Nairaxi, a mobile ridesharing app that provides users with the option to request taxi and bus rides, has emerged as the winner of the young innovators’ competition organized by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
The event, which took place at the Digital Bridge Institute in Oshodi, Lagos, saw the company clinch the coveted prize with a value of N2 million.
The presentation made by Nairaxi’s Co-Founder/CEO, Kingsley Eze, and Co-Founder/CFO, Elizabeth Omale, showcased an app designed to enhance rideshare services and safe delivery of packages.
The event was attended by top officials of the Commission, including Director of Research and Development, Mr. Ismaila Adedigba, who represented the Executive Vice Chairman of the Commission, Prof. Umar Garba Danbatta.
The second-place prize of N1.5 million was awarded to Floews, which offers a deep-tech solution that forecasts flood imminence and disseminates early-warning intelligence to the public.
Thronix Lab came third with a prize of N1 million, presenting Proxie, an IoT-enabled smart socket and Wi-Fi hotspot range extender that allows users to switch on/off appliances connected to it remotely through their phones.
The contestants were adjudged on criteria such as originality, innovativeness, simplicity of usage, and commercialization potential of their IT products, among others.
All 15 contestants demonstrated remarkable innovation, with ten proceeding to the Pitching Stage for having developed the best technology solutions amenable to commercialization and capable of solving identified challenges both locally and beyond.
The President of the panel of judges for the competition, Prof Mohammed Ajiya, commended the Commission for providing the platform for young Nigerians to leverage digital solutions in addressing local challenges in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the EVC, Adedigba commended all the contestants that participated and the panel of judges for their commendable diligence in evaluating the entries leading to the emergence of the winners.
Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman, reiterated the Commission’s commitment to promoting indigenous ICT solutions development and bridging the digital divide in Nigeria.
He noted that the competition was just the beginning of the collective journey towards ensuring that all citizens have access to the technology and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s digital age.
The 15 contestants at the event were Curnance PTY, Floews, Lalita by 02 Innovations Lab, Brilliant ESystems, Afrits Innovation, CitiFlow, Natal Cares, Nairaxi, Rate AM, Fixbot Technologies, Betalife, Cyber Plural, TronixLab, Ntapi Inc., and Bycep by Bedoun.
