News Highlights:
- Governor Otti Endorses Youth Innovation for Governance
- Abia Youths Showcase Cutting-Edge Civic Tech Solutions
Governor Alex Otti on Monday received the Abia State Champions of the 2025 Civic Connect Hackathon at the Executive Council Chamber in Umuahia, commending the innovative spirit of Abia youths and reaffirming his administration’s commitment to promoting digital transformation and youth-led innovation.
Digital TimesNG reports that the Civic Connect Hackathon, jointly organised by the State Ministry of Science and Technology and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, is a strategic initiative aimed at nurturing creativity and unlocking the tech potential of young people across the state.
While addressing the champions, Governor Otti praised their ingenuity and charged the Ministry of Science and Technology to sustain platforms that celebrate and elevate local innovation.
He further directed the Honourable Commissioner for Science and Technology, Mr. David Kalu, and the State Chief Information Officer to collaborate with the winning teams to integrate their solutions into Abia State’s forthcoming comprehensive ICT solution platform.
Earlier in the session, Mr. Kalu introduced the winning teams and facilitated their presentation before the State Executive Council.
Three standout teams emerged from the 2025 edition of the Hackathon, each showcasing unique civic technology solutions:
- Team Alpha presented Oluora, a web-based platform led by Charles Mark designed to bridge the communication gap between citizens and government in real time.
- BluTech Innovations, led by Franklin Isaac, Innocent Chidinma, and Emeka Victor, unveiled iAbia, an inclusive web and mobile application that enables real-time tracking of government activities and facilitates citizen feedback.
- Voice Out, another top-performing entry, offers a smart civic engagement tool that allows citizens to report issues such as road infrastructure, power outages, and security concerns directly to the government for prompt response.
The live demonstrations were witnessed by all members of the State Executive Council, who applauded the youths for their creativity and reaffirmed support for technology-driven governance.
Governor Otti’s administration continues to prioritize digital innovation as a key driver of transparent, inclusive, and responsive governance in Abia State.
