One of Africa’s Information and Communication Technology providers, Inlaks yesterday assured that thehatch innovation hub it launched in Lagos will spur the growth of technology innovations that will alter many sectors of the African economy.
Specifically, the Pan African company said the hub will provide a nurturing environment for young and innovative Africans to build and scale up technology ideas that would ultimately rejig the insurance industry and position it for growth.
The Executive Director (Innovation and Business Transformation) at Inlaks, Olufemi Muraino, disclosed this at the unveiling of the maiden Insurtech Hackathon themed “Shaping the future of Insurance”.
He said the birth of thehatch will significantly address challenges in the insurance sector with technology enabled solutions. “With thehatch launch and the maiden Insurtech Hackathon, we have been able to bring together a host of brilliant African tech minds who has innovatively invented solutions tailored to the insurance industry. I am elated at the launch of our Tech Hub as we are focused on opening up new markets while also introducing innovative information technology products into the Sub-Saharan African markets,” he added.
Meanwhile, Femi Adeoti, MD Africa Operations, Inlaks had earlier in a statement explains the motive, vision and plans for thehatch: He noted that Inlaks has been thriving favorably in the ICT space for over three decades now, and has contributed immensely to technology development across the countries it has operation.
He added that technology has been, is and will continue to be a necessity in our world. Continuous change and growth in tech solutions to adapt to man’s need is also a proof of the growing demands for technological inventions. “With thehatch, Inlaks is ready to be an anchor for worthy home-based (African) solutions to give them global relevance. We call on young techpreneurs to take a giant step towards making a huge impact on the global tech evolution trend. Our vision for thehatch is to be Africa’s most sought after center for innovative technology, human capital, and start-ups ready to transform the economic future of Africa,” he stated.
The launch of thehatch reinforces Inlaks 2.0’s vision to identify, promote, support, and encourage home-based technology entrepreneurs. The 2-day event which held on the 27th and 28th July 2019 at Inlaks’ Corporate Head Office featured CEOs, CIOs, and participants from the insurance, technology, Fintech and other sectors across Ghana, Nigeria, and Kenya. With over 85 participants, the contest witnessed the creation of technologically-enabled solutions that addressed significant challenges in the insurance sector.
It witnessed the emergence of three leading teams, painstakingly selected from across Africa with top-notch Insurtech solutions. They are Team Tophill, Overall Winner; Team Autosmart, First Runner Up; Team Sirocco, Second Runner Up. Expressing his gratitude to the management of thehatch, Team Leader, Team Tophill, winner of the hackathon, Oni Joseph, noted that the knowledge, connections and exposure the event has afforded him is priceless. In his words: “Asides wining the grand prize funds, I am highly privileged to have been a part of the making of technological solutions that would influence the Insurance industry in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The insurance industry remains untapped; however, the solutions my colleagues and I have presented today will spur it on digitally. On behalf of my team members and the rest of the participants, I say a big thank you to Inlaks, the future is ours to conquer”.