Tech Expo for young innovators set to hold in Lagos

The third edition of the Young Inventors Tech Expo, a platform for young people aged five-17 to acquire knowledge while going through a comprehensive training by technology experts, will hold in Lagos on August 31.

Mike Mbon, the chairman of the event’s organising committee, said the aim of the expo is to support Nigerian children to innovate by catching them young and grooming them to become the next generation of inventors who will start-up invention and technology-based companies.

“The expo is a one-day event designed to bring together pupils and students of primary and secondary schools across the country and participants of Young Inventors Technology Training Programmes to showcase and exhibit their tech projects, solutions and inventions.

“The participating young inventors stand a chance to win scholarships and other prizes for their inventions, tech prototypes and solutions,” he said.

The objective of this year’s expo, which is themed ‘The Role of Young People in Technology Development in Africa,’ includes enabling young people to develop inventive, problem-solving, collaboration and critical thinking skills; encouraging youngsters to pursue their dreams and see themselves accomplishing great things; and preparing them to be the next generation of inventors, the organisers said.

The event aims to attract over 3,000 persons and will feature projects and prototypes exhibition by Young Inventors Summer Camp 2018 Students, tech design presentation by the students, tech and career talk by industry experts, and students’ prototype auction and sales among others.

It will also feature a prize-giving ceremony to best projects/prototype/solution in different categories (Electronic Circuit Design, Mobile Games Design 3D Animation, Mobile App Design, Web Design, TV & Media Production).

According to the organisers, the Young Inventors Tech Expo is the climax of a one-month technology training programme tagged ‘Young Inventors Summer Camp 2018’ currently holding across eight locations in Nigeria including Lekki Phase 1, Ogba-Ikeja, Surulere, Festac Town, Port Harcourt, Alakuko, Ibafo, and Abuja.

At the camp, primary and secondary school students are provided with the best 21st-century hands-on technology skills training using professional hardware and software tools in the following courses:- Electronic Circuit Design, Mobile Games Design 3D Animation, Mobile App Design, Web Design, TV & Media Production and Tech Discovery.

Mr Mbon said the vision for the project was also borne out of the need to ensure that youngsters put their long vacation to gainful activities.

“It is evident that technology is the way to go and our young ones have a role to play in stimulating technology innovations in our country.

“It, therefore, becomes imperative that all hands must be on deck to ensure that youngsters do not lose out in the future,” he said.

Last year, over 50 projects and prototypes were exhibited by young inventors and the event attracted about 1,000 persons, the organisers said.

At the end of the expo, four students with the best projects were awarded scholarships by Diamond Bank PLC. The theme of the event was ‘Technology – A way out of Poverty in Africa.’