GTBank Backs Four Nigerian Kid Inventors for Global Innovation Challenge

April 26, 2018
GTBank Backs Four Nigerian Kid Inventors for Global Innovation Challenge

By Dipo Olowookere

Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) Plc is sponsoring four junior secondary school students in Nigeria who developed a mobile app that could revolutionise agriculture globally.

The kids, between ages of 12 and 14, are from Whitesands School in Lagos and known together as Team Neon.

The inventors, Mordi Menashi, Gbemi Famobiwo, Afolabi Williams and Osagumwenro Ugbo, created a VirtualFarm Application which helps farmers manage their farm and connect with their target markets.

With this innovation, the team entered for the globally renowned Conrad Challenge Annual Innovation Summit in Florida, USA, which encourages high school students to develop cutting-edge solutions to real-world problems in the areas of Aviation, Cyber Technology, Environment and Health, amongst others.

Inspired by the team’s outstanding young talents and driven by its passion for innovation, leading African bank, GTBank is sponsoring the young innovators to the finale of the Conrad Challenge.

The lender’s sponsorship includes, among other benefits, the total coverage of the team’s travel and stay in America.

Competing in the ‘Smoke-Free World’ category, Nigeria’s Team Neon made it to the final stage of the competition, which will be held during the 2018 Spirit of Innovation Summit at the Kennedy Space Centre, from April 25 to 28, 2018.

Judges of the Challenge said, “Improving extension services in rural Africa is a critical step for any agricultural change and Team Neon makes a good case for how the VirtualFarm technology will work.”

This is the first time that African farmers will have access to the package, which has a range of technical advice, [and] with the USSD version of the app, it would be a win-win for the team.

GTBank has consistently played a leading role in Africa’s banking industry and is regarded by industry watchers as one of Africa’s most innovative financial institutions.

The financial institution also maintains an active and clearly defined Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy, which is focused on promoting education for all, fostering community development, promoting arts and protecting the environment.

Dipo Olowookere

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan.

Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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