Team AirSync have emerged overall winner of the Hult Prize Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) On Campus Challenge 2020 held on the 12th of November 2019 at the Institute for Entrepreneurship & Development Studies, Obafemi Awolowo University in Nigeria.
Team AirSync emerged as the winner of the On-Campus competition with their soon-to-launch idea of an air balloon device, which could almost at the speed of light detect oil spillage, leakage and vandalism within three kilometer (3 km) range and 5,000 feet (ft) above the ground.
Over 2,500 persons were in attendance at the Hult Prize OAU On Campus Challenge 2020 to witness the pitching of innovative ideas at the third Hult Prize On Campus event in OAU with the theme “Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century: Its Environmental Impact and Technological Evolution”.
Sponsored by Hult International Business School, in partnership with the United Nations, the competition challenges university teams from around the world to solve the most pressing global issues with viable business ideas.
A total of 72 teams registered for the Hult Prize On Campus event in OAU with 15 teams shortlisted to participate in the grand finale. The teams that pitched at the On Campus event presented brilliant business ideas ranging from technology to agriculture and proffered innovative and relevant solutions to existing problems, which alongside has a positive impact on the environment.
The premier entrepreneurship hub for OAU was also launched after the Director of Entrepreneurship; Professor I. O Abereijo had given a speech on what the hub was about. OAU Spark hub, the first of its kind in OAU was established to train students and instill an entrepreneurial/startup culture across students, inspiring them to believe that by setting up businesses, they can solve some of Nigeria’s and worlds most pressing challenges.
In a speech given by the Campus Director, Mr. Damilola Mogaji, he stated that the future of our economy depends on a new wave of entrepreneurs coming up with ideas, resolving to make them a reality and having a mission to create wealth and jobs. The theme for the competition is arguably the most pressing challenge we have in Nigeria and if we can solve this, many other problems will be solved too.
OAU Spark Hub will also serve as the preparation ground for participants of Hult Prize On-Campus event in subsequent years in OAU. A registration link for interested individuals will be generated and circulated soon therefore, students are advised to be at alert and register as early as possible.
Challenging Teams (finalists)
The first runner-up was Team Ecosmart while the second runner up was Team Laminar.
Team Ecomart came up with an idea and a model of a portable selling stand for traders in market that occupies lesser space and can be folded. The model is called ‘FOLDIE’. FOLDIE has a compartment for wastes, traders can also opt in to buy a FOLDIE 2.0 with a solar powered system for supplying electricity. This idea aim to reduce congestion in market space, reduce wastes in the market and also reduce emission of carbon gasses by using sustainable energy and also a mobile selling stand.
Team Laminar recognized the problem of road trafficking leading to pollution, delay and road rage. They planned to create a smarter traffic control, real time incidence detection and defaulter accountability system. Their solution is an integration of internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) technology for optimal outcomes.
The overall winner, Team AirSync automatically advance to compete in any of 26 regional finals happening around the world. The goal is to reach the accelerator in New York where there is a chance to win the grand prize of $1,000,000 and have access to comprehensive mentorship.
Panelists and judges
Panelists for the preliminaries were:
- Dr. Charles Jegede (Head of Entrepreneurship, Promotion Unit, IFEDS, OAU)
- Mr. Toyin Bamidele (Managing Business Partner, Theblueprint NG)
- Ms. Ife Agboola (Founder and Executive Director, Frontiers Africa Initiative)
- Mr. Oluwagbemiga Ojubanire (Lecturer, OAU).
The event featured judges that ranged from scientists, technology enthusiasts and engineers among which were:
- Professor I. O Abereijo (Acting Director, IFEDS, OAU)
- Mr. Chidi Nwaogu (Founder of Publiseer)
- Mrs. Achenyo Idachaba-Obaro (CEO of MitiMeth)
- Mrs. Oduwa Agboneni (Founder, Nenis Auto Care)
- Mr. Femi Aiki (Cofounder, Foodlocker)
- Mr. Jacob Sule (Executive Director, iRead To Live Initiative)
- Mr. Ogunbowale Olugbenga (Founder, EPower.ng)
- Mr. Francis Sani (Accelerator Programs Manager, NG_Hub)
- Mr. Toyin Bamidele (Managing Business Partner, Theblueprint NG).
Sponsors
The Hult Prize at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) on Campus competition team had sponsorship agreements with various brands in Nigeria. The sponsors include: Great FM, Cowrywise, Farmfunded, Mitimeth, A & G Prints, AFKIT, Konnect OAU and PIC restaurant.
Media and visibility
The event photographs can be accessed on the link as follows:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fb8uNYDBnsL2X90-wOLsQqEfIWwm5ktr?usp=sharing
More information can be found at: www.hultprize.org
Follow Hult Prize OAU on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HultPrize_OAU?s=09 and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/hultprize_oau.
