UNICEF launches COVID-19 Design Challenge for Nigerian Youth
The challenge involves youth actively finding innovative ways to fight COVID-19
Today, UNICEF Nigeria, together with government, private sector and global partners, launched a design challenge targeting Nigerian youth, inspiring them to create solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nigeria is the first country to launch the COVID-19 Design Challenge for UNICEF in the world.
Government partners include the National Centre for Disease Control, National Information Technology Development Agency, and Office for ICT Innovation Entrepreneurship.
The challenge involves youth actively finding innovative ways to fight COVID-19 and provide young people with opportunities to creatively engage the current and future challenges the pandemic provides.
The challenge will use an online design thinking platform called CARTEDO with the aim to:
- Democratize access to reliable information and capitalize on youth networks to drive awareness of COVID-19
- Give youth a voice in finding ways to prevent and mitigate the longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on Nigerian society
- Develop youth skills that will enhance their future employability
Interested youth can access the COVID-19 Design Challenge website here.
While sourcing innovative ideas from Nigerian youth, the challenge also seeks to build their design thinking skills. Participants who complete the challenge will receive a certificate of participation.
The platform will provide youth with the opportunity to contribute to the fight against COVID-19 and propose solutions for the post COVID-19 era. The challenge will run from 13 May – 13 June and participants will be able to redeem awards like mentorships, job matching, technical skills, training and capacity-building, provided by partners such as CC Hub, Lagos Innovates, Jobberman, Ventures Platform, and Saed Connect, among others.
The challenge is being run in the context of a youth digital partnership with the Botnar Foundation, and in close collaboration with Generation Unlimited and U-Report. Global partner Goodwall will provide cash benefits of N100,000 every week to participants with the best idea. To get updates about the design challenge, simply send an SMS with the word JOIN to 24453, which will allow you to participate – together with over 3.6 million Nigerians - on the U-Report Platform.
About UNICEF
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children, visit www.unicef.org.
Follow UNICEF Nigeria on Twitter and Facebook. For more information about COVID-19 and guidance on how to protect children and families, visit www.unicef.org/coronavirus
For more information, please contact:
Minu Limbu, UNICEF Nigeria Innovation Manager, mlimbu@unicef.org, +234 803 402 0877
To access the COVID-19 Design Challenge website, click here.