Nigerian teenage girls win Technovation world innovation challenge
Winning gold medal and $10,000
Every year, Technovation gathers girls from around the world to address and create mobile solutions to socio-economic problems of their choosing. The challenge is part of the technology entrepreneurship program organised by Technovation with the support of organisations like Google, the United Nations and the Peace Corps, to offer girls aged 11-18 from around the world the opportunity to learn programming skills they’d need in the emerging digital world. Since 2013, teenage girls from around the world have developed and presented Android applications created to address issues such as world hunger, waste management and adult education with the support of a volunteer mentor. According to the organizers, over 19,000 girls from 80 countries have participated so far.
“Save A Soul”, a team consisting of five girls from Regina Pacis Secondary School in Onitsha, Anambra State won the Junior Gold medal at the 8th edition of Technovation’s annual World Challenge. The girls, Promise Nnalue, Adaeze Onuigbo, Vivian Okoye, Jessica Osita and Neabukaky Ossai, represented Nigeria at the competition, which was held in San Francisco, California on the 9th of August and surpassed teams from USA, Spain, Turkey, Uzbekistan and China to win the gold medal and the cash prize of $10,000.
Motivated by the number of death by fake drugs cases they’ve heard of in their lifetime, the girls of Save A Soul, aged 12-14, created FD(Fake Drug)-Detector. According to their pitch, the FD-Detector “helps identify fake pharmaceutical drugs in Nigeria”. The girls affirmed that over 70% of the drugs sold in Nigeria are fake and to contribute to solving this problem, they intend to partner with NAFDAC (National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control) to maximize the impact of the FD-Detector. The application, created under the guidance of their mentor Ms. Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu, CEO of Edufun Technik STEM, detects fake drugs simply by scanning barcodes to verify authenticity and confirm expiration date.
Having emerged winners at the regional competition in Abuja in July, the girls swept through over 2000 applications until their final win on Thursday last week. Ms. Uchenna Onwuamaegbu-Ugwu, confirmed that this is the “first time a junior team Nigerian team is making it to the finals in Silicon Valley”.
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Fanti Carnival Returns to Lagos This Easter with a Vibrant Celebration of Afro-Brazilian Culture
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the...
The historic Fanti Carnival is set to make its grand return on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, bringing the streets of Lagos Island alive with colour, music, and culture. With roots dating back to 1890, the Lagos Fanti Carnival is one of Nigeria’s oldest and most vibrant cultural traditions, celebrating the deep ties between Nigeria and Brazil through a dynamic fusion of Afro-Brazilian heritage and modern creativity.
This year’s edition is supported by the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, in partnership with Robert Taylor Media and the Brazilian Descendants Association of Lagos. Together, they aim to honour the legacy of the Afro-Brazilian community in Lagos — descendants of formerly enslaved returnees who shaped the city’s culture, religion, and architecture.
The carnival procession will kick off at 12:00 PM, starting from Old Defence Road and will end at the JK Randle Centre, with accreditation beginning at 10:00 AM. Attendees can expect a stunning showcase of traditional costumes, Afro-Brazilian drumming, dance, and performances from local creatives reinterpreting heritage for a new generation.
Whether you’re drawn to the dazzling pageantry, the live performances, or the chance to connect with a rich cultural history, the Fanti Carnival is an unmissable event this Easter.
Tickets are now available, and more information can be found via the official Fanti Carnival website or their social platforms.
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Vlisco’s “The Garden Of Sisterhood” Campaign Comes To Life in New “MAYANGA” Video
A celebration of creativity and cultural
Dutch textile brand Vlisco recently unveiled its latest campaign ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood,’ as part of its women’s month celebration. The campaign, which looks to extend Vlisco’s rich legacy in African fashion and its ongoing celebration of creativity and cultural storytelling, takes inspiration from Congolese musical icon Fally Ipupa’s latest single, “Mayanga.” The song’s accompanying music video was shot in the Ivory Coast, and seamlessly balances Ipupa’s signature soulful Rumba music with intricate floral motifs and soft, elegant colour palettes that celebrate the strength and individuality that blossoms through community.
In addition to Fally Ipupa, Vlisco also tapped up Ivorian fashion designer Loza Maléombho and Nigerian director Daniel Obasi to contribute to ‘The Garden Of Sisterhood’ campaign. Maléombho’s unique designs and Obasi’s striking storytelling helped contribute to actualising Vlisco’s distinct aesthetic and vision of merging heritage, creativity and fashion.
In a statement discussing the collaboration with Vlisco, the Congolese superstar described it as a beautiful experience. “They understood my vision of working with talented artists and honouring the beautiful women who wear Vlisco fabrics. By creating exclusive designs for me and the remarkable women in the cast, Vlisco really brought our artistic vision to life, harmoniously fusing music and fashion,” he said.
Similarly, Marlou van Engelen, the creative director of Vlisco, expressed that it was an honour working with Fally Ipupa. “His song ‘MAYANGA’ perfectly reflects our admiration for the women who shaped us, inspire us, and mean so much to us. For us, it’s not just about fashion; it’s about the stories told through our beautiful prints. And I believe the best stories are always told together,” she said in a statement.
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NATIVE PREMIERE: Rigo Kamp Runs Ahead Of The Pack With The Visuals For “Marathon”
Rigo Kamp’s Marathon video is an intimate Afro-juju revival that pays homage to Sir Shina Peters and stamps...
Last Friday, Rigo Kamp, a NATIVE uNder alum and one of the architects of an equal parts nostalgic and refreshing sound released his self-titled debut EP, delivering a propulsive fusion of Alte, R&B, Funk, and Soul-infused rhythms.
Featuring previously released singles “Morning Sun” and “Summer”, the six-track eponymous EP executively produced by Odunsi The Engine sees Rigo lean heavily into his element as a sonic alchemist, jumping from silky falsettos to gritty grooves without losing an ounce of cohesion, and ultimately stamping the Abuja-born, Lagos-based singer-songwriter as a mad scientist of sound.
Just last November, Apple Music named Rigo Kamp as its Up Next artist, an acknowledgment that underscored his potential and confirmed what the tastemakers and underground scene already knew. Weeks later, he delivered an exhilarating live set for Spotify Fresh Finds in Lagos, proving he’s just as compelling live as he is in the studio.
On “Marathon”, the refreshing opener to the Rigo Kamp EP, Rigo borrows the bounce and swagger of Afro-Juju legend, Sir Shina Peters’ golden-era, fusing nostalgia with re-imagination to birth a vintage performance that feels like a private party for two, where it’s just Rigo, and you.
Get an exclusive first look at the video for Marathon here:
Listen to the Rigo Kamp EP:
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