Cavista Hackathon Set to Bridge Digital Skills Gap in Nigeria

By Emma Okonji

Cavista Technology, a subsidiary of Cavista Holdings has said its Hackathon initiative, which is in its second year running, will help address digital skills gap in Nigeria, while helping technology solution developers to develop solutions that will address local and global challenges. 

Executive Director, Cavista Holdings, Mr. Bamidele Odufuye, said this at the weekend in Lagos during its second hackathon competition, where over 150 students from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State University (LASU) and Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, pitched their solutions.

The solutions were focused on food and diseases in the health sector, and how Artificial Intelligence (AI) could be leveraged to address health related issues.

“The Cavista Hackathon, which started last year, is part of our contribution to address the digital skills shortage in the country. Hackathon like this helps to identify talents and further expose them to acquire digital skills that are needed in the technology space, both locally and internationally. They are encouraged by the exposure we give to them, to remain in Nigeria to develop tech solutions for the country instead of traveling outside of the country to seek for job opportunities,” Odufuye said while addressing journalists on the sideline.

According to him, the total number of participants in this year’s Hackathon is over 150 students and they are in 50 groups, from which nine groups will emerge in the general pitch. The nine teams will pitch at the finals and the winning team will emerge.

Giving insight about the solution that gave the team the first prize, the team lead, Michael Eziamaka, said the team developed an AI assisted solution that helps individuals create skin routines that will address any skin disease.

According to him, his Head of Department (HOD), posted the information about the competition on the school group chat and asked those who were interested in it to participate. “So my friends and I who usually compete in Hackathons, saw it and decided to apply. We prepared late but I am happy we won,” Eziamaka said.