TheCable

The Africa Development Bank (AfDB) has released the list of 100 finalists for its #AfricaVsVirus challenge.

The Jobs for Youth in Africa Initiative of the AfDB organised the #AfricaVsVirus Challenge to create tech and non-tech solutions to the most pressing challenges posed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.

A total of 58 Nigerian teams were named among the finalists in a list published on Tuesday.

According to the development institution, 25,000 participants from across Africa and beyond, joined to pitch their ideas.

Participants in the 72-hour ideathon that held between April 17 and April 20 curated 750 solutions, from which a panel selected the top 100 solutions.

“The quality of ideas and the level of engagement from participants during the online challenge showcases that innovation and a passion to find solutions are among Africa’s greatest resources,” Jennifer Blanke, AfDB vice president for agriculture, human and social development, said.

“We are looking forward to the next phase of the #AfricaVsVirus competition that will aim to boost the viability of the top solutions.”

The solutions were focused on nine thematic areas relevant to the African context, such as public health and epidemiology; vulnerable populations; businesses and economy; community, education; entertainment; government support; environment and energy; food security.

“Through the African Development Bank’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab Platform, the bank will now act as an enabler to match the most relevant solutions to the initiative’s 140+ partners,” a statement by the bank read.

The bank also said the top 20 teams, to be announced in September, would receive in-kind prizes worth over $1 million.