Four Female JSS 2 App Developers from Nigeria Set to Compete at Global Tech Summit at Silicon Valley, USA

By: Abdulwasiu Akintunde 

Four female students from Jacob’s Well High School International, a private school in Port Harcourt, have developed an Android application called AgriConnect to address hunger issues in Nigeria. 

They will be attending this year’s World Technovation Girls Challenge in Silicon Valley, California, USA, from October 15 to 19, 2024. 

OPEN TELEVISION Naija reports that the summit will feature young female Android application developers selected from around the world after a rigorous selection process. 

The JSS2 students—Oghenemaro Tejiri, 12; Salome Akhabhau, 11; Excel Barile-Nwika, 11; and Goodness Nwonanne-Chima, 12—created AgriConnect under the guidance of Code Ambassadors, consultants hired to mentor students at their school in tech innovation. 

AgriConnect was chosen from among 3,200 Android applications developed by about 11,000 girls from 69 countries, including the USA, UK, Japan, China, Canada, and Spain.

OPEN TELEVISION Naija further reports The four girls, who refer to themselves as the Smart Elite, participated in the beginners division of the contest, which includes ages 8 to 12. The other categories are the junior division (ages 13-17) and senior division (ages 18 and above). 

After numerous assessments by judges from various disciplines, 15 Android applications were chosen as finalists (five from each division), and three apps were selected for special awards. 

The virtual ceremony took place on July 9. The young Nigerian female developers received special recognition for their outstanding app and are invited to the all-expenses-paid Technovation Summit, where the grand awardees will be announced. 

Speaking about this achievement, the school's coordinator and Proprietor, Mrs. Egondu Jacob, expressed pride in her students for putting Rivers State, the Niger Delta, and Nigeria on the global map for excellence in app development at such a young age. 

She said, "The news of our girls' exceptional performance and the special award for combating hunger was received with great excitement by the board Chairman, Engr. Unwana Jacob, and the entire school community."

"This achievement is a dream fulfilled. After witnessing the success of our own children—Miss Ukemeabasi Unwana Jacob, who scored 8 A1s' and 1 B2 in the 2023 WASSCE, and Master Uwakmfon Unwana Jacob, a young math icon with over 40 national and international medals in mathematics—we felt compelled to ensure that children from other families also receive the same level of training to stand out and be recognized nationally and globally through the facilities and programs of Jacob’s Well Schools International."

We are grateful to God for the enormous support received from our consultant, Mr. Somkenechukwu Mamah, the founder of Code Ambassadors, an organization dedicated to training kids and teens in technology, problem-solving, and entrepreneurship, as well as our amazing staff and the parents in our school. 

"We are optimistic that greater achievements are on the way, and that Nigeria and Africa will be made proud through the accomplishments of our students."