Are you an innovator? Are you up for a challenge? Do you want to have a positive impact on society? Enter the #HackTheGerms innovation competition!
About the Award:
ADCEM Pharmaceuticals, DRASA, the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC) of Pan-Atlantic University, eLab, and the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Nigeria are looking for innovative designs for community hand sanitizer dispensers.
The Challenge:
- There is a lack of basic hygiene practices in the rural and urban communities of Nigeria. With a population of more than 190 million people and an already overburdened healthcare system, this means that Nigeria is at high risk of infectious disease outbreaks.
- Hand hygiene is usually only prioritized during outbreaks. For example, during Nigeria’s Ebola outbreak, hand sanitizer was everywhere and people were using it. Unfortunately, that is no longer the case.
- There is a lack of high-quality, locally-produced hand sanitizers and dispensers for people to use.
The Solution:
The goal of this competition is to address the challenge above by developing a dispenser that will ensure ongoing availability and access to hand sanitizer to help reduce the spread of infectious diseases and improve the health of Nigeria’s rural and urban communities.
Why Sanitizer?
DRASA has partnered with ADCEM Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare to develop locally-manufactured infection control and hygiene products – starting with hand sanitizer that meets international standards. The winning dispenser design will support the distribution of this locally-manufactured product.
Eligibility:
Anyone! We know great ideas can come from anywhere so we invite all big thinkers, entrepreneurs, students, innovators, inventors, individuals, and problem solvers to share your idea for a chance to make it a reality.
Selection Criteria:
- Innovative hand sanitizer dispenser design (new concept or revision of existing concept)
- Must be able to be produced in Nigeria
- Cost-effective, scalable solution
- Environmentally-friendly
Value of Award:
Semi-Finalists:
- Participation in a workshop in Lagos during Global Entrepreneurship Week in November 2017 to connect with experts and pitch your idea
Winner:
- Free trip to the Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Istanbul, Turkey in April 2018 to pitch your innovation to a global audience
- Participation in the eLab Social Innovation Accelerator for support (access to mentors, executive coaches, marketing and financial experts, etc.)
How to Apply: