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Four junior secondary school students in Nigeria who have created a mobile app that could revolutionise agriculture globally are preparing to showcase their disruptive innovation at this year’s Conrad Challenge Annual Innovation Summit in Florida, USA.
The young achievers from Whitesands School Lagos, created a VirtualFarm application which helps farmers manage their farm and connect with their target markets. With its innovation, the team entered the Conrad Challenge, which encourages high school students to develop cutting-edge solutions to real-world problems in the areas of aviation, cyber technology, environment and health, amongst others.
Aged between 12 and 14, Mordi Menashi, Gbemi Famobiwo, Afolabi Williams and Osagumwenro Ugbo, known together as Team Neon will be sponsored to the summit by Guaranty Trust Bank plc.
Competing in the ‘Smoke-Free World’ category, Nigeria’s Team Neon made it to the final stage of the competition, which held during the 2018 Spirit of Innovation Summit at the Kennedy Space Centre, from the 25th to 28th April, 2018.
“Improving extension services in rural Africa is a critical step for any agricultural change and Team Neon makes a good case for how the Virtual Farm technology will work,” said the Judges of the Challenge.
This is the first time that African farmers will have access to the package, which has a range of technical advice, [and] with the USSD version of the app, it would be a win-win for the team.
Inspired by the team’s outstanding young talents and driven by its passion for innovation, Guaranty Trust Bank plc, decided to sponsor the young innovators to the finale of the Conrad Challenge. The Bank’s sponsorship includes, among other benefits, the total coverage of the team’s travel and stay in America.
Guaranty Trust Bank plc has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry and is regarded by industry watchers as one of Africa’s most innovative financial institutions.
Jumoke Akiyode-Lawanson
