Tag: sdgs

Categories
Tech For Good

Tech for Good 2023: Exploring Tech for Good Conferences and its Transformative Impact

Tech_for_good_2023_summary
Tech for Good 2023 Group Photo

Have you ever anticipated an event only to find that when it unfolds, it surpasses all your expectations?

That was the feeling I got from the Tech for Good 3.0 event ????

What is Tech for Good?

Tech for Good (T4G) is an annual conference that aims to highlight technological advancements benefiting African communities for social progress. Tech for Good was established to counteract the negative information circulating about technology and its utilization in Africa. For further insight into the conference’s mission, delve into the details of the inaugural edition.

Past editions have been truly amazing, as evidenced by the positive feedback received. Now, let me take you through all the exciting details of the recently concluded third edition (3.0) of Tech for Good, which took place on October 21, 2023, at The Autograph, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Don’t miss out on this exciting update! 

See past Tech for Good Conferences on the website or read the feature on Vanguard and This Day Live.

Tech for Good 3.0: Unveiling Impactful Moments and Innovations 

Tech for Good 3.0 was incredibly impactful, drawing a crowd of 200+ attendees, featuring 8 speakers and 8 social impact organizations, and awarded 10 mentors in the Tech for Good Social Impact Awards. 

Team ReforestAI 

The event also received 21 submissions in the Hack for Good Hackathon through DoraHacks and GitHub. The three winning teams were: 

  • Crypto Mayhem – This game enlightens the player on the importance of water pollution (3rd Place). Watch the demo on Youtube.

They were rewarded with a total of $650 in cash and $700 in XuperAuth credits, generously sponsored by Techrity, XuperAuth, and Mently. 

Team Real Estate X 

This year’s edition stood out with the introduction of paid ticketing, elevating the event management experience to a whole new level. The ticketing revenue exceeded #500,000, including sales from the regular, VIP, and Company Access categories, all made possible through the Nftikets Event Ticketing Platform. 

See past Tech for Good Conferences on the website or read the feature on Vanguard and This Day Live.

This achievement was thanks to the incredible support from community members like Chibuzo Madumere, Akuma Isaac, Paula Daopuye, Stephen Okonkwo, Chekwube Peters, Felix Ogbuji, Karla Obakpolor, Sagir Garba, Daniel Emmanuel, and Segun Francis, who enthusiastically participated in the #PayItForwardChallenge, enabling over 100 sponsored tickets.

Ticket registration stand 

This year’s conference started with an opening speech from the founder, Mrs. Owanate Amachree-Godwin, 

It also showcased experienced speakers, including Uche Aniche, the Convener of Startup South, discussing how African startups can utilize technology. 

Mr. Uche Aniche Preaching the Gospel of Startups

Jephtah Abu, founder of Talentpoel, talked about the impact of exporting tech talents in Africa

Jephthah Abu

while Susan Odurinde, founder of Cactus Tech, focused on innovative thinking for social impact.

See past Tech for Good Conferences on the website or read the feature on Vanguard and This Day Live.

Kelvin Ogba Dafiaghor, Regional Manager in Africa for Global STEM Initiative, highlighted how AI is transforming Africa positively. 

Mr Kelvin Dafiaghor highlights the benefits of AI transformation in Africa 

Wisdom Nwokocha shared insights on finding and securing freelance technical writing clients

Wisdom Nwokocha

Ayoleyi Lurogho discussed evolving UX thinking beyond drag and drop, 

Ayoleyi Lurogho

and Kelechi Oliver addressed cloud adoption for early-stage startups.

Kelechi Oliver 

Ibe Andyson focused on choosing a tech career based on understanding personality traits and more.

Ibe Andrew Andyson

Social Impact Organizations 

Social impact organizations and companies dedicated to realizing the vision of Tech for Good were actively involved. These entities were invited to share their impactful stories, to highlight their contributions to the tech sector. Participating organizations included:

SpitalLabs

Spital Labs is a community and tech hub with a vision to provide high-quality technical training through cohort programmes and diverse channels, to scale digital education to millions.

Code Ambassadors

Code Ambassadors Academy is a STEM.org Accredited academy that inspires and equips kids/teens between the ages of 5 and 17 with coding, problem-solving, and critical-thinking skills to turn their ideas into solutions. We achieve this by providing training, mentorship, and exhibition events.

Technoville

Technoville was founded in 2018, by passionate young people who believe that technology can transform individuals and nations. We are equipping the next generation of innovators with in-demand digital skills. Nurturing tech talent, bridging the talent gap with well-curated programs, fostering digital excellence, and driving the future of tech innovation.

Dantown

Dantown is a crypto exchange that offers buy and sell services for crypto, fast payments, and 24/7 customer service. Other benefits include airtime purchases, cable TV subscriptions, utility bill payments, and virtual USD cards.

XuperAuth

XuperAuth is a walletless, passwordless authentication system that leverages blockchain technology to provide secure and convenient access to Web3 products. It eliminates the need for users to manage complex private keys or remember passwords, making it easier for them to engage with blockchain applications.

Our suite of APIs and SDKs is designed to empower DApps with walletless, and passwordless authentication, revolutionizing user experiences, and increasing adoption rates in the Web3 ecosystem. 

Mently

The Mently Mentorship platform enables you to scale your mentorship programs with ease, automate, host and manage the entire lifecycle of your mentorship program. The platform provides automated matching of mentors to mentees, creates curriculums and manages your training in one place.

NFTikets

NFTikets is an online ticketing for any type of live and virtual event.

Highlights

Another interesting moment observed at Tech for Good 3.0 was the showcase of two children from Code Ambassadors. These children showcased and talked about the work they have been building at Code Ambassadors. The first one is GBS Alert. You can watch the demo video and the pitch video. The second one is the Hazel App. You can watch the demo video and pitch video.

Tech for Good Awards

The Tech for Good Social Impact Awards honors individuals, startups, non-profits, and volunteers who use their platforms to better their community and the global community at large. 

At the third edition of Tech for Good 3.0, we are celebrated mentors who have dedicated their time and resources to sharing knowledge and mentoring newbies into Tech careers.

At the heart of Techrity’s mission lies its annual mentorship program, which nurtures and guides aspiring tech talents, empowering them to become agents of change in their communities. This program provides mentorship, workshops, and networking opportunities, fostering a supportive environment where young innovators can thrive.

Through its mentorship program, Techrity has played a crucial role in shaping the tech landscape of the Niger Delta. Mentors, drawn from a pool of experienced professionals and industry experts, provide invaluable guidance and support to mentees, helping them develop their technical skills, entrepreneurial mindset, and problem-solving abilities. This nurturing environment has nurtured a new generation of tech leaders equipped with the skills and knowledge to tackle their communities’ challenges.

The impact of Techrity’s mentorship program extends far beyond individual mentees, shaping the trajectory of innovation and social impact in the region. By empowering young talents to harness the power of technology, Techrity is fostering a culture of innovation that is addressing real-world challenges and creating a more sustainable future for the Niger Delta.

Techrity’s efforts are not limited to mentorship; the foundation also provides Data support and laptops to beginners looking to kickstart their careers. This comprehensive approach to nurturing innovation has resulted in the development of homegrown solutions that address critical issues in education, healthcare, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

Our handsome Host – Felix Ogbuji

Beautiful co-host – Joy Nwaiwu

Smiley face ???? and serious face ???? 

Community Manager and Volunteers

Founder of Blockchain Uniport – Proudly talking about how his community was a winner in the hackathon ????
Founder and Team Lead – Owanate Amachree-Godwin giving the keynote address

We would like to thank our sponsors, partners, organization, attendees who helped make the Tech for Good Conference a success. Special thanks to those who participated in the #PayItForward Challenge which helped to provide 100+ sponsored tickets to attendees of the event. 

 Chibuzo Madumere, Godwin Jimmy, Akuma Isaac, Sagir Garba, Daniel Emmanuel, Segun Francis, Felix Ogbuji, Paula Daopuye, Chekwube Peters, Stephen Okonkwo, Karla Obakpolor, who enthusiastically participated in the #PayItForwardChallenge, enabling over 102 sponsored (free) tickets.

As the convener of the Tech for Good Annual Conference, Techrity Innovation Foundation has established itself as a driving force behind the region’s tech ecosystem. The foundation’s unwavering commitment to empowering young innovators, fostering collaboration, and promoting the responsible use of technology for social good is making a tangible impact on the lives of communities across the Niger Delta and Nigeria at large.

The success of T4G 3.0 is a testament to the transformative power of technology and the unwavering dedication of individuals and organizations working to harness its potential for positive change. The conference has set a new standard for innovation and social impact in Africa, inspiring a new generation of tech leaders to embrace technology as a tool for creating a brighter future for Africa.

Important Links

For more inquiries about the Tech for Good conference, sponsorship and donation, send an email to hello@techrity.org, or techrityorg@gmail.com

Wow! That was a lot to digest. I hope I have been able to summarize all about Tech for Good 3.0.

Don’t miss out on future updates, follow @techrityorg on all socials ????

Categories
Build4SocialGood Hackathon Tech Tech For Good Techrity Programmes

Hack for Good: ReForestAI: Virtual Hackathon Challenge Accepted

My name is Lesley John-Jumbo. I am 18 years old and an embedded systems developer. I like to explore the realms of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

My team members: Blessed Pepple (19, Hardware designer), Bright Sunday (17, Embedded systems engineering specialist) and I recently developed a project called, “ReForestAI” for the HackforGood hackathon challenge 2023 organized by Techrity.

Problem Statement

Illegal logging has deteriorated the forest ecosystem, leading to the deforestation and extinction of some animals. The problem of deforestation poses harmful threats to biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and cultural heritage, emphasizing the urgent need for effective forest conversation and protective measures. And here comes ReForestAI.

Solution Overview

ReForestAI is a project that harnesses artificial intelligence, robotics and environmental science to tackle one of Africa’s most pressing environmental issues—deforestation. With ReForestAI, the global governments and environmental biologists can combat illegal logging and revive the forest ecosystem again.

Challenges Faced

For this project, we stepped out on a completely new terrain. We experienced difficulties with advanced batteries and was bamboozled by the unfamiliar electrical connections we tried. I would say these setbacks occurred because we tried new construction methods for the project.

But thanks to our thorough research skills, we found a way to correct the wiring without overloading the components with a high voltage capacity. In turn, not only did this aggressive research pay off in saving our project, we learnt a lot as a team. 

Aside from the hiccups we faced in our construction method, we also battled with unstable power supply in Port-Harcourt. To solve this, we used a friend’s robotics workstation, which operated on solar power. At night, after our friend’s operating hours, we continued building, demonstrating our commitment to overcoming challenges and advancing our project despite external limitations.

Technologies Used

  1. AI and Machine Learning: We used tailor-made AI models for detecting deforestation and performing predictive analytics.
  2. Robotics: With AI embedded robots, we monitored the forest.
  3. Cloud computing: We used expandable cloud infrastructure for processing and storing data.
  4. IoT Sensors: IoT was used as an environmental sensors for collecting data.

View the ReforestAI project demo here or view the code submission on GitHub

Hackathon Experience

A special highlight for me during this hackathon challenge was the improvement of my circuit design skills. I learned the importance of running and testing codes in increments and meticulously defining algorithms based on specific circumstances. With this new knowledge I learnt, debugging my codes became a lot easier. 

ReforestAI Presentation at Tech for Good 2023

For my team also, our journey was punctuated with memorable moments that highlighted our individual growth. Despite our strong belief in the success of our project, we stayed grounded, acknowledging that the experience gained was a victory in itself no matter the outcome of the result. This perspective propelled us forward, creating an environment where learning and growth were just as important as the outcome.

Future Developments

Our vision goes beyond what we see; we aspire to scale this project globally by partnering with international entities, and building a network that will amplify our project’s reach.

Conclusion

We are sincerely thankful for the opportunity given to us by Techrity to participate in this hackathon challenge. The hackathon not only enabled us to showcase our skills but also offered an environment that fostered growth and creativity.

Categories
Build4SocialGood Hackathon Tech For Good Techrity Programmes

Our HackforGood Story – Real Estate X

RealEstateX

My team, the Blockchain Uniport built a platform called, “Real Estate X”, a project that allows real estate industries use NFTs (Non-Fungible Tokens) as a secure proof-of-payment. I’m Daniel Onyebuchi, and on behalf of my team, I will be sharing our Hack for Good hackathon challenge organized by Techrity experience with you in this blog post.

Problem Statement

From our research, we observed that in the real estate market, it is not easy to buy and sell properties as it takes longer time to meet potential buyers. We also noticed that owning a real estate property has become way too expensive for individuals and big investors to participate in this lucrative type of investment, indirectly limiting the flow of capital in the real estate market. 

How Limited Fluidity Affects Real Estate Investment

Due to the limited liquidity in the real estate market, many individuals and investors interested in the real estate market are currently battling with:

  1. A lack of access to real estate investments owing to the high down payment required from buyers before investing in a real estate property. 
  2. Difficulty in buying and selling properties to investors and individuals as a result of the fluctuating market prices.
  3. Conventional method of real estate investing, which hampers innovation and slows down the modernization of the industry.

Solution Overview

Our project, Real Estate X, tackles these problems by capitalizing on the power of blockchain technology and NFTs. We developed a user-friendly website that would allow investors to collectively pool their funds to invest in a portion of real estate asset. To this effect, instead of a single investor buying an entire property, which may be too expensive, co-investors interested in the same property can each co-own a fraction of the real asset property collectively purchased with smaller capital commitment. Additionally, it will allow these investors to benefit from the real estate property as it surges in price year after year.

Key Features and Functionalities

  • Shared ownership: Real Estate X uses NFTs (non-fungible tokens) to show partial ownership of real estate. These NFTs give users a safe and provable right to a fraction of the property.
  • Efficient Investment Steps: Real Estate X makes real estate investing easy. Users can check out available properties, get detailed information, and buy shared ownership NFTs using cryptocurrency.
  • Clear and Safe Transactions: Real Estate X uses blockchain technology’s built-in security and transparency to guarantee safe and transparent transactions. Every transaction is noted on the blockchain, giving an unchangeable and verifiable record of ownership.
  • Automatic Profit Sharing: Real Estate X automates sharing rental income and capital gains with NFT holders. This guarantees that investors get their rightful portion of the property’s earnings.
  • Distributed Marketplace: Real Estate X works as a marketplace without middlemen, cutting down on transaction costs. This distributed approach boosts market efficiency and accessibility.

How Real Estate X Works

  1. Real Estate X carefully selects and evaluates properties for sharing. Once a property is chosen, it’s tokenized, and a unique NFT is created that represents partial ownership.
  2. The tokenized NFTs go on the Real Estate X platform where users can check available properties, get details, and buy NFTs using cryptocurrency.
  3. The NFT ownership is securely stored on the blockchain, creating an unchangeable ownership record. With this, investors can easily handle their NFTs and monitor investment performance through the platform.
  4. Next, Real Estate X automates sharing rental income and capital gains with NFT holders and investors get their fair portion of the property’s returns directly to their cryptocurrency wallets.
  5. Then, the NFT holders can trade their ownership NFTs on the secondary market, offering flexibility and liquidity for their investments.

Challenges Faced

  • Navigating the Regulatory Landscape:

The rules around real estate investment, especially in the context of blockchain technology, are still in early development. This made it tricky to comply with the regulations while keeping the innovative aspects of our platform intact. To tackle this, we conducted thorough research and sought advice from legal and regulatory experts to stay updated and identify potential compliance needs. We also actively took part in industry discussions to advocate for a regulatory environment that encourages innovation while safeguarding investors.

  • Balancing Security and Accessibility:

Our priority was to guarantee top-notch security for user funds and data, given the type of assets involved. On the flip side, we wanted the platform to be user-friendly for a wide audience, including less tech-savvy individuals. To strike this balance, we implemented strong security measures like multi-factor authentication, encryption, and access controls. We simplified the user interface and provided clear instructions to make the platform easy to navigate and use. We kept refining our security measures and user experience based on feedback from our community and industry experts.

  • Educating The Market:

We teamed up with industry leaders, educational institutions, and media outlets to spread awareness of shared real estate and its potential use by creating informative content, hosting workshops and seminars, and actively communicating with the community to clear up misunderstandings and encourage well-informed choices.

View the RealEstateX project demo or see our code submission on Github

Technologies Used

  1. Blockchain Technology: Blockchain technology formed the basic building block for Real Estate X. Blockchain helped us provide a secure and transparent way to manage ownership records to prevent fraud and manipulation.
  2. Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs): NFTs represented the shared real estate property asset. As each NFT is unique, it specifically signified a portion of the real estate property assigned to the owner to ensure ownership integrity.
  3. Smart Contracts: Smart contracts are self-executing contracts embedded in the blockchain. With this technology, we automated predefined terms and conditions for managing fractional ownership, distributing rental income, and handling capital gains sharing to reduce the need for intermediaries.
  4. Cryptocurrency Payments: Cryptocurrency is the primary mode for purchasng any property on Real Estate X. This is because cryptocurrency is fast, more secure, and less expensive compared to the traditional mode of payment options.

Our Hackathon Experience In Details

My Team members were:

Pascal Abams – The crypto researcher

Onu Daniel – The full-stack blockchain developer

Jude Abara – The blockchain developer, and

Angel Ademakin – The UI/UX designer

Participating in Techrity’s Tech4Good hackathon was an enriching experience for us that reshaped our view of how blockchain technology can transform the real estate industry. From brainstorming ideas to the final presentation, we were absorbed in a whirlwind of creativity, collaboration, and learning. The hackathon provided a platform to bring our vision for Real Estate X to life and share it with a passionate community of techies and industry experts.

Despite facing technical challenges and time constraints, my team’s resolve was unbroken. We gained the superpower for adapting, prioritizing, and maximizing the adeptness of our diverse team members. Overcoming each challenge brought us closer to our goal of creating a groundbreaking platform that opens up real estate investment to everyone.

Our most memorable moments were the collaborative brainstorming sessions and supportive environment where we met with other tech gurus who shared our passion for technology and innovation. We learned from one another’s perspective, challenged our assumptions, and hacked more innovative solutions.

Future Development

Our journey at the Tech4Good hackathon has only just begun. We are committed to further developing Real Estate X, expanding its features, and making it a vital platform for shared real estate investment.

Here are some of our key plans for future development:

  • We aim to broaden the range of available properties in different locations, types, and price ranges, offer various asset classes and investment opportunities.
  • We aim to improve the user experience by simplifying the platform navigation, enhance visuals, and provide comprehensive support resources.
  • We aim to introduce advanced analytics and reporting for investors, offering insights into their investments and include real-time property performance tracking, detailed financial data, and market trends analysis.
  • We aim to extend smart contract capabilities to automate more aspects of the investment process, streamline property management, integrate with third-party services, and support complex investment strategies.
  • We will also engage actively with our growing investor community by providing educational resources, host events, and encourage knowledge sharing for a supportive and informed community.
  • We will explore integrating Real Estate X with other blockchain networks and allow the use of different cryptocurrencies for transactions and access to a wider range of properties.

Conclusion

Our journey at the Tech4Good hackathon has transformed our vision for a more inclusive real estate market. We’re grateful for the opportunity to showcase Real Estate X and contribute to blockchain solutions for real-world issues.

Categories
Kickstart Tech Techrity Programmes

TECHing The Young: Techrity IWD2021 Educational Outreach Program

Student of Inama Int'l School at Techrity IWD 2021
Techrity IWD2021

The impact of educational outreach programs in schools can be felt on the academic, physiological, and psychological traits of the students.

Various barriers prevent many young ones, even the young female, from starting a career in tech at an early age. One of such barriers is the lack of sensitization of an early career start in tech, even as a secondary school student, limited availability of resources and materials for learning, as well as a Mentor, to guide and track progress. 

Techrity’s talent development scheme called the Kickstart program is aimed at solving these problems. We embarked on an outreach program tagged: TECHing the Young in various secondary schools in a bid to educate the young ones on the need to start a career in tech at a young age to boycott the unemployment problem faced in Nigeria. The outreach program was embarked on to commemorate the International Women’s Day held on 8th March 2021, and also to sensitize the female gender and educate them on the opportunities for females in technology, this was done as part of our commitment to the UN SDGs 5: Bridging the gap in gender disparity in the tech industry.

The outreach program featured talks centered on careers in tech, the need to start their careers early, as well as showcasing successful young talents in the tech industry such as Opemipo Disu, the 15-year-old developer and IBM champion from Nigeria.

Opemipo Disu aka the 15y.o developer and IBM Champion

Two students who showed great enthusiasm were awarded scholarships to enable them to kickstart their tech journey. Techrity’s Kickstart program includes a laptop, a personal mentor and data support for each child to aid their learning journey.

These students are Prince Onuzulike of Inama International Secondary School, and Chijioke Egbuomuche, a student of the Hybrid International Academy. 

Prince Onuzulike is in class 1 in the Junior Secondary category of Inama International Secondary School. Prince is a young lad who almost had a deformed hand from an accident, which is quite noticeable.

From left: Miss Owanate (Founder, Techrity), Mrs. Onuzulike, Prince Onuzulike, and Mr. Adagboyi Joseph (Principal, Inama Intl Sec. Sch.)

Chijioke Egbuomuche is a student of Hybrid International Academy Senior Secondary. He has a flair for creating things which can be seen in the picture below.

Chijioke created a Fan, a Car, and a Dispenser. These things were all made from cartons, D.C motors and batteries. For the fan, he used something like a blade to act as the propeller so an amount of air touches you when it is turned on. The car moves with help of the D.C motor connected to the back tyre under the car. The Dispenser is a manual one, so it had no use for the D.C motor. Chijioke’s creativity and innovation are what earned him the scholarship to further enhance his creative flair and help him digitally.

Chijioke – Winner of Techrity Kickstart Scholarship Award and Owanate

The recipients of Techrity’s Kickstart Program will be given a laptop, a mentor as well as data support, to help guide these young minds to early career exploits in technology. The mentors assigned to these young ones are responsible for their growth and progress in technology. 

Few students were also awarded cash prizes for their great performances. These students are David Bob, Emmanuel Ekeh, Prince Onuzulike, all of Inama International Secondary School and Miracle Eboseh of Hybrid International Academy. Some of the students were awarded cash prizes for their ability to answer technical questions, performance in examinations and their quest for knowledge.

A student receiving a maths set and books for his outstanding performance
A student receiving a maths set and books for her outstanding performance

Techrity is all about Helping New Talents and building solutions for social good, we also believe in Paying it Forward.

Watch this explainer video on Youtube.

Students of Inama International Secondary School 
Students from Hybrid International Academy 
Techrity Outreach Team

Important Links

Visit the Techrity Website

Watch the Women in Leadership and Technology Virtual Event on Youtube

Follow us on Twitter

Follow us on Instagram

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on LinkedIn

Thanks for reading!

Categories
Build4SocialGood General News Tech

Showcasing The Winners for the Techrity #Build4InformalSector Hackathon 2020 Prize For Social Good Innovation!

On 1st December, 2020, The Techrity #Build4SocialGood Hackathon Programme team announced the #Buil4InformalSector Virtual Hackathon.

We welcomed Software Developers, Designers and subject matter experts to ideate and build solutions for solving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal for the African Continent.

Participants ideated and built solutions addressing UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 9, that is, promoting the industry, innovation, and infrastructure (SDG9), in the following areas.

1. Identity Management 
2. On-lending facility and access to credit through non-traditional financial channels
3. Credit Score and Reputation-based rating

For more info, see Announcing The #Build4InformalSector Hackathon 2020

We received a total of three project submissions for the On-lending facility and access to credit through non-traditional financial channels category.

The following teams submitted their solutions;

Team FundMyFarm

FundMyFarm is aimed at making smallholder farmers have access to informal credit facilities without any hassle whatsoever. We also make it possible for anyone who loves farming but does not have time to do it, to grow together with the smallholder farmers as they put smiles in the face of downtrodden while at the same time, their resources are working for them.


Team Trix

QuikMoni addresses the problem of SME access to credit without collateral.


Team Dorti

Dorti provides a system where users can assist or take care of garbage and get rewarded for it.

A total of 30 participants, 9 teams, and 3 projects were recorded for the #Build4InformalSector Hackathon 2020.

These projects were compiled and submitted to our panel of judges, and we are excited to announce that a winning team emerged.

Participating teams also got a chance to demo their projects in an online event on the 8 January 2021 in front of a live audience and received feedback from our highly esteemed judges.

View the Demo Day Event Recording.

Team Trix: QuikMoni emerged as the overall Winners of the Maiden #Build4InformalSector Hackathon 2020 Prize for Social Good Innovation.

The winning team has access to;

  1. A hub support 
  2. $250 cash prize.
  3. The Techrity #Build4SocialGood Incubation program.

Congratulations to Team Trix: QuikMoni for emerging winners of the #Build4InformalSector Hackathon 2020 and all of the participating teams who helped turn innovative ideas into practical solutions for Africa.

Visit the URL to the QuikMoni solution.

All teams’ prototypes and code can be found on the website and on the #Build4SocialGood Repository on Github.

We sincerely appreciate all participating teams, judges, mentors, speakers and partners who have been with us throughout the beginning of this hackathon. The time and effort invested towards building for social good and addressing the UN #sdgs challenges in Africa cannot go unnoticed.

We look forward to hosting our next #Build4SocialGood Hackathon coming up in the following months in 2021.

Thank you!

Categories
Build4SocialGood General Tech

Announcing Techrity’s #Build4InformalSector Hackathon 2020

Techrity’s #Build4SocialGood presents;

Build For The Informal Sector (sdg9) 

Prize

$250

Timeline of Activities

  1. Registration begins 1st December 2020 via Hackathon Registration
  2. Join the Slack Workspace
  3. Hackathon Starts: 7 December 2020
  4. Project Submission Deadline: 21-23rd December 2020 
  5. Judging starts: 28th December – 2nd January 2021
  6. Demo Day/Award Ceremony: 16th January 2021

Why #Build4Informal Sector?

Nigeria’s informal economy has grown considerably over the last decade.

These are the individuals and micro-enterprises whose economic well-being is birthed and buoyed on the fringes of the formal economy; business activities that remain unregulated, and oftentimes, completely unknown.

Initially, much of the rhetoric centred on the need to ‘manage’ this ever-expanding behemoth that the informal sector was becoming. This narrative has since evolved into one that seeks to formalise these businesses, by catering to their needs and providing them with much-needed support.

Like other parts of the economy, the informal sector has taken a hit from the COVID-19 crisis. Governments have mandated workers to take costly protective measures, such as the regular purchase of masks, the reduction in the number of passengers for motorcycle taxis, or the observance of curfews. Farmers have seen falling demand for their produce as restaurants have reduced their purchases in the face of dwindling traffic.

Key Areas Of Focus

We leave it to you to design the new conditions for the informal economy, and offer the following provocations as a place to get started for your MVPs, prototypes, etc;

  1. On-lending facility and access to credit through non-traditional financial channels
    1. For example, how might we build custom financial solutions for entrepreneurs to access credit outside the regular financial system, other methods of crowdfunding exist such as cooperative funding with little to no default on loan acquisition.
  2. Identity management
    1. Beyond the use of identity cards, bank verification numbers, etc., how can we design an economy where individuals can build a solid identity with other means of identification they can provide such as their telephone number, Social security numbers, school certificates, etc.
  3. Credit-score/reputation based rating
    1. Using purchasing behavior, community validation, etc. How can we design an economy that takes into cognizance an individual behavior as a form of credit score acquisition, for e.g, the ability to use an individual’s reputation overtime on social media as a means to build their credit and reputation score for use in accessing credit and lending facilities outside non-traditional financial systems.

For more info, see the Issues Board.

How to Join

  1. Register your team to hack: Hackathon Registration
  2. Join the slack channel: Techrity Slack Workspace
  3. Read the hackathon guide

How To Submit Hackathon Project

Follow the steps outlined on the #Build4SocialGood Repository readme instructions to submit your project.

Official Hashtags

Please promote this hackathon so it can reach a wider audience on Social Media using the following hastags.

#techrityB4SGHack2020
#techrity
#SDG9
#Build4InformalSector

We can’t wait to see what you have built!

Happy Hacking!!

Categories
General News Software Tech Techrity Programmes

The Build4SocialGood Hackathon Programme

techrity build for social images
techrity build for social good image
techrity build for social images
techrity build for social good image

Inspire. Coach. Build

The Build4SocialGood Hackhaton brings together developers and techies yearly from all over Africa to develop ideas and build targeted software products for solving sustainable development goals.

Social good is an action that defines some sort of benefit to the general public. Our continent; Africa is laden with a myriad of social good problem which Technology can help to mitigate. We’re looking at building these software which would be managed by the community. Techrity encourages you to #Build4SocialGood and for the #Community. These projects will be managed and open sourced by the community and Winners of the challenge will go ahead to enhance their MVP and solutions in the incubation programme.

Are you passionate about applying your skills for social good, but no funds to kickstart it? Participate in our #Build4SocialGood Hackathon and get a chance to fund your ideas/startup. Hackathon winners will have access to hub support to assist them in their unique innovations. 

#Build4SocialGood Hackathon identify specific challenges for teams to build and provide solutions for social good problems. 

Hackathon participants also get access to mentors to support and direct them during the hackathon phase. 

Come join us, learn new skills, and build functioning prototypes to solve those challenges.

How to join our hackathon challenge

Call for team applications will be announced on the Techrity Build4SocialGood website. Teams will be selected based on merit and inclusivity.

Winners will go ahead to win the prize money and qualify for the incubation program.

Steps

Follow the steps below to register your team.

Step 1: Submit an Application

Visit https://techrity.org/register/hackathon to register your team.

Step 2: Receive a confirmation mail

The #Build4SocialGood team would send a mail outlining next steps.

Step 3: Join the Slack Channel

Prizes

Prizes will be announced in due course.

About Us

Techrity Logo

Techrity, is a non-profit social enterprise, a community of people contributing to advance humanity through their time, money and skills. We believe in the power of using technology for sustainable human capital advancement. We’re all about inspiring the youth to take up careers in tech, through our Mentorship and Kickstart programs, we are also committed to solving social good problems using tech through our Build4SocialGood program.

At Techrity, we believe your donates open doors of opportunities for everyone including the donor, receiver, this creates a circle of givers paying it forward for technology.

Your donation plants seeds of kindness in others, and this promotes a world of revolving kind-hearted people. Help learners get laptops and data to kickstart and make their journey in tech a success.

We encourage you to donate to fund any of our programmes as mentioned. Visit the Techrity Donation page to help someone kickstart their tech career today!.

Organizations, startups etc, can fund a hackhaton programmes and get their ideas tested and developed by our community.


To find out more about what we have in store for our partners, please fill the contact form and we will get back to you in no time.

Thanks.


Categories
General News Tech Techrity Programmes Uncategorized

Techrity Launch/Fundraising

Techrity Community

Techrity, is a non-profit social enterprise, a community of people contributing to advance humanity through their time, money and skills. We believe in the power of using technology for sustainable human capital advancement. We’re all about inspiring the youth to take up careers in tech, through our Mentorship and Kickstart programs, we are also committed to solving social good problems using tech through our Build4SocialGood program.

The Techrity Launch/Fundraising event is set to take place in December, 2020.

Follow our social media channels; @techrityorg for more updates and sign up to our newsletter.

At Techrity, we believe your donates open doors of opportunities for everyone including the donor, receiver, this creates a circle of givers paying it forward for technology.

We encourage you to donate to fund any of our programmes as mentioned. Visit the Techrity Donation page to help someone kickstart their tech career today!.

To find out more about what we have in store for our partners, please fill the contact form and we will get back to you in no time.