The Lagos State Government has announced five hardware and five software teams that will participate in the final hackathon design event slated for 16th through 18th September 2020, when the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu will announce the overall winner from each competing entries in hardware and software categories at the Grand Finale, at the Eko Innovative Centre, No. 50 Awolowo Road, Victoria Island, and Lagos.
The Lagos Smart Meter Hackathon is organized through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources to provide affordable electricity meters to the populace by facilitating the design and production of meters to improve energy distribution, monitoring and prevention of revenue leakage.
The five hardware finalists are Cosmo Automation, Smart Energy, Techwizard, Power Bit Cruchers and Gadozz Electricals. While the five software finalist teams are Vectorians, Zeena Platform, Magnitronics, Chosen Soft Tech and Gideon.
These teams, who were shortlisted after a rigorous and competitive process, will participate in the final hackathon event slated for 16th to 18th September 2020 when the final winners for both hardware and software categories will be announced. The winners from the two categories will receive a prize of seven million naira.
Hackathon received 274 registrations – 127 hardware teams and 147 software teams. In addition, 65 hardware and software prototypes were submitted by applicants.
At the launch of the programme by Lagos State Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, he noted that the Smart Meter Hackathon marked a significant milestone in the implementation of the State Government’splan towards improving access to electricity and it is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal 7 of the United Nations targeted at achieving universal access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all by 2030.
He added that the initiative fits well within the six pillars of the development agenda of his administration (T.H.E.M.E.S), which includes driving technology-driven innovations to transform Lagos into a 21st-century digital economy and Smart City, adding that he would that these goals are achieved.
“This Lagos Smart Meter Program is an important way for the Lagos Government to demonstrate its commitment to improving electricity access and reliability for Lagosians. We believe that adequate metering of Lagosians and in turn Nigerians, would increase willingness to pay for electricity, improve productivity and, more importantly, continue to improve the living conditions of our people,” he stated.
Also, at the ceremony held virtually in July, the Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Power, GoddyJedy-Agba. in his keynote address, said that the local design and production of affordable meters will help transform the power sector and the economy at large. He urged all stakeholders to support the initiative, stressing that getting access to electricity right in Lagos is critical for access to electricity in the entire country, considering the state’s population and economic landscape.
The convener of the Lagos Smart Meter Hackathon, the HonourableCommissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Lagos State, Mr. Olalere Odusote, said that the initiative was expected to provide access to affordable smart meters for Lagosians to improve electricity supply, monitoring, and trust between electricity providers and end-users while preventing revenue leakage. He said the programme is also expected to drive innovation and creativity while generating new interest in young people for the sector.
“Over the years, despite significant investments and resolutions along the electricity value chain, there remains a huge metering gap of over 60% of electricity consumers in Lagos and Nigeria. This metering gap is what we are seeking to bridge through the Lagos Smart Meter Hackathon”.
“In line with the objectives of the Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu (BOS) Administration to make Lagos a 21st-century economy, we have identified the need to intervene and support the facilitation of effective metering across the state, to ensure the provision of reliable electricity for Lagosians and Nigerians in the long-term,” he stated.
Speaking on the Hackathon judging process, Mrs. Doja Ekeruche, Advisory Board Member, Eko Innovation Centre, curators of the Hackathon,notedthat19judges with expertise in the power and tech ecosystem participated in the shortlisting of the finalists.
“We asked companies in the Energy and Tech ecosystem to nominate representatives to serve on the selection panel, tasked with shortlisting the top five finalists from both hardware and software tracks to proceed to the final hackathon events,” she explained.
She added: “At the end of the shortlisting phase, a session was held with the judges to discuss the reviewing process, and an analytics team ranked the submissions by all judges to arrive at the top finalists.”
The Lagos Smart Meter Hackathon 2020 is convened by the Lagos State Ministry of Energy & Mineral Resources; curated by Eko Innovation Centre; sponsored by Access Bank Plc, Egbin Power, Ikeja Electric Distribution Company, Mojec International, Eko Electric Distribution Company, MOMASElectricity Meters Manufacturing Company, ElSewedy Electric, Royal Power & Energy, Venture Garden Group, InfraCredit, Axxela Limited; and supported by The Lagos State Office of Innovation and Technology, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Africa Fintech Foundry (AFF), Oracle, IBM, General Electric, Business Day and Accelerate TV.