NEWS RELEASE The Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy joins forces with Imo State Ministries for a groundbreaking digital empowerment initiative. In concert with the Imo State Digital Agenda, the Federal Ministry of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy, in collaboration with the Imo State Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government and the Ministry of Education, organized the much-anticipated Build-a-Thon 2024.The four-day event, held from the 22nd to the 25th of January 2024 at the prestigious Landmark Event Centre in Imo State, showcased the innovative prowess of 500 talented students from secondary schools across the state. The Build-a-Thon, an immersion program where children are exposed to embedded and other emerging technologies, is aimed at empowering the next generation of techies and equipping them with future-proof skills that will make them relevant players in the global emerging digital economy. Unleashing their power of creativity, it is designed to develop their innovative spirit, making them developers of solutions that will usher in sustainable development in the economy. In his welcome address, the immediate past Commissioner for Digital Economy and E-government, Dr. Chimezie Amadi, stressed that digital skills have become a lifesaving skill and an economic enhancement skill in high demand globally. “Once you can deploy the potential God has given you, unleash your creativity, and use the tools before you, you will become the next Mark Zuckerberg from Imo State, Nigeria. Our governor, Dist. Senator Hope Uzodinma, who understands that technology is the future, became the first to establish the Ministry of Digital Economy and E-Government. With this trailblazing approach, we are hopeful that the best innovations will come from you, thereby placing Imo as the digital skills hub of Africa’’. Earlier in his speech, the immediate past commissioner of education, Prof. John Cliff Chike Nwadike, also enjoined the students to use the invaluable opportunity before them to transform their lives and the nation as a whole. Following the inauguration, the participants dove into a series of hands-on challenges designed to test their skills in coding, app development, and other digital disciplines. Mentors and industry experts provided guidance, offering valuable insights and encouragement to the budding innovators. The Landmark Event Center buzzed with excitement as teams of students collaborated, brainstormed, and brought their ideas to life. The atmosphere was charged with the spirit of competition as the young minds raced against the clock to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. At the end of the intense and exhilarating event, projects constructed by the students were: Biometric attendance register, street lights, solar towers and panels, Smart doors, Speed boats, Fire alarm systems, virus-detecting robots, Digital radios, Rechargeable generators, rechargeable power batteries, traffic lights, Emergency response systems, Cyclone arcades, etc. Winners emerged in 15 categories: Best Overall Project, Most Innovative Project, Most Creative Project, Best Use of Technology, Most Sustainable Project, Most Collaborative Project, Best Project Presentation, Best Documentation, Future Innovators, Community Impact, The Audience Choice, Raspberry Pi Mastery, NCC Award for Innovation and Creativity, the Best Problem-Solving Project, and the Most Adaptable Project. Comprehensive secondary school Avu emerged as the champion of Build-a-Thon 2024 as the school with the best overall project. The ceremony concluded with an awards presentation. Build-a-Thon 2024 not only showcased the immense talent and potential of Imo State’s youths but also underscored the federal government’s commitment to nurturing a digitally literate and innovative society by engaging other States and other sub-nationals’ structures for a backward integration strategy imperative for project objective realization. The Imo State Build-a-Thon 2024 was organized by the Federal Ministry of Communication, Innovation, and Digital Economy and partnered with the Raspberry Pi Foundation and the Nigerian Communications Commission. Sandra Opara.P.R.OMinistry of Digital Economy and E-Government
