ABUJA – Nigerian start-ups and technology hubs with innovative digital solutions to tackle the current global pandemic, COVID-19 have been urged to submit their proposal before next week Friday.
According to the Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, any proposal submitted after the deadline will be rejected automatically.
The Commission had earlier said that the three selected adaptable digital solutions for addressing the impacts of pandemic and epidemic prone-diseases will receive N3, 000,000.00 to aid the development and deployment of these solutions in Nigeria.
It said: “Interested Tech Hubs, Startups and Innovation Digital SMEs are invited to submit soft copies, email to yikabir@ncc.gov.ng; fbruce@ncc.gov.ng; chimezie@ncc.gov.ng on or before 5pm, Monday 17th July, 2020, with indication of ‘Digital Solutions for Covid-19’ in the subject field.”
It advised that interested applicants will need to have solutions that address issues in the under listed fields of interest such as:
*Health: finding ways to empower Healthcare workers on the front lines and bring support to individuals isolated at home. It should also include solutions to prevent, trace and contain the spread of Coronavirus in Nigeria.
*Community: help with digital communications that will aid the sustenance of economic activities and people to people communication while encouraging social distancing.
*Productivity: Enhance productivity of people working from home during this Lockdown and beyond.
*Education: Easy to Deploy, accessible and cost effective eLearning Solutions for Public Schools.
*Transportation: Improve safety in public transportation facilities in Nigeria.
NCC also noted that the criteria for evaluation of the proposed Digital Solutions include: Adherence of proposal to stated requirements above, novelty of the proposed digital solution, clear problem statement and explanation of the proposed solution, each solution including prototype development must be concluded within 2 months of receipt of the grant, proof of concept, feasibility of idea with diagram, algorithm among others.
According to the regulatory body, submission will undergo preliminary assessment. The proposals that are adjudged most promising and capable of positively impacting the fight against COVID-19 may be invited for defense of the proposals before a decision is taken on winners.
