Nigeria’s largest online mall, Konga.com, has shown its strategic commitment to raising emerging leaders in the tech community by organizing the first ever Konga Software Developers Hackathon to pick the best among the best among students of Obafemi Awolowo University. The event had a turnout of over 50 brilliant students from Computer Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Engineering and Computer Science between 300 level and 500 level, all having the passion to code. Within 7 hours, these students teamed up to build various solutions around e-commerce and came up with various applications for crowd sourcing, distributed warehousing, ability to try out fashion items virtually before you buy etc.
From the 16 teams (with very creative names), the winning team, Echelon came up with a logistics solution while the team that came 2nd place – Team 47 developed a solution where you can try out a fashion item virtually to see how it fits before you buy. The Hackathon has team Echelon comprising of 4 students winning our prize of N75,000 as well as the opportunity to work with Konga.
Oyewale Ademola the Group Leader for Team Echelon said “We decided to develop an Inventory Management System with reverse logistics software due to the problem inherent in that sector. Thanks to Konga for giving us an opportunity to express ourselves.” Team 47’s team leader, Damola Adeniran said “Thanks to Konga for giving us a platform to develop a software which generates a 3-D model from the user’s picture to try on clothing materials they want to purchase from an online mall.”
“This type of collaboration is a critical component of efficient national innovation. What Konga is doing by gainfully engaging our students is a welcome partnership because Konga is contributing immensely to the development of technology and we are glad our students are beneficiary of this great initiative.”- Dr. Babajide Afolabi; Vice Dean, Division of Student Affairs, OAU.
Andrew Mori, the Director of Technology Konga Online Shopping Ltd said “The enthusiasm displayed by software developers who participated at the Hackathon is quite encouraging and Konga provides the right environment for them to learn and release their innate creative skills being the breeding ground for the best software developers in Nigeria.”
The VP, People Engagement of Konga Online Shopping Limited, IkeOluwa Akinbami said “This first ever Hackathon is in line with Konga’s drive in seeking out the best talents and empowering them to succeed as we strive to contribute our quota to the tech community.”
The Hackathon is Konga’s way of fulfilling the potential of developers by enlarging their capabilities and this necessarily implies their empowerment, enabling them to participate actively in their own development. Konga which has been listed as one of the Great Place to Work in Nigeria is passionate about the development of human capital that can serve our industry effectively. Having no doubt that we stand on the brink of a technological revolution that will fundamentally alter the way we live, work, and relate to one another, Konga is excited to be involved with building the community of developers and will be focusing more on this going forward.
