The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has given his unreserved support to the pursuit of innovative ideas and the exploration of creative solutions in technology, through the Olu of Warri Tech Challenge.
The Tech Challenge is a platform created by the King’s administration, to encourage brilliant minds between 18 – 35 years of age, residents within the Warri kingdom and its environs, to proffer practical solutions to everyday problems around them, using technological initiatives.
The office of the Ogiame received six hundred applications in response to the call for submission, and only one hundred and eighty applications were approved to participate in the challenge. Over a period of three weeks, these applications were thoroughly assessed, to ensure that they meet these major criteria for approval:
Identify a problem.
Design a Creative Solution.
Incorporate relevant features of Digital-Technology into the proposed solution.
Relevance of the proposed initiative to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
In addition to that, all participants were engaged in practical sessions online, to rub minds together and share their ideas with respected facilitators in the Tech space. These sessions provided the opportunity for a clear evaluation of problems, and the dynamic opportunities that exist in the digital media space.
After a rigorous process of assessment, Oghenetejiri Peace Onosajerhe emerged as the winner of this year’s Tech Challenge. Oghenetejiri is currently designing an accessible electronic book-reader for the visually impaired community. This innovative solution meets all the criteria for this year’s tech challenge, and it also contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through Quality Education and Reduced Inequalities.
The Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse III, has promised his full support to ensure that this ingenious idea is fully developed into a practical solution that touches lives in the Kingdom, and Nigeria. The office of His Royal Majesty, Ogiame Atuwatse III, remains committed to empowering the youths of Warri through access to quality Education and his unequivocal support for technological innovations.
The Olu of Warri Tech Challenge is one of the many avenues created by Ogiame’s administration, in furtherance of the Global Master Plan for the development of the Warri Kingdom. The Master Plan is an ingenious blueprint envisioned by Ogiame Atuwatse III to make Warri a strategic melting pot for global business operations, and a tech cluster to foster Technological Innovation. The overarching vision is to pave way for economic growth and prosperity in the Kingdom, with ripple effects on the nation, Nigeria, and the African continent as a whole.
Following the completion of the first phase, the Olu of Warri will be hosting qualified participants in Warri, Delta State, for a 12-week pre-seed incubator program. The program, which is set to take place in 2023, will provide opportunities for budding business owners to receive training, mentorship, and timely support for developing innovative business ideas that can provide economic value within the Kingdom. These ideas will be presented to interested companies and potential investors at the Warri Tech Week, holding in 2023. Participants with digital skills would receive further training, as a way of empowering them and increasing their employability.
The office of Ogiame appreciates the valuable contribution of the consultants, Omi Oshikoya of The Richer Media Limited and Nsikan Ubi of NUBI Consulting and the partners that made this year’s edition a success: Tech for Good Africa, The Petroleum Training Institute and TechCabal.
