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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
AfricaPlan Foundation has officially flagged off the third edition of its flagship innovation programme, Hackathon Africa 3.0, with a commitment to equip 20 selected young Nigerians with cutting-edge software development, artificial intelligence (AI) and problem-solving skills over the next four months.
The opening ceremony, held at the Hackathon Africa Innovation Hub in Enugu, brought together government officials, technology stakeholders, development partners and members of the innovation ecosystem, all of whom described the initiative as a major investment in youth development and Nigeria’s digital future.
Speaking at the event, Founder of AfricaPlan Foundation, Oni Chukwu, said the participants had earned their places through resilience, determination and a rigorous selection process that began with thousands of applications.
Expressing excitement over the commencement of the programme, Chukwu said the foundation had continued to improve the initiative by learning from previous editions.
“I am really proud and it is a pleasure for me. It is a great moment for me and for all of us because we had spent time with the previous cohorts refining what we hardly experienced.
“We started with an application of over a thousand persons, but you are the ones that were selected. You earned the right to be here and that is extremely important. You have to be proud of yourselves. It is not by luck. It is your character, your perseverance and your persistence. I spoke to each and every one of you to get here. What brought you here is how committed you are to push through,” he said.
Reflecting on his own journey, Chukwu said he understood the challenges facing talented young people in Nigeria because he once faced similar circumstances while growing up in Enugu.
“I stand here as someone whose journey began just as yours is beginning. I grew up in Enugu like most of you and I know first-hand what it means to have ambition that is greater than the opportunities available to you. You are ambitious enough but you do not have the opportunity to actualise that ambition. That was how I grew up,” Chukwu said.
