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By Temitope Aina
The Telecommunication and Technology Sustainability Working Group (TTSWG) has expanded the scope of its Innovation Makers Challenge (IMC) Conference and Innovation Exhibition to five critical sectors, as stakeholders in Nigeria’s technology and telecommunications ecosystem called for stronger support for sustainable innovation.
The sectors are health, agriculture, education, climate change and technology.
This was disclosed at the second edition of the IMC Conference and Innovation Exhibition 2.0, sponsored by IHS Nigeria and held in Lagos with the theme, “Nurturing Innovation Ecosystems: Beyond Ideas to Real Impact.”
The conference brought together policymakers, technology and telecommunications executives, investors, development partners, financial institutions, young innovators and other stakeholders to discuss ways of strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
The second edition expanded on the inaugural conference, which focused on two sectors.
A major highlight of the event was a live pitch competition involving five all-female early-stage innovators: QiqiFarms, Elcornel Business Enterprises Limited, Anatsor Limited, Agrovesto and Blue Sands STEM Labs.
The three winners received a combined N9.5 million in seed funding.
Agrovesto emerged as the overall winner and received N6 million, while Blue Sands STEM Labs and QiqiFarms received N2 million and N1 million respectively as first and second runners-up.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Vice President and Chief Corporate Services Officer of IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla, said the initiative was designed to help young innovators move beyond ideas and develop solutions capable of addressing real-life challenges.
Otunla said access to education and relevant knowledge was critical to building stronger businesses and creating employment opportunities.
“As a company, we believe education is one of the most powerful forms of economic empowerment available to us. When entrepreneurs are equipped with the right knowledge, they build stronger businesses,” he said.
He added that the Innovation Makers Challenge was aimed at bridging the gap between infrastructure and imagination, as well as between connectivity and capability.
Also speaking, Lead Consultant at the TTSWG Secretariat, Bankole Oloruntoba, said the expansion of the conference from two to five sectors reflected the need for a broader approach to sustainability.
Oloruntoba said technology alone could not guarantee sustainability, stressing the need to integrate other critical areas of development.
“We know the sector cannot attain sustainability with just technology alone; we also have to bring in other essential components or a wide range of activities,” he said.
According to him, the IMC was also designed to provide young innovators with opportunities to connect, develop their ideas and inspire a new generation of entrepreneurs.
Other activities at the conference included product exhibitions, panel discussions, a fireside chat and networking sessions aimed at connecting innovators with investors and industry leaders.
Oloruntoba commended the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), IHS Nigeria and other partners, including MTN, Airtel, Co-Creation Hub, Hydrogen, Lagos Business School Sustainability Centre and Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre (NCIC), for supporting the initiative.
