The University of Lagos Fabrication Laboratory (UNILAG FABLAB), in collaboration with La Cite des sciences et de líndustrie, the Carrefour numerique2 and 11 other FabLabs in Africa organised a Global hackathon titled: “The SDGs Challenge for Africa2020”, between Friday, December 11 and Sunday, December 13, 2020.
9 undergraduate students of the University of Lagos from the Faculties of Law, Engineering and Science competed to find open-source solutions to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) or Goal 13 (Climate Action). These students were grouped into two sets of 5 and 4 respectively and both teams focused on providing solutions to address the two SDG Goals.
The first group, Team Reformers comprising Saad Salami, Nwaokorie Oluchi, Fortune Adekogbe, Fasasi Omoniyi and Evans Ehiorobo. The team worked on achieving a circular economy by providing solution for effective waste management (collection, sorting and recycling).
The second group, Team ACE comprising Olopade Tofunmi, Akanmu Ifeoluwa, Fayinka Abisola and Aduloju Oluwatofunmi. They developed an App for Climate Impact Rating.
Each team was mentored by members of the UNILAG FabLab (Dr. Temitope Onuminya, Dr. Nsikan Obot, Mr. Ahmed Yinusa and Mrs Chika Ojiako) and given support as needed to achieve their set goals.
Watch clips of the process here:
At the end of the 48-hour challenge, Team Reformers was able to develop a prototype bin which is capable of sorting metallic and non metallic waste. Also, they were able to recycle plastic covers into useful products such as table mats and cup holders.
Team Ace, on the other hand, developed a prototype of its App and demonstrated its usability in measuring impact of daily human activities on the climate of a given area.
These were presented at the grand finale of the SDG Challenge for Africa 2020 held on Sunday, December 13, 2020. This can be seen here at 1:21:09.
The competition took place simultaneously in 8 African countries and online for residents of France due to the lockdown.
The UNILAG FABLAB is part of a network of Fabrication Laboratories across the world and the first of five in Nigeria. The digital Fabrication Laboratory was donated to UNILAG on October 9 by the French Embassy in Nigeria.
The Management of the UNILAG FabLab congratulated the participants on their innovations and pledged its support to work with the teams in further developing their ideas.
