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  • OPPO Launches 2023 Inspiration Challenge, Investing USD $440,000 to Call for Innovative Technical Solutions
    • Through OPPO Inspiration Challenge, OPPO Research Institute will partner with Qualcomm Technologies, GSMA 5G IN, Amazon Web Services, and LinkedIn to empower technology professionals and entrepreneurs worldwide to bring innovative solutions to life. 
    • In line with OPPO’s mission of ‘Technology for Mankind, Kindness for the World’, 2023 Inspiration Challenge is calling for proposals in the two categories of ‘Inspiration for People’ and ‘Inspiration for the Planet’. 

    May 8, 2023, SHENZHEN — OPPO Research Institute, together with global partners Qualcomm Technologies, GSMA 5G IN, Amazon Web Services and LinkedIn, announced the launch of 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge on the World Smile Day. Based on the brand proposition of “Inspiration Ahead”, OPPO and its global technology ecosystem partners aim to bring new and innovative solutions to life by providing funding, support and partnership opportunities. By working together, OPPO hopes these innovations can create a positive impact, and encourage greater awareness of the issues that affect global communities.

    2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge – Call for proposals

    OPPO and partners pledge funding and technical support for innovative proposals 

    “OPPO believes deeply in the idea of ‘Virtuous Innovation’. As we continue to explore new technology, we remain dedicated to doing so in a way that puts people first.” said Head of the OPPO Research Institute. “With the global issues like public health, accessible technology and environmental protection being the key concerns, we could not rely on our own efforts to provide solutions. We have therefore initiated the Inspiration Challenge to empower likeminded innovators to tackle these big issues together with us using the power of technology and create a better world for all.”

    Applications for the 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge will start from May 8 to June 30, with three regional demo events set to take place in Bangkok, Boston and Shenzhen at early August. Finalists from each regional demo event will be invited to join the Inspiration Challenge Acceleration Camp and meet with OPPO executives and technical experts to revise their proposals before the global final demo event at the end of August.

    Global Timeline for 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge

    All the proposals for OPPO Inspiration Challenge this year will be evaluated based on the four criteria of Feasibility, Technological Innovation, Long-term Potential, and Social Values. A total of 15 qualified proposals from regional demo events will be selected as global finalists and top 5 winning proposals will be selected in the global final demo event, each being awarded a grant of USD $50,000 (approximately 350,000 RMB, tax included).

    Further partnership opportunities are open to the top 45 proposals worldwide – made up of the top 15 proposals in each regional challenge – including, but not limited to:

    • Productization and commercialization opportunities: an incubation fund totaling US$190,000 (approximately RMB 1.25 million, tax included), will be set up to co-develop solutions for implementation.
    • Strategic partnership and investment opportunities.
    • Opportunities to showcase at global technology events.
    • Opportunity to receive cloud resources and technical support from Amazon Web Services.

    OPPO to collaborate with technology professionals worldwide to create a better future

    During the OPPO Inspiration Challenge last year, 536 proposals were collected from innovators around the world aimed at tackling key challenges in ‘Accessible Technology’ and ‘Digital Health’. OPPO has since worked with 18 of these teams to further implement their proposals and has brought some of them to global platforms such as OPPO INNO DAY 2022 and MWC 2023.

    Top 10 Outstanding Proposals for 2022 OPPO Inspiration Challenge

    As health, accessibility, and environmental protection being the key focuses for society, it’s important to drive progress in these key areas through innovative technology. 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge will focus on the two categories of ‘Inspiration for People’ and ‘Inspiration for the Planet’, supporting technology professionals around the world to develop innovative solutions in these two areas.

    • Inspiration for People: Innovative Solutions for Digital Health and Accessible Technology 

    This category is a call for technologies, products and services related to digital health and accessible technology. It includes health algorithms; hardware sensor innovations i.e. the integration of new and advanced sensors into daily health monitoring devices; innovative products for digital health monitoring; accessibility assistive technologies; and technology designed for the elderly. The primary focus of this category is to make technology accessible and beneficial to everyone. 

    • Inspiration for the Planet: Innovative Solutions for Environmental Protection and Low-Carbon Development

    Aligned with OPPO’s pledge to achieve carbon neutrality in its operations by 2050, this category calls for innovative solutions related to environmental protection and low-carbon development as applied to consumer electronics. It includes renewable energy; sustainable materials and packaging; green production processes; recycling of electronic products; and carbon emission digital management. The primary focus of this category is to minimize the environmental impact of electronic product manufacturing or usage, and to promote sustainable development through technology.

    Global applications for the 2023 OPPO Inspiration Challenge will be open from May 8 to June 30. To learn more about the program or register, please visit the official webpage at: https://www.oppo.com/en/proposal/ .

    About OPPO

    OPPO is a leading global smart device brand. Since the launch of its first mobile phone – “Smiley Face” – in 2008, OPPO has been in relentless pursuit of the perfect synergy of aesthetic satisfaction and innovative technology. Today, OPPO provides a wide range of smart devices spearheaded by the Find and Reno series. Beyond devices, OPPO also provides its users with ColorOS operating system and internet services such as OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO has footprints in more than 60 countries and regions, with more than 40,000 employees dedicated to creating a better life for customers around the world.

    Partner

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  • Why You Should Check Out the New Café One Workspace in Yaba

    Café One, the coworking space that connects innovation and community, has just opened a new outlet on the mainland – at the epicentre of hustle itself, Yaba.

    Before we give you all the details about how this went down, let’s give you the lowdown on what Café One is.

    Café One is a serene co-working space that gives millennials and Gen Zs a delightsome networking and productivity experience. The co-working space first opened at Lennox Mall, Lekki in 2018 and another at Atlantic Mall in 2021.

    Now, Café One has just opened at the E-centre, Yaba and its doors are wide open to techies, creatives, remote workers, freelancers, and digital nomads on the dryer side of the Lagoon State. The E-centre is a prime location for a masterpiece of innovation like Café One because it is a wonderful escape from the chaos that makes Lagos remarkable. From game arcades and delightful food stores to fashion outlets and a cinema, only a few other places give the oomph like the E-centre.

    Back to the Launch event, the occasion was graced by socialites and popular techies, the likes of Salem King, who endorsed the place as a meeting place for sharing ideas and unwinding. 

    Café One promises and most importantly, delivers on the best-tasting coffee and pastries you have ever had (seriously, try it) with free Wi-Fi and a one-of-a-kind digital banking experience you have never gotten anywhere else on the mainland.

    Beyond that, Café One will astonish you as it is the best rendezvous point to work, chill, and vibe with its numerous activities such as sip and paint, karaoke night and book readings.

    If you ever need a space in Yaba to work, hang out, catch up with your pals, and sip coffee and take cute pictures for the gram, Café One is the place for you. You can either book a space online at https://cafeone.ng or walk-in and check them out. Opening time is between 11:00 am to 8:00 pm from Mondays to Saturdays. You can call these numbers 09163228033, 09163342612 for more information. 

    Partner

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  • How 9 Nigerian Teenagers Are Changing the Healthcare System in Nigeria

    The only thing better than a success story is a success story in the making. That’s the feeling I got when I spent some time with Team Neptune, made up of the nine Nigerian teenagers who won InterswitchSPAK’s inaugural “Innovation Challenge.”

    InterswitchSPAK 1.0 Innovation challenge is just one segment of InterswitchSPAK’s National Science competition, organised by Interswitch Foundation.  

    A while ago, they were just nine students; now, they are nine students creating a solution that could change Nigeria’s health system forever. I know what you’re thinking; how did they get there? Let me take you on a journey that begins with — like everything in school — a written test.

    • Students from all over the country competed in InterswitchSPAK National qualifying examination.
    • Finalists were grouped into nine groups of nine students each. The groups were named after some of the known planetary bodies.

    Their task was not a simple one. They were asked to find a solution to any notable socio-economic issues in health care, public transportation and education, taking advantage of technology. Each team had some help from staff of Interswitch who volunteered as mentors.

    • Team Neptune, made up of nine SS2 students, tutored by Interswitch’s Princess Edo-Osagie, Inalegwu Alogwu and Abiodun Adebisi, won the challenge.

    Their innovative solution permits anyone who’s registered on the NHIS to consult doctors via the internet, or USSD (for those without internet access). Like the superheroes that they are, the students also dreamed up a system that allows the patients, after consulting ‘internet doctors’, to get drugs from partner pharmacies using the doctor’s prescription.

    Sweet, right?

    According to the judges, Team Neptune ticked all the right boxes.

    The two major criteria in choosing the winners were ideas and presentation. 

    • The jury considered the use of technology, what opportunities were explored, whether the idea was possible and how much change it would bring. 
    • For the presentation, the jury considered the delivery, creativity and demonstration of teamwork. 

    Team Neptune worked for it and they got it. They won the founder’s prize. Since then, they’ve been lowkey working, with help from Interswitch.

    Interswitch is keen on making Team Neptune’s solution a reality. Here’s what they did; the students were brought into the company and tutored for weeks by no other than the Interswitch head of innovation, Eghosa Ojo.

    In those few weeks, they’ve built their health solution into a business, while also learning invaluable teamwork, strategy and planning skills.

    According to Israel, who is Team Neptune’s de-facto CEO, the entire experience was great. He said, “I think the most important thing we’ve learned here is how to work as a team, how to combine ideas and approaches to create something strong and valuable. We’ve also had the privilege of being tutored by someone who has years of experience and is very patient and willing to pass on knowledge”

    Team Neptune has now presented their business to the senior management team at Interswitch, and we can’t wait to see how far this goes.

    Keep your fingers crossed. If anyone tells you how your health insurance package now lets you consult a doctor via the internet and buy prescribed drugs, you know who made it happen. Nine Nigerian teenagers will have made that happen and we have Interswitch to thank for it. 

    Segun Akande

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  • A young man from Kano has built a solar-powered car, according to a BBC Newsday report.

    23-year-old Mukhtar Fa-sah is our award winning Nigerian with 2 heads today!

    This young man from Kano has built a solar-powered car that emits zero carbon into the atmosphere.

    If we lived in a country that had sense, government would grab this idea and help him produce these cars en masse

    Due to the greenhouse effect, the world is moving away from fossil-fueled cars to alternatively-powered ones.

    If we reshape and invest in this young man’s idea, we could be a world-leading nation very soon.

    But our government is not here for that.

    Their own is just to count money and go.

    How they react when you mention climate change to them:

    We don’t really have anything to say to them…

    Shola

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  • This Nigerian Man Has Created The World’s First Hand-Woven Car

    Meet Ojo Obaniyi, a 40-year old man from Ibadan, Nigeria.

    Ojo decided to customise his Volkswagen pick-up truck..using hand-woven raffia fibres.

    As a weaver with over 20 years experience, Ojo has created chairs, baskets, mats and other items, but decided to do something more unexpected.

    Ojo explained, “I wanted to prove a point that it is not only the educated elite that can make positive changes in society.”

    He added, “We, the artisans also have talents to effect a change and make a positive impact in the society. That is why I decided that I too must do something that will make people recognize me and know me across the whole world and by extension prove to the world that Africans and indeed the entire black race have very talented people.”
    Ojo has once again shown that Nigerians are gifted in more ways than one! And more importantly, creativity does not decrease with age.

    Ojo Obaniyi, the number you should definitely call for unique premium weaving services!

    Damilola

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