The Vision Bling Tech Innovator (VBTI) Challenge, hosted by Vision Bling, has successfully concluded, providing a platform for emerging tech enthusiasts to address real-life problems in entertainment, education, cybersecurity, and health. The Youth Edition of the VBTI Challenge, aimed at university students in the Southeast of Nigeria, spanned from August to December 2022.
Applications for this edition opened on August 2, 2022, with fifty teams applying to participate.
The second phase, which took place from October 2 to 10, saw these teams pitching their ideas to a panel of judges, including Samuel Aramide, Somto Ugwu, and Paul Breakthrough. Out of the initial fifty teams, only ten advanced to the final stage.
The final event, held on December 14, 2022, at Trans Ekulu, Enugu, crowned Team Ace as the champions, earning them ₦200,000. Team Skrept secured the first runner-up position, winning ₦150,000, while Team Health Link took the second runner-up spot, receiving ₦100,000.
Additionally, Okolie Ugochi of Team Ace was awarded a brand-new laptop for being the Most Outstanding Participant.
Expressing her gratitude and surprise, Ugochi shared, “Personally, my biggest challenge was overcoming shyness because I’m not usually outspoken. Thanks to Vision Bling for helping me break out of my shell.”
Team Ace’s winning idea was an app called “Lifeline,” designed to connect blood donors with recipients, aiming to reduce fatalities in healthcare. “Vision Bling allowed us to pursue our passion, and we’re excited to see how many lives we can save,” the team stated.
Team Skrept’s innovative idea is a talent and skill marketplace that connects service experts with those in need of their skills. “We’re grateful to make a real difference in the world. Winning confirms people believe in our vision,” the team expressed.
Lastly, Team Health Link introduced a platform that seamlessly connects hospitals, doctors, and patients, aiming to revolutionize the healthcare experience. “Our goal is to improve healthcare accessibility, and we’re grateful for the chance to share our passion,” the team stated.
At the conclusion of the challenge, Uloma Okenyi, Senior Software Developer and Program Lead of Vision Bling, encouraged participants to persist in their tech careers, emphasizing the importance of seeing their ideas through, even beyond the challenge.
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