Empowering Nigerian Youths Through Innovation at Tourism Hackathon 2.0
Posted by Ahmed Iyanda | 10 months ago | 424 times
In a dynamic display of innovation, Bedouin Group organized the second edition of the Tourism Hackathon Nigeria, a venture under the Hack for Tomorrow initiative. Held from September 6th to 7th at the Eko Convention Centre, Lagos, this event marked a significant stride towards addressing challenges in Nigeria's tourism sector.
Launched through the endorsement of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), at the UNWTO Global Conference in 2022, this year's Hackathon was in conjunction with Pyne Hospitality LLC in collaboration with Tourism and Hospitality Industries Thematic Group (THITG) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and with participation from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) among other notable partners.
Ayoola Gbade-Bello, the CEO of Bedouin Group and Coordinator of the programme, emphasized that even though the settings may have changed, the core mission remained unchanged: Impact through Innovation, Mentorship, and Entrepreneurship.
The Hackathon targeted the critical issues hampering Nigeria's tourism industry, striving to deploy technology for effective solutions. By bringing together young innovators and developers aged 18 to 30, the event fostered collaboration, skill-building, and networking with the aim of revolutionizing industry operations.
Gbade-Bello highlighted the documented challenges facing domestic tourism and the widening gap between public and private sector stakeholders, all of which detrimentally affect traveler experiences.
The Hack for Tomorrow initiative, in its pursuit to empower individuals with groundbreaking ideas, aims to cultivate a culture of collaboration and continuous learning while providing avenues for sustainable growth and development.
Looking ahead, Gbade-Bello affirmed Bedouin Group's commitment to organizing future Tourism Hackathon Nigeria events, propelling young minds to think innovatively about tourism and providing them with the necessary resources and mentorship to drive technological innovations in Africa's tourism sector.
The event witnessed gender inclusivity, with two out of five teams being female-led. Out of numerous entries nationwide, only five teams from Lagos, Oyo, Abuja, and Plateau emerged as finalists. Oyo's Virtual Tour NG claimed the top spot, followed by Yawo Yawo from Plateau, and Lagos' Gallivanter.
'Virtual Tour NG,' a web app integrating user-friendliness with Virtual Reality (VR), aims to offer innovative solutions to challenges within the tourism industry. Nafisat Ogunsesan, Team Lead of Virtual Tour NG, identified financial incapacity, accessibility, cultural decline, and logistic concerns as the industry's primary pain points.
The winners received prizes of N200,000, N100,000, and N50,000, respectively, with Aura by Transcorp generously facilitating the prize money. Further post-event support was assured by LSETF’s Lagos Innovates and Get Funded Africa.
To all industry leaders and gatekeepers, the call is extended to rally behind this burgeoning idea. Collective intelligence and creativity are the bedrock of innovation. Together, challenges will be met, technology will leap forward, and a brighter future will be forged.
Join us at Hack for Tomorrow and be part of a vibrant community championing innovation, collaboration, and positive impact. Together, we'll forge a better tomorrow through the power of innovation.
Visit here or Hack For Tomorrow for more information and updates.
