The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has launched applications for the third edition of its Talent Hunt Research through Hackathon.

NCC’s Director, Public Affairs, Dr Reuben Muoka, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Muoka said this was part of giving expression to its Strategic Vision Plan 2023-2025, to encourage the development of new technologies and indigenous content through cutting-edge research.

Advertorial

He said: “The goal of this initiative is to stimulate sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria.”

Mouka said that the commission had invited Tech Hubs, and Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs) in Nigeria to enroll their start-ups and solutions in the Talent Hunt Research through a Hackatho organised by NCC.

He added: “The Hackathon focuses on Blockchain-enabled Data Protection Solutions for Enhancing Regulatory Compliance; Assistive Technology Solutions for the Elderly and People with Disabilities; and Technology Solutions for Renewable Energy in Rural Areas.

“The NCC Talent Hunt Research through Hackathon leverages emerging digital technologies to facilitate the development of home-grown innovative solutions and local content development in the telecommunications sector while fostering economic growth and social advancement in Nigeria.

“The competition enables the translation of novel ideas into the development of hardware/software solutions that address industry and societal challenges.

“The best three solutions, one from each of the three areas listed above will receive grants of N10 million each for the development of the solutions.”

He said that the commission had set out eligibility criteria for those seeking to participate in the competition.

“The criteria says the enterprise must provide a certificate of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

“The enterprise must not have previously received support from the commission, the project should have clear relevance to one of the three thematic areas above, must provide a clear problem statement, proposed solution, and roadmap to deployment.

“Other requirements include a proof of concept which may also include technical feasibility of the idea with diagram, algorithm, existing models, or case studies.

“The solution must be novel with the applicant making a declarative statement on ownership of the intellectual property.

“The solution including prototype development shall be concluded within 6 months of receipt of the Grant and must propose a detailed commercialization plan of the prototype,” Mouka said.

He said that the entry submission format indicated that the proposal must include ideation, Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and solution, Current Sweat Equity Investment.

Others were: Product-Market Fit status, Verifiable Go-to-Market status, Growth Feasibility Assurances, Maturity Model and Timeliness and existing time: Disaster Recovery, where applicable,

He said that all applications should be made online and must follow the stipulated entry format, adding that there is no financial cost to participating in the competition.

The director said that full control and ownership of the intellectual property of the developed solutions remained with the Commission.

Mouka added: “The entries must be made by a Tech Hub/Innovation-Driven Enterprise that must show evidence of the relationship with the Start-up/solution being entered.

“A 4-page Executive summary of the project concept, a 3-5 minute video of the pilot project, names, age, contact details.

“Passport photos and profile of all team members and the website (if available) as well as an E-mail address of the applicant.”

He said that all interested and qualified enterprises should submit requested documents in a zip folder to https://ncc.gov.ng/talenthuntresearchhackathon2023 with the subject of the mail titled “Submission from <business name>” and the zipped file named after the business.

Mouka said that the commission ran an advertorial on the Hackathon for 3 weeks and requested those in the startups ecosystem to note that the application would close by Friday, September 22, 2023.

Kidnappers have intensified their deadly operations at the notorious Enugu-Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road in Enugu State with the abduction of 14 persons, Friday evening, on the busy road.

The victims were said to be travelling in a fully loaded bus to Obollo-Afor from Enugu late evening, when the criminals struck.

The occupants of the bus, including the driver, were said to have been kidnapped by the hoodlums while two lucky ladies, who hid under the vehicle, escaped.

Advertorial

A driver, who plies the route, but pleaded anonymity, confirmed that the two ladies hid under the bus while the other passengers were marched into the bush by the gunmen.

This came as police sources in Enugu said operatives were making frantic efforts to round up some notorious criminals suspected to have invaded Enugu from a neighbouring state and recruited both some local criminals and herders to perpetrate the act.

Police efforts reportedly paid off, last week, as over 28 suspected criminals, mainly kidnappers, were killed during a dawn operation and dangerous weapons, including AK-47 rifles used by the criminals in terrorizing the state were recovered.

A driver working with a popular motor company told Vanguard: “It is dangerous plying the Ugwuogo-Opi-Nsukka Road in late hours. One of our drivers was kidnapped on Friday with his passengers. They were all kidnapped except two lucky ladies who hid under the bus.

“They were able to escape because it was raining and it was also late in the evening.
Nobody has heard anything from the abductors till now. We are afraid. That road is now a death trap, it is not safe at all.”

A concerned citizen lecturing at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus lamented that kidnapping regularly takes place on the busy road despite the road blocks mounted strategically by both the army and police.

According to him, “We are suspecting foul play on the part of security agencies. How can these daredevils continue to operate freely on that road with the huge presence of security agencies.

“They have no fewer then four road blocks across the road, yet nothing has been done to stop the havoc going on there daily.

“This should be a test case for the new Commissioner of Police in Enugu State because if he cannot stem it, let the authorities replace him with a more pragmatic and battle-ready officer that will save us from these criminals.”

Contacted, Enugu State Police Command said it has no such report.

According to the command’s spokesman, Daniel Ndukwe, “There is no such situation known or reported to the command at the moment. However, while we are making frantic efforts to verify the veracity of the information, we urge the person(s) with information on the exact location, time and mode of occurrence of the alleged incident to avail us of the same for necessary police actions.

“Meanwhile, the command remains undeterred in her quest to flush out unrepentant violent criminals in every part of the state.”

Ondo State Police Commissioner, Asabi Abiodun, has ordered an investigation into the alleged assault on the state Women Affairs Commissioner, Dr Adebunmi Osadahun, by a ward chairman of the All Progressive Congress in Arigidi, Akoko North West, Olumide Awolumate, during the distribution of palliatives.

Recall that the ward chairman reportedly attached the commissioner during the exercise alleged to have been shrouded in secrecy.

Advertorial

However, the ward chairman has since clarified that the commissioner and his son came to his house to attack him in the presence of a police officer.

However, the state police commissioner, in a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Funmi Odunlami, in Akure, the state capital, condemned the attack on the commissioner and ordered a probe.

The statement said that “preliminary investigation reveals that the Commissioner, who was in the Akoko area to see to the distribution of state palliatives, was attacked by the assailant named Awolumate Olumide while having a meeting with some of their party members in the area.

“The CP has ordered that a thorough investigation be carried out and the case transferred to the SCID, Akure, for further probe into what led to the assault.

Meanwhile, the attacker, Awolumate, said, “I was assaulted in my house by the power-drunk Commissioner for Women Affairs with her son in the presence of a police officer.

“I was in my house relaxing when the commissioner came with her son, one other boy, and a police officer.

“The police officer told me they needed my attention at the station in Oke Agbe, and before I could respond, the commissioner’s son pounced on me and tore my clothes, and the commissioner also joined in beating me.

“The police officer is still here, and I have resisted arrest, and I don’t know why they had to descend on me hand in hand.”

Awolumate said that there was an inequitable distribution of palliatives, which many people, including elders in the council, have been complaining about, while some residents even boycotted the exercise.

It’s a planned job to embarrass the commissioner-aides
However, aides to the commissioner ‘rubbished’ Awolumate’s allegation, saying that he attacked their boss during the distribution of palliatives in the council area.

According to the aides, “How can the commissioner attack the ward chairman in his house? That’s an afterthought. It’s not true at all.

“The ward chairman’s allegation doesn’t hold water. He’s the attacker, not the commissioner or her son. He was just out to embarrass the commissioner.

Meanwhile, the commissioner’s daughter, Dr Jumoke Bakare, confirmed that her mother was admitted to the hospital after she was beaten and injured by the ward chairman.

National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Friday confirmed the arrest of a syndicate which specialised in importing banned crusader soaps containing mercury into the country.

This was disclosed to newsmen by Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of NAFDAC.

Adeyeye revealed further that the syndicate used forged customs documents to import the product into the country, adding that the importation of the said soap into the country was banned by NAFDAC years ago because it contained mercury.

Advertorial

She was quoted by Nigerian Tribune as saying, “In the course of its regulatory activities, the investigation and enforcement (I&E) Directorate of NAFDAC has discovered a syndicate that specialises in importing banned crusader soaps containing mercury.

“The syndicate used forged customs documents to import the product into the country and further investigation through the ports shows that the banned crusader soap was imported seven times in 2021 alone.

“Each consignment is not less than three containers with 4,500 cartons of the soap.

“These products have found their way into various supermarkets and cosmetic shops with unsuspecting members of the public patronising them.

“Acting on intelligence, our investigation and enforcement team in August 2023 busted a warehouse in Trade Fair Market, which was filled with the banned imported soaps.

”Three trailer-loads of imported crusader medicated soap and mekako soap totaling 4,000 cartons by 12 packs by 12 tablet soap were evacuated from the warehouse, while some suspects were arrested in connection with the case.

“The street value of the evacuated products is approximately one billion Naira.”