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Jane Agbaohwo was 22 years old when her mother passed on at the age of 50. She died in 2019 of cancer. The death was so traumatic that she felt the need to help as many people as possible overcome cancer disease.
“I felt so helpless when she was sick. I didn’t know how to help her, because she was basically on drugs. When she passed, it became a realisation and I knew I had to help people, because early detection is key to tackling the disease. So, once you detect early, you can start treatments and you stand a chance to live,” she said.
This was the birth of IRETI, a health-tech startup that helps women manage breast cancer. Agbaohwo said the startup aimed to reach women in urban and rural communities in partnership with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) as a way to deepen cancer awareness.
“We are reaching out to them; helping them to create awareness about breast cancer, it kills, but you stand a chance to live if you detect it early and start treatment on time,” she said.
As fate would have it, at the Wema Bank/ALAT Hackaholics Digital Summit and grand finale, tagged, ‘Re-imagine: Disrupting the Ecosystem for Scale’ held in Lagos, Agbaohwo emerged winner.
IRE
TI won the N15 million cash prize for the best-pitched business, while GRIP, a fintech startup won N10 million as the first runner-up, and Trakka won N7 million as the second runner-up.
Outsidee won N5 million for the Women Led Award, a prize instituted to support women in tech. Other winners were Naijabox (best energy startup), PUP Industries won the award for the best climate subset; MumAlive won in the health category, Chao won in the e-commerce category and University-X won the edutech category.
Also, three universities won the Wema Bank Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Endowment Fund award. They are Babcock University, Ilisan (N10 million), Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (N7 million) and Nile University won N5 million.
Speaking after picking the prize, founder and creative director, IRETI, Agbaohwo, said: “Going forward, we will be able to reach out to women in urban communities and also women in rural communities, because we are partnering with NGOs. We are reaching out to them; helping them to create awareness about breast cancer – it kills, but you stand a chance to live if you detect early and start treatment on time.”
Speaking at the pre-pitch, Head, Innovation and Emerging Technologies, Wema Bank, Solomon Ayodele, noted that the finalists were shortlisted from over 3,000 applications from students across the country.
Ayodele explained that the essence of Pre-Pitch, which saw 10 emerge from 25 finalists, was to help the finalists refine their pitches through rigorous training as the bank aimed to bring out the best for the grand finale.
“It is clear on both individual and industrial levels that the Hackaholics vision has been perfectly brought to life and its impact on the lives and businesses of Nigerians nationwide cannot be over-emphasised,” he said.
He added that the digital summit serves as a hub for sharing cutting-edge insights, trends, and best practices in the tech industry towards the positive transformation of technology and innovation not just in Nigeria but across Africa.
“With over 300,000 lives already impacted, the future of innovation in Africa is potentially glistening, thanks to Wema Bank’s unwavering commitment to fostering collaboration and driving innovation.”
One of the judges, Startup Fund Manager at Google, Femi Awoniyi, said part of the things considered were how strong the team was, how innovative the solution was, how sound the business model was, and its propensity for scale.
“I’m a big fan of innovation and seeing how innovation could touch lives and defend businesses. The more we come up with things of this nature, these kinds of events, where we are creating a space where innovators can feel comfortable, while providing them with some capital should be encouraged.
“Today’s event is a catalyst and motivating factor for the participants to actually roll out their own solutions and help more people or more businesses becomes like a vicious cycle.
“We just listened to a couple of solutions in various sectors including health care, and we are seeing how we can help women and people that are facing things like breast cancer, and solve other real life problems that the people are facing everyday. If things like this can be encouraged, lots of lives will be touched.”
Another judge, Rosemond Phil-Odhihiwa, a startup attorney and corporate consultant, noted that one of the key things the panel was particular about was innovation as the theme of the Hackaholic portray.
“So, we’re looking for viability, innovation and capacity to scale,” she said.
MD/CEO, Wema Bank, Moruf Oseni, stated that a unique blend of traditional banking expertise, and technology embedded deeply in the bank’s system has afforded them the opportunity to support the growth of the tech ecosystem in Nigeria.
“We also recognise that any economy that is serious about sustainable economic and social development must pay serious attention to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Entertainment and sports have put Nigeria on the global landscape in a positive light; but they cannot help to predict technology and infrastructure deficits that will see Nigeria achieve its true potential.”
Oseni noted that innovation is essential to sustainable success, urging the audience to collaborate, innovate and leverage opportunities to sustain the growth of their businesses and innovative solutions.
“This is just the beginning. We are deeply rooted in this journey of empowering lives and fostering a digital and national transformation through innovation and collaboration. Rest assured that the Hackaholics Digital Summit 2024 would be bigger and much better. I thank you for your support all through our journey and I resound our commitment to you; we are with you, all the way,” he added.
Founder /CEO, Flutterwave, Olugbenga Agboola, in a keynote address, said events like Hackaholics 4.0 could provide valuable opportunities to founders who are leveraging technology to solve both local and global challenges.
Commending Wema Bank’s record of sustainably empowering lives and businesses, expressed gratitude to the bank for consistently enabling FinTechs and small businesses across Nigeria to thrive.
“The Flutterwave story is incomplete without Wema Bank. Their dedication and passion is inspiring and I say this because I have witnessed the sacrifices and support Wema Bank has given. We have grown sitting on the shoulders of this giant and the symbolic nature of Wema Bank as the infrastructure that not only drives innovation but also provides a platform for new innovations to emerge is second to none. I am excited about the Hackaholics Digital Summit and I conclude by saying this: If you want to go far, go with people.”
Executive Director, Retail and Digital Business, Wema Bank, Tunde Mabawonku, said the summit transcends boundaries to unite digital innovators, visionaries, and industry leaders from across Nigeria. “It’s all about harnessing the collective potential of startup founders to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible in the digital age,” Mabawonku revealed.
According to him, the theme for this year’s event encapsulates the very essence of the bank’s innovation programme.
“It embodies our sheer belief in a world where change is only constant. Our ability to reimagine and disrupt the status quo is what sets us apart,” Mabawonku said.
The grand finale event united key players in the technology and digital space, and featured renowned industry giants such as Microsoft, Flutterwave, Interswitch, representatives from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Endeavor Africa, and Stears.
Others include, Arese Ugwu of Smart Money Woman, Dr. Ola Brown of NaijaFlyingDoctor, Cofounder/COO of Bamboo, Yanmo Omoregbe; Jay Alabraba of FAGA Group, Partner at Lawracle LP, Kayode Adeniji and former Commissioner of Youth and Sport, Seun Fakorede, among others.
These brilliant minds, along with other principal actors in the technology space brainstormed at the summit to identify the prevalent issues youth entrepreneurs and startups may encounter in the technology industry, and provide insight, best practices, strategies and solutions, to effectively and sustainably manage these challenges to scale.
The summit covered every area from funding to technologies, industry practices, government policies, infrastructure, and strategic innovation for societal change. The groundbreaking summit left attendees with a renewed sense of responsibility and focus, arming them to seamlessly navigate the digital and technology industry towards self, professional and national development.
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