Ericsson has announced the launch of its ‘Together Apart Hackathon’ in Nigeria.

The theme-based hackathon aims to identify innovative and commercially viable solutions showcasing the power of connectivity and 5G deployment in Nigeria.

Mr Peter Ogundele, Country Manager, Ericsson Nigeria, stated this in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos.

Ogundele said that the hackathon would improve livelihoods, and contribute to the sustainable and economic growth of the country.

He said that there would be a collaboration with entrepreneurs, professionals, academics, and university students from across Nigeria to identify innovative and commercially viable solutions and deep-diving into the focus areas.

`The hackathon focus areas include health care and education, manufacturing and mining, digital financial inclusion, smart cities and the Internet of Things (IoT).

“The hackathon aims to develop ideas, revolving around digital technologies and 5G, to stimulate innovations that improve the lives of Nigerian citizens.

“A total of five winning teams will be chosen – one winning team from each focus area in the Nigeria Hackathon.

“The five winning teams will receive support in developing and scaling their solutions.

“One team will receive the grand prize to visit Ericsson’s headquarters in Sweden to pitch the team’s solution and interact with the entrepreneurial community,” he said.

He added that the Together Apart Hackathon encourages participants to efficiently harness the potential of new technologies to elevate standards of living across the country.

“Ericsson is committed to supporting local talent while focusing on ICT topics that are significant to Nigeria’s digital journey.

“The hackathon is the perfect opportunity to encourage creativity, ambition, and innovation to drive Nigerians’ technological capabilities and thereby bring about a positive impact on the nation.

“We are certain that the results of the hackathon will be inspirational, and we are looking forward to exploring the ideas and solutions of the participants that will contribute to the overall economic and social development of the country,” he noted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the hackathon will take place between Aug. 12 to Aug. 14, 2022.

The registration for the hackathon competition could be done online via the link: Ericsson Together Apart Hackathon Nigeria- https://www.ericsson.com/en/events/nigeria-hackathon.