Programos Foundation has announced the successful completion of the World Summit Award (WSA Nigeria) 2024 tech scouting process.
In a message to the winners who will be on the world stage for the 2024 WSA event, Chief Software Architect/CEO Programos Software Group, Emmanuel Amos, Mr. Emmanuel Amos, said: “All the incredible innovators who emerged as winners stand out, and we are proud to have you represent Nigeria on the global stage.
“I am wishing all our winners the best of luck at the World Summit Awards Global Jury, where they will compete alongside tech talents from over 180 countries! Your journey is just beginning, and we can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make”, Mr. Amos said.
The WSA is a highly diverse and democratic award system that selects and promotes the world’s best digital innovation with impact on their respective countries. WSA was initiated in 2003 in the framework of the UN World Summit on the Information Society (UN WSIS).
It contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goals Agenda by recognizing local digital content with an impact on society, demonstrating the richness and diversity of innovative applications.
To date, 182 Countries are actively involved, making the World Summit Awards are a global hub for everyone who values the crucial importance of local content to make today’s information society more inclusive.
The Seven (7) startups selected for WSA (Nigeria) 2024 are;
Compass AI (Learning & Education category), led by David Ojo, a cutting-edge AI-powered platform designed to address the widespread challenges facing young tech enthusiasts in Africa and Asia. The platform leverages psychometric AI to recommend tailored tech career paths, create personalized career roadmaps, and provide access to mentorship and community support. With its focus on solving the pain points of tech beginners—such as confusion over career choices, lack of guidance, and community isolation—Compass AI stands out as an essential tool for developing tech talent in regions experiencing immense digital growth.
“This innovative solution aligns perfectly with the World Summit Awards focus on leveraging digital solutions for societal impact, making it an ideal candidate for the 2024 WSA Global Competition from Nigeria”, said Mr. Amos.
Musami Umar’s product, RollMal (Health & Well-Being category), is a revolutionary AI-powered app that has the potential to significantly enhance the Nigerian healthcare system by introducing advanced AI mechanisms to combat malaria, one of the country’s most pressing health challenges. The startup provides real-time risk assessment and personalized prevention strategies, particularly targeting vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children under five, who are most affected by the disease.
ExportPlog (Business and Commerce category), produced by Stephen Adeyemo, which addresses critical challenges faced by smallholder farmers in Nigeria, enhancing market access and overcoming logistical barriers through its e-commerce platform.
Elijah Moses, also produced VerionX, which stands out as a winner in the Inclusion and Empowerment category due to its innovative approach in addressing the critical issue of youth unemployment across Africa.
Other winners are David Ezeonyekwere’s CheapMarketDeal (Environment and Green Energy), which stands out as a winner because it addresses critical gaps in Nigeria’s agricultural sector through an innovative digital solution. By directly connecting smallholder farmers to buyers, it eliminates the need for intermediaries ensuring farmers receive fair prices for their produce.
Still under the Environment and Green Energy category, two more winners emerged as runners up. They are the LoopBox solution by ArleeGreen, a groundbreaking and transformative approach to solving one of Nigeria’s most pressing public health and environmental challenges—water contamination from human waste. Loopbox is produced by Rasheed Aliu.
LoopBox’s incorporation of IoT technology sets it apart from conventional systems. By monitoring essential parameters like pH, COD, BOD, and temperature, the solution ensures proactive management, helping to regulate conditions that kill harmful pathogens.
Also, Sule Wisdom David’s CyclexAfrica, an outstanding initiative that addresses a critical and growing challenge in urban waste management, particularly in the Kano metropolis.
CyclexAfrica not only reduces the cost and labor associated with waste sorting, but it also creates a robust incentive system that drives sustainable waste management practices, particularly in areas where recycling infrastructures are lacking.
The initiative has a direct positive impact on women, youths, students, and waste pickers, providing financial incentives and opportunities for improved livelihoods. This inclusive model addresses both environmental and social challenges by elevating the roles of marginalized groups in the waste management ecosystem.
This project holds significant potential for scaling and replication, not just across Nigeria, but throughout Africa, where similar urbanization trends and waste management challenges exist.
The products and other submissions were judged by invited jurors in WSA (Nigeria) 2024. They were: WSA Youth Ambassador, Albashir Ishaq Ibrahim; CEO, Jidaw Systems, Jide Awe; past WSA winners – Fauzuddeen Mahmud and Siro Collins.
Others were; Samuel Johnson, Moses Amos, Henry Lamba, all WSA Youth Ambassadors, and Samuel Ikande, WSA National Nominee.
