A team from the Federal University of Technology Akure, FUTA, has won the Wema Bank-sponsored 2022 HACKAHOLICS Competition.
The Hackaholics competition, hosted by ALAT under the auspices of Wema Bank, allows start-ups to pitch their innovative business solutions for a grand cash prize of 5 million Naira as well as other business support (including technical).
Team FUTA, comprised of Ige Shalom Oluwaseun, Otobo Nemi Richard, Abisuwa Oluwadunsin Timothy, Agunbiade Temitope Comfort, and Jumbo Tamarapreye Toluwanimi, all Year Four students studying Industrial and Production Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, defeated teams from the University of Ilorin and the University of Lagos to win the Grand Prize.
The 2022 edition, the third in the series, was devoted to student-run start-up businesses.
For the Preliminaries, the Bank chose three institutions with a growing community of Tech Talents: Babcock University, the University of Lagos, and the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The competition received over 770 entries from across the country. These were whittled down, and teams for the Preliminaries were chosen.
The pitch preliminaries were held at FUTA on February 15&16, 2022, with over 200 entries, with three teams from the Centre qualifying for the grand finale in Lagos.
The three teams, ROOMME, XPRESS, and TRADDEX, presented brilliant ideas and excellent business models and were chosen as FUTA Centre Representatives.
On May 2, 2022, the best nine teams from the three locations – Babcock, University of Lagos, and FUTA – pitched their business ideas at the Wema Bank Training School in Ilupeju, Lagos.
The ideas were judged by Ibifuro Apiafi, Chuba Ezekwesili, Joel Ogunsola, and Olamide Oladele, as well as investors and members of the general public who were present.
Team ROOMME from FUTA was adjudged to have the best idea and was declared the winner of the first prize of 2.5 million Naira. Team Kodar Tech from the University of Ilorin took second place with a sum of 1.5 million Naira, and team Ajovest from the University of Lagos took third place with a sum of 1 million Naira.
The business of Team Roomme aims to solve society’s housing problems.
ROOMME is an online platform that matches people with apartments and potential roommates based on their UNIQUE PREFERENCES as determined by digital configurations.
Professor Joseph Fuwape, the Vice Chancellor, congratulated members of the team, describing them as “Worth ambassadors of FUTA.” ” I am overjoyed that FUTA students have continued on the path of excellence and contribution to providing solutions to real-world societal problems.” “Team Roomme members have done our University proud, and their names will be inscribed in our Hall of Fame,” Professor Fuwape said.
