Ventures Platform’s Kola Aina Calls for Tech Solutions to Help the NCDC Combat COVID-19

Earlier today, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed 5 new cases of the coronavirus (COVID-19). These confirmations have seen stakeholders in the country trying to proffer actionable steps to mitigate the further spread of the novel virus in Africa’s most populous country, Nigeria.

Kola Aina of Ventures Platform is one and has called on the Nigerian tech community to support NCDC with innovations that could help halt the spread of COVID-19.

This “hackathon” invites Nigerian hackers, developers, enthusiasts and founders to pitch ideas that could help the DG of NCDC, Chikwe Ihekweazu and his team contain the spread of the virus.

Calling all Nigerian Hackers, developers, enthusiasts & founders – lets use our skills for some good in support of the @NCDCgov

Oga @Chikwe_I is a G & a very correct person. Let’s support him & his team as they work to stem @#COVID19 👊🏿

Send ideas to [email protected] https://t.co/grkvWwha5E

— Kola Aina (@kola_aina) March 17, 2020

Five brilliant and actionable ideas from 5 developers or teams would be selected via a careful and thorough process. They would then be awarded everything they need to help them focus on their innovations.

“You get funding, workspace at Ventures Park, mentorship and a chance to save the world,” an official flyer reads.

Free legal services will also be rendered to the five startups as part of the package. The legal services will be provided by Vazil Legal.

This call for action comes as a welcome idea for many and is not alien to Nigeria only.

Recently in the US, the White House met with major tech giants to seek help in the fight against the coronavirus. The White House wanted to get support in tracking the outbreak, dissemination of accurate information and assistance for Americans affected by the virus.

The collective brainstorming between the tech industry and the government is very much needed. Not only has the COVID-19 led to the deaths of over 6,000 persons globally, but the effect has also been felt acutely in the tech space.

4 tech giants President Trump calls 'MAGA' stocks have lost $1 trillion in the coronavirus-induced market rout https://t.co/MeC6Cy52BZ

— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) March 17, 2020

The virus has crashed stocks of listed tech companies, plunged cryptocurrency prices and has also forced the cancellation of major tech events globally.

Many tech giants have been behind major philanthropic efforts to curb the spread, while others have been actively involved in fighting against misinformation or offering their tech to scientists to forge a vaccine.

Hopefully, this call to action sparks enthusiasm among Nigerian techies towards developing solutions to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 in Nigeria.