Team Astromania has emerged winner of the 2-day #ACTINSPACE Hackaton declared opened by the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Pantami
The Minister was represented by the MD Galaxy Backbone, Prof. Muhammad Abubakar.
He conveyed Dr. Pantami’s message urging the winners to work hard towards emerging global winners at the #ACTINSPACE International event in Paris, France.
It will be recalled that during the opening ceremony on Friday, Dr. Pantami said the competition falls under Pillars 2, 5 & 8 of the National Digital Economy Policy Strategy bordering on digital skills & services and, indigenous content
Delivering the Minister’s remarks, the CEO of NIGCOMSAT, Mrs Abimbola Alale said the ICT competition aligns with Pillars 2, 5, 7 & 8 of the National Digital Economy Policy & Strategy as the competition provides a platform for participants to develop digital skills and promote innovation driven enterprises and encourages entrepreneurs to utilize technologies to improve the overall indices of economic development; encourage innovators to integrate emerging technologies into their operations; and support the development of indigenous businesses.
Pantami informed the participants that the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy will continue to formulate and support policies that support the development of the citizens particularly the youth.
He urged the participants to strive to win the competition as the winners will represent Nigeria in the global competition at Paris, France. He commended for hosting the programme on behalf of Nigeria and thanked the mentors and the mentees for their work.
In her own remark, Managing Director of NIGCOMSAT, Mrs Abimbola Alale which is the host of the 2020 #ACTINSPACE competition in Nigeria, said the event is timely, in line with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy drive of ensuring digital skills for the citizenry.
She further said digital economy, which keeps growing, is the best way to groom the youth. She urged the contestants to be futuristic in their thinking and try to showcase what the satellite sector can contribute to the digitalization of Nigeria.
Welcoming guests at the awards ceremony, ED, Marketing & Business Development, Najeem Salaam commended the zeal and tenacity of the teams. He expressed confidence that the contestants will take home valuable information and skills that will aid their daily lives.
The #ACTINSPACE Innovation Competition in an international competition targeted at students of tertiary institutions, IT startups and entrepreneurs to create new applications using space-related technologies, satellite data and relevant licenses
23,000 Nigerian students contested against over 150,000 students from 82 countries. 12 of them from 3 top universities in Nigeria, attended the global final and won the grand prize of the Huawei ICT Competition.
The event which took place in China, was broadcasted live in Abuja.
Four teams participated in the Hackathon: Team Astromania seeking to harness car and satellite data to develop an innovative application; Team Floews seeking an all-round solution to monitor and forecast imminent flood disasters; Team Future Generation proposing to rid the space orbit is space junk and Team Pyloop that projects an independent application that predicts air quality with camera photos captured from the sky using a satellite.
The international event has thousands of contestants worldwide. Applicants in Nigeria had to design & demonstrate original projects on current or future impact of satellite technology in our daily lives
After a rigorous 2-day Hackathon, Team Astromania, a team of 5 young Nigerians, emerged winner taking home a cash prize of N750,000.00, laptops, ICT internship programme and an all-expense paid trip to represent Nigeria in Paris, France.
The Team Future Generation was 1st runner-up. The members got laptops and a cash prize of N500,000.00. Team Pyloops came 3rd and won a cash prize of N350,000.00 and laptops while the 4th team Team Floews also went home with N200,000.
The Chairman Board of Director of NigComSat, Yusuf Kazaure was at the event to support the Management and staff of the Agency
Guests at the Hackathon event included the Post Master General of NIPOST, Dr Adewusi, representative of the DG of NITDAN, representative of the Excutive Vice Chairman of NCC and the SA to the President on Youth & Student’s Affairs. Mr. Adhama.
The Judges include: Ms. Aisha Atta is founder and CEO of Swan Elite Ltd, a training consultancy with its key focus providing a range of Soft- Skills Training to improve productivity and boost teamwork, subsequently increasing overall performance.
Engr. Ikechukwu Nnagbogu Amalu is an Experienced Control Engineer and Manager with over 18 years of experience in the space industry cutting across two international companies in the UK and China, two government agencies in Nigeria plus 4 years prior experience in a multinational manufacturing company in Nigeria,
Iroka Chidinma Joy is a Chief Engineer in the Engineering and Space System Division (ESS) of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) which is the Nigerian Space Agency.
Mr. Okuneye has almost 20 years of management, sales, marketing, strategy and business development experience in the satellite communications industry and currently serves as a consultant to multiple players in the industry. Prior to becoming an industry consultant, Ladi was the Marketing Director for O3b Networks (now SES Networks), the worlds first Medium Earth Orbit satellite constellation.
While the Mentors are: Engr. (Mrs.) Yetunde Aladeitan (PhD); Mr Ahmad Sadiq; Mr Deji Soetan; Dr Kareem Moshood; Dr Agu Collins; Engr. Dr. Lasisi Salami Lawal; Mr Okechukwu Collins Ononikpo; Mrs Tamunopriye Tonye; Mrs Olufunke Fagbeja; Engr Nnaemego Ogochukwu; Barr Chinenye Onyemaizu; Dr Muhammad Alkali.
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