The United Kingdom government’s Department for International Trade (DIT) in partnership with Innovation Corner has launched Lagos Immersion 2019, hosted by Microsoft.
Five winners at the Immersion hackathon include Wasabi, an online platform that connects artisans with prospective clients. Utive, an online learning platform for experts who want to acquire new skill sets in order to best fit into the coming gig economy driven by artificial intelligence, coding, and big data analytics.
Others are Datarica, a technology-driven map that helps its users find practical anywhere and most things in Lagos; Econergco, with a specialty in the deployment of solar energy solutions; and Salubata, which recycles plastics into shoes.
This programme aims to promote seamless bilateral trade and illuminate the strengths of the Nigerian technology scene and encourage greater investment; especially tech innovations that address some of the macroeconomic and development challenges of the continent.
Boma Beddie-Memberr, the UK High Commission Information Communication Technology Lead in Lagos expressed the readiness of the British High Commission’s Department for International Trade to facilitate trade and investment between Nigeria and the United Kingdom as well as support the thriving technology ecosystem in Nigeria.
Social Good Lagos, a United Nations Foundation programme supported the Immersion Lagos with volunteers, a gesture that Tochukwu Egesi, chief executive officer of Innovation Corner appreciated and reassured his audience at the event that The Corner will continue to create technology products to facilitate social development in Nigeria and extend its network to startups wherever they may be in Nigeria spurring growth in the process.
The winners will receive the following benefits: links with the UK’s thriving tech sector and work with UK expertise to take their business to the next level. Winners will be paired with mentors with investment background and access to a wider network for four months. They will be invited to the Beyond Nigeria networking session with the Deputy High commissioner of the UK High Commission in August 2019 and subsequent sessions.
They will also have the opportunity to pitch their ideas to potential investors and partners in Nigeria and the UK. Winners will receive support from the Department for International Trade and Innovation Corner and access to local and foreign Immersion corporate partners and much more
The Department for International Trade is a United Kingdom government department founded in 2016 responsible for striking and extending trade agreements between the United Kingdom and non-European Union States.
Innovation Corner is a social innovation centre focused on using technology to solve social problems and supporting entrepreneurs through learning and her network. Two technology-driven products have been launched via the internal innovation team, these products are, Blueform and Rem Health.
