By Jessica Dogo

The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, says the top three winners of the Hack4Livestock Hackathon programme will receive N10 million.

Tijani made this known at a four-day Hack4Livestock Hackaton programme in Abuja.

He said that the challenge would encourage young talents in the country to build solutions that can work in the livestock ecosystem, regardless of location.

According to him, the ministry is working to ensure long-term sustainability by collaborating with the Ministry of Livestock, experts, and the Center for AI and Robotics to promote the solutions.

The minister said that the Federal Government was willing to invest in the dairy sector and provide an enabling environment for private investors.

“Whatever solution we are going to produce must not just be for the high-end part of the ecosystem for livestock, but something that can actually work regardless of where you find yourself.

“That is why we have decided that the best way to do this is to tap into the pool of talents in the country.

“It is about encouraging the best of the people in the country to build the solutions that we want to see,” he said.

Tijani said that the government was willing to invest.

“If the government is not willing to invest, a new ministry will not be established to look after this purpose.

“Investments in a sector like this should not just be about government.

“The role of government is putting in an enabling environment to allow private investors to try and come in and invest,” he said

He said that experts would be provided for the innovators to help them understand how their solutions would meet the needs of the sector.

Tijani said that the selected teams would receive mentoring support and work with experts to refine their solutions.

“By supporting them through that, our goal is to create new solutions that are high value but also generate economic benefits for the nation as well,” he said.

In his opening remarks, the National Director, National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR), Dr Olubunmi Ajala, highlighted the economic and social importance of the livestock sector.

Ajala also highlighted the critical role of technology in overcoming challenges within the agricultural landscape.

“The sector represents the dreams of our farmers, the sustenance of our families, and the foundation of our food security,” he said.

He expressed optimism about the potentials for innovation to align with National Livestock Transformation Plan and addresses a critical gap in technology adoption.

“Current data shows that less than 15 per cent of herders use digital tools. This is not because they do not see the value.

“It is because the tools have not been designed with their needs, constraints, and their wisdom in mind.

“We are not just building technology, we are building bridges. Bridges between innovation and tradition, between urban developers and rural practitioners, between policy makers and the communities they serve,” he said.

According to him, Nigeria’s livestock sector is at the heart of the agricultural economy, contributing over five per cent to the national GDP and sustaining the livelihoods of more than 40 million Nigerians.

Meanwhile, Divine Idikoh, an innovator of the Livestocx, says she is creating a digital marketplace platform that connects animal or livestock sellers directly to buyers or consumers.

“I spoke with people in the market place and observed that they had issues getting direct customers. Middlemen always increase the price and sell it at higher price for the people.

“Connecting to these farmers and creating a platform where they can directly relate to their customers will go a long way for them,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the conversation revolves around an innovation challenge focused on developing digital solutions for the livestock sector in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Kadiri Abdulrahman