when approved will establish a presidential council where Mr President will chair the council and he will be supported by the Vice President and the Minister in-charge of the Digital Economy will be the vice-chair, where the government, private sector and young innovators will come together; look into their challenges and Mr President will give directives there and then for the sector to continue to be very successful”, Prof Pantami.

The CEO, Afrilingo, Franca Umasoye Igwe thanked the Minister and Federal Government of Nigeria for the recognition, while one of the WSIS champion Mrs. Martha Alade, Chief Executive Officer of Women in Technology in Nigeria appreciated the Minister’s effort to personally present their awards to them and not have them couriered which she said shows how passionate Prof Pantami is about startup and the ICT ecosystem in general.

WSIS is the largest ICT event where development of the sector is put in the front burner. All the 193 United Nation countries are members.