The 2017 Space Apps Hackathon which was held simultaneously in about 192 cities all over the world is a unique platform that connected Nigeria and Africa, in a new way, to the most cutting-edge technologies and economic drivers of the future.
During the capacity building event that showcased tools such, MakerBot 3D-Printers from IVENConsult, the West African partners of Stratasys, as well as headsets from Nigeria’s first virtual reality solutions provider, no fewer than ten teams made up of five members each contested.
The participating teams each chose a NASA Space challenge to solve, competing over three days, to finally showcase their solution to a bevy of judges, after which three teams were selected for global judging at NASA.
Later this year, the winning teams, if selected, are expected to join other talented tech wiz kids in Florida, United States of America, to view a Space X Rocket launch.
Top international and local sponsors, including the African Technology Foundation, Maliyo Games, NuConti, the ForLoop Foundation, TechCity and the Switch Academy, support the event.
Stephen Ozoigbo, of African Technology Foundation, an organisation based in Silicon Valley, said of the event “Africa’s economic growth is firmly rooted in its ability to accelerate new innovation and collaboration platforms that build its capacity to participate on the global stage. ATF is invested in fostering these platforms.”
Speaking to Technology Journalists, Oluseye Soyode-Johnson, an Innovation and Business Development expert at Ericsson Nigeria, and the event’s organiser, said that Nigeria’s space ecosystem is mature enough for global participation.
According to him, “We need to have a new way of thinking towards space innovation using bottom-up innovation. This means bringing together talent, space organisations and the tech ecosystem itself, to foster community-led innovation around new technologies.
“New technologies such as 3D-Printing, AI and virtual reality are billions of dollars’ worth of future global economic growth, that Africa will miss out on, if we don’t start applying them to solve our local problems. Instead Africa perpetually plays the ‘waiting game’.
This is an unprecedented time to be part of the global space challenge, pushing boundaries and setting a path for future generations. But we need access to tools, knowledge and mentorship to solve these problems,” Soyode Johnson said.
He added that; “our goal is for Africa and Nigerians to begin to own our part in global Space Innovation, dreaming up and building amazing solutions that matter to the lives of a billion Africans, while empowering the youth with the creative spark for the next big ideas in the Knowledge Economy.”
Also speaking, Judith Okonkwo, Founding Director of Imisi3D, – a ‘tools partner’ for the event – who provided cutting-edge VR headsets and PC machines, said that the lab is dedicated to growing a community of virtual reality developers in Nigeria, creating solutions using VR, and providing educational and engagement experiences with VR.
According to her, “We see huge potential for VR as a tool, for creating everyday solutions and intend to change the technology narrative so that we become creators and not just consumers of technology”.
The Space Apps Lagos winners and outcomes will become part of accelerator initiatives in the coming year, to ensure the ideas are well evolved towards future commercialisation opportunities, and the young participants are empowered to build a new future for Africa.
FRANK ELEANYA
