By 
By Oluwatobi Opusunju
The Universal Service Provision Fund (USPF) under the aegis of the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) has selected 30 teams in its technology innovation Changemaker Challenge 2017. The Challenge is a nationwide competition open to innovators, software developers, UX designers, students and other ICT enthusiasts in the country with the aim of empowering the teeming Nigerian youths by challenging them to create technology-driven solutions for the needs of their communities and the nation at large.
According to USPF, five entries 5 (five) entries from each of the 6 (six) geopolitical regions prequalified National Finals of the competition. It stated on its website that the entries were selected based on some requirements which include originality and impact amongst other things.
“The submitted entries from each region were assessed based on originality of the idea (Concept and Audacity); level of Innovation (Logic and Thought Process Demonstrated); local content (Applicability to the Local Market); pitch quality and impact (Presentation and Communication of Concept); and documentation and video (Quality of Submitted Material).
“Congratulations to the pre-qualified teams who have already been contacted by the USPF Change-maker Challenge 2017 Team, with invitations to the National Finals and instructions on next steps.
“For those that did not pre-qualify from their respective regions, we will like to encourage them to upgrade their solutions as well as continue to innovate. Truly, innovative solutions will invariably attract opportunities for investment, mentorship and eventual success,’’ the Fund stated.
The teams that were selected are Corper Meet, Kano Magenta, Young Innovators, MTGSTC KANO, TechGirl, Team Unity, Impact Gs, iTOOknow, MyPikin, team UJAB, Team Kasu’a, Developers Crew, Bright Minds, ChangeSphareand Queue-Verse Systems LTD.
Others are Team Belle, Team UpNepa, DoctorsOfficeNg, Loystar, GeoWeb  Solutions, UWE, SafeMe, Imagination Over Flow, TEAM EAGLES, NICADEMIA, DreamTeam, The MUDIA project, Team SCEPH, Jiggle and Academix.
At the finals slated to hold in Lagos from Oct. 27 to Oct. 28, 2017, top three finalists out of the 30 teams would be selected by a panel of judges.
“The 1st prize winner will go home with N1,000,000, the 2nd prize is N750,000 and the 3rd prize, N500,000; the winners will all get acceptance into incubation programme.
“The incubation programme will involve mentorship, a two-week entrepreneurship boot camp and support in attempting to get the three final solutions to market,’’ the fund said.
