University of Ibadan Students Clinch Victory in NDPC’s Inaugural Hackathon
By Matthew Eloyi
Students from the University of Ibadan (UI), Oyo State, have emerged victorious in the inaugural hackathon organized by the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC), marking a significant achievement in indigenous data solutions.
The announcement of the hackathon results took place at the anniversary dinner and awards night of the NDPC in Abuja, as part of the National Data Privacy Week celebrations from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4.
The hackathon, aimed at fostering indigenous solutions for the implementation of the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA), saw participation from tertiary institutions nationwide, with over 100 applications received.
Three teams stood out: Nile University’s Team Cognito, University of Abuja’s Team Liitee, and UI’s Team Privalon, each presenting innovative pitches during the event on Friday.
Team Privalon, representing UI, showcased their solution ‘ChainVote’ to address identity management challenges and discrepancies in the voting system, ultimately securing the top spot in the hackathon. They were awarded a cash prize of N750,000.
Expressing their elation, Mr Halleluyah Oludele, Team Lead for Privalon, emphasized the motivation behind their solution and commended the federal government’s initiative in tapping into the skills of Nigerian youths for national development.
While Nile University’s students secured the second position with a cash award of N500,000, and the University of Abuja’s students claimed third place with a cash prize of N250,000, all teams were recognized for their commendable efforts in addressing data protection challenges.
The collaboration between NDPC and organizations like the Nigeria Computer Society, ISACA Abuja Chapter, and Innov8 Tech Hub Abuja provided a platform for students to showcase their talents and offered opportunities for further development, including free membership into the ISACA Abuja chapter for mentorship and idea refinement.
