By IJEOMA OLORUNFEMI

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) says it has launched the 2024 Digital Nigeria Innovation Challenge competition, aimed at addressing infrastructural challenges in the country.

Mrs Hadiza Umar, Director, Corporate Affairs and External Relations of NITDA, said this in a statement personally issued in Abuja on Thursday.

Umar said the competition tagged ?Mapping Nigeria?s Future-Infrastructure for Development? began on Sept. 11 and would end on Oct. 23.

She also said the pitching of the challenge would be at the 2024 Digital Nigeria International Conference and Exhibition, expected to hold from Oct. 22 to 24.

?The 2024 Innovation Challenge is set to empower the next wave of Nigeria?s brightest innovators.

?It?s more than just a competition, it?s an opportunity to leverage technology and creative problem-solving to tackle the pressing infrastructure challenges facing the nation.

?This initiative plays a pivotal role in achieving the core objectives of President Bola Tinubu?s Renewed Hope Agenda, driving economic growth and fostering job creation.

?Aligned with NITDA?s mission to promote innovation and entrepreneurship, the challenge supports Nigeria?s leap towards a thriving digital economy under the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy?s Strategic Blueprint,? she said.

According to her, with a focus on building a future-ready digital Nigeria, participants will collaborate in teams, using digital tools and techniques to digitally map key infrastructure across Nigeria.

She added that the maps would highlight essential facilities like hospitals, schools, roads, and utilities and provide insights needed to drive sustainable development across the country.

?Through this initiative, we intend to engage participants in real-world data collection and digital mapping.

?The challenge will showcase critical infrastructure needs and opportunities in Nigeria, foster community engagement among diverse groups of participants.

?It will enhance skills in Geographical Information Systems, data science, and storytelling among the youth and professionals.?

The director added that the challenge would be in three stages, which included the state, regional and national levels.

According to her, competitors from all 36 states and the FCT will battle it out, with 37 teams moving to the next round.

?These qualifiers will represent their regions across six geo-political zones, with six regional winners emerging.

?The regional champions will gather in Abuja for the ultimate showdown at the digital Nigeria conference.

?Each of the six regional winners will walk away with N1 million, while the national winner will take home the grand prize of N5 million,? she said.

Umar reassured that NITDA continued to shape Nigeria?s IT landscape with innovative policies and standards that would create digital jobs, foster entrepreneurship and nurture the next generation of tech talent. (NAN)

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