Four female students from Jacob’s Well High School International in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, have developed an Android app called AgriConnect to address hunger issues in the country.
They will attend the World Technovation Girls Challenge in Silicon Valley, California, from October 15-19.
The students—Tejiri (12), Salome Akhabhau (11), Excel Barile-Nwika (11), and Goodness Nwonanne-Chima (12)—created AgriConnect under the guidance of Code Ambassadors. The app was one of 3,200 entries from 11,000 girls across 69 countries, including the USA, UK, Japan, China, Canada, and Spain. Their app received special recognition and is among the finalists in the beginners’ division (ages 8-12).
Jacob’s Well High School’s coordinator, Mrs. Egondu Jacob, expressed pride in the students’ achievement, emphasizing the school’s commitment to fostering tech talent. The school’s board chairman, staff, and parents celebrated the recognition.
AgriConnect is the only Nigerian and African app to receive a special award. The school integrates coding, robotics, and ICT from primary one, and its students have developed over 12 apps addressing societal issues. Five teams from the school have entered the 2024 Technovation Global Competition.
The school’s tech consultant hopes the girls will become prominent startup co-founders in the agricultural sector, gaining experience and inspiring others. He called for national support to help bring their solution to Nigerians