Nigeria’s Techiva Technologies bags SheTrades Hackathon with a cash prize of $10,000

Techiva Technologies, a Nigerian IT consulting firm, was named the winner of the SheTrades Hackathon and received a cash reward of $10,000.

In July 2021, the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) established the “ITC SheTrades Hackathon,” an opportunity for entrepreneurs all around the world to leverage technology for sustainable growth while keeping gender equality at the forefront.

Over 100 teams from all over the world applied to take part in the challenge, which asked, “How can women entrepreneurs use technology to expedite the transition to a more inclusive and green economy?”

Five teams from Egypt, Nigeria, the Philippines, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Arab Emirates made it to the finals after a tough screening process. The high-level jury, which included members from ITU, the United Parcel Service (UPS), International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), and Dubai Industries and Exports, witnessed their innovative pitches on March 21, 2022, at the live, virtual final pitching and award ceremony.

Team Techiva Technologies from Nigeria was named the winner by Maria Luisa Boyce, Vice President of Global Public Affairs at UPS. Through a game-changing digital platform that allows consumers to buy and sell surplus renewable energy to individuals in rural regions, the team hopes to close the energy poverty gap in their home country.

The platform, which is geared toward female entrepreneurs, also allows users to trade renewable energy products over the internet in order to make the transition to a greener economy easier. The winning team will get a $10,000 cash reward to further improve their concept.

The runner-up, Team Cawil.AI Solutions from the Philippines, has created a digital community platform for peer-to-peer learning to solve the digital skills gap for women. They will receive a scholarship to an international innovation camp to continue building their platform as part of their prize.

“All women, everywhere have the right to a decent income, good employment, good working conditions, and a choice and voice to shape their economic contexts,” Vanessa Erogbogbo, Chief of Sustainable and Inclusive Value Chains and Head of SheTrades Initiative at the International Trade Centre, said during the Award ceremony. However, the planetary crisis we are facing is jeopardizing our ability to exercise this right – it is both our biggest threat and, potentially, our largest market opportunity of our age, necessitating inventive and inclusive responses to both the threat and the opportunities.”

“At UPS, we are continually exploring for ways to utilize efficient and sustainable solutions to keep our globe green,” Boyce stated. As one of the world’s largest logistics companies, we want to keep leading the way in decarbonizing the transportation sector, with the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. I’m excited to see the finalist teams present so many innovative ways that include renewable and green energy solutions – it gives me hope that achieving a women-inclusive and sustainable future is closer than we think.”

Women must be integral to recovery efforts in order to stimulate the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future. The SheTrades Hackathon aims to empower women entrepreneurs to be change agents in the green economy, particularly through the adoption of green business practices and the development of climate-friendly products and services.

The Covid-19 pandemic has emphasized the economic and social vulnerabilities of women entrepreneurs, as women frequently serve as small company owners, main caretakers, and community leaders. Women-led enterprises have been disproportionately affected by the crisis due to their size and sectoral concentration, causing a ripple effect across countries and communities.

In rebuilding the global economy, a central theme has emerged: more equitable, green, and sustainable systems are required to mitigate future challenges such as climate change and the transition to the green economy must be accelerated.