The maiden edition of the Professor Ogundipe Innovative Challenge (POIC) held today, Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at the Jelili Omotola Adebisi Halls. The event, which was well attended by the Management Team, staff, students, members of industry and friends of the University, witnessed some awe inspiring innovative ideas by students from different tertiary institutions.
After listening to intelligent facilitators from different arms of tech industries, eleven (11) contestants/teams who made it to the final stage of the Challenge were given centre stage to present their ideas, the problem it addresses and its marketability. These 11 were shortlisted after careful evaluation of about 500 entries received for the Challenge.
The 11 finalist teams are:
- Team Blipp
- Team Nupe Project
- Team BSF
- Team Skyline
- Team Zeena
- Team ElabTech
- Team Brickify
- Team Veta
- Team Solution
- Team ProBlack
- Team Loud Mind
The Professor Ogundipe Innovative Challenge (POIC) is a brainchild of the Faculty of Science, University of Lagos. It was created and named after the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Oluwatoyin T. Ogundipe, FAS, in line with his vision of growing a new generation of innovators. POIC is a platform for young, ingenious Nigerian students to come together with ideas and innovations that could proffer solutions to several human and environmental problems. These students could also improve on existing systems that already address these problems while using it to advance the course of research in science and technology.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, challenged students of the Faculty of Science, the University, students of other tertiary institutions and other young Nigerians to open their minds to ideas that would make them appreciate the basic concepts of different scientific theories that they are exposed to in the classrooms.
POIC Grand Finale Close in a Grand Style
In appreciation of the brilliant minds at the event and support of the vision of the Vice Chancellor who the event is named after, Dr. Akintoye Akindele, Managing Partner and Member of Investment Committee at Synergy Capital Managers, promised the 11 finalists a 2-year hands-on training and mentorship with Unicorn/TechMoney Africa.
After careful assessment by the judges and voting by members of the audience Team Solution who presented an innovative solution for all security problems came first (1st) place, while Team Veta and Brickify came second (2nd) and third (3rd) place respectively.
The event came to a close with presentation of awards, certificates of participation, appreciation souvenirs and group photographs.
