The Chief Transformation Officer of MTN Nigeria, Bayo Adekanmbi; techpreneur and Chief Executive Officer at Lucy.ng, Jumoke Lawoyin and Chief Semantic Architect and Knowledge Engineer at Cymantiks Nigeria, Emeka Okoye will serve as judges at this year’s edition of Children’s Day Essay Competition, organized by SystemSpecs, a financial and human capital technology firm.
Deremi Atanda, an Executive Director at SystemSpecs, who disclosed this in a statement in Lagos, also said Wale Fatade, accomplished journalist and country commissioning editor at The Conversation and Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata Jnr., technology entrepreneur/business coach are part of the judges.
Other judges appointed to the evaluation panel are Jide Ayegbusi, a social entrepreneur and founder of the tech-led education-focused platform, Edusko; and Funmi Oyatogun, celebrated travel experience creator and environment crusader.
Atanda noted that the Children’s Day Essay Competition is organized as part of the company’s effort at building a strong technology foundation for the children, who will ultimately, become leaders of the future.
“At SystemSpecs, we are convinced that a strong technology foundation is necessary to reposition Nigeria to compete favourably in the comity of nations and thrive in contemporary times. Through our Children’s Day Essay Competition, we seek to stimulate young Nigerians to become more technologically aware and better positioned to creatively apply technology as a natural response to everyday challenges around them,” he said.
Meanwhile, the deadline for the submission of entries into the essay competition was also extended till April 30th, 2021. The extension is in response to requests by schools and students affected by the irregular school terms regime across Nigeria, to enable them to participate in the competition.
Other judges on the evaluation panel are from various walks of life including technology, security, law, media, and the arts. They are financial and tech journalist, Abubakar Idris; media consultant and author, Ayodele Arowosegbe; co-founder of LeedsNG, Dr. Hafis Bello; tech content provider of repute and returning judge of the competition, Ifeoluwa Ogunfuwa; UK-based IT Governance, risk and control advisor, Dewale Otolorin; health law and bioethics enthusiast, Olo Egbokhare; and Chief Communications Consultant at The Comms Avenue, Adedoyin Jaiyesinmi.
It is the duty of the distinguished panel of judges to evaluate and select winning entries for the top prizes in the junior and senior categories of the competition. They have the responsibility of bringing to national consciousness and recommending implementation options of the bright ideas espoused by participants from across the country.
SystemSpecs, the organiser of the annual competition, is the 29-year-old software giant known for its innovative payment solution – Remita, payroll and HR solution – HumanManager, and Paylink – an e-commerce platform for SMEs, non-profits, and individuals.
Winners of the 2021 edition of the SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition will be announced on Children’s Day, May 27, 2021.