Over the weekend, the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM) awarded sixty thousand New Leones to the winners of its recent hackathon competition. This two-week intensive program, aimed at developing ICT-led solutions, saw participation from five teams mostly from the Faculty of Information Systems and Technology. Ultimately, three teams emerged victorious, sharing the prizes.
The grand winner, Ideal Technologies received Thousand Leones. The first runner-up was awarded Twenty Thousand Leones, and the second runner-up received Ten Thousand Leones.
The prize to the grand winner was presented by the Assistant Deputy Vice Chancellor of IPAM, Dr. Mohamed Sheriff.
The event was organized by the IPAM Centre of Excellence in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEEI) in collaboration with the Faculty of Information Systems and Technology, with sponsorship from the World Bank-financed Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project and technical assistance provided by CTI Consulting.
The Head of CEEI highlighted the importance of such initiatives in promoting technological innovation and entrepreneurship among students. “This hackathon is proof of the talent and creativity of our students. It also shows our dedication to nurturing a culture of innovation within the university,” he said during the award ceremony.
The hackathon was designed to push students to develop practical solutions to real-world problems, leveraging their knowledge of information systems and technology. Participants worked tirelessly over the two weeks, brainstorming, coding, and refining their projects under the guidance of industry experts and faculty members.
The three winning teams presented innovative solutions that addressed critical issues. The judges, comprising seasoned professionals from various sectors, were impressed by the level of ingenuity and technical proficiency displayed by the participants.
The Head of Department of Information Systems expressed pride in the participants and the outcomes of the hackathon. “The solutions developed here have the potential to make a significant impact on our society. We are proud of our students and grateful to our partners for their support,” he remarked.
The success of this hackathon demonstrated the critical role that academic institutions like IPAM play in driving innovation and economic diversification in Sierra Leone. With continued support from initiatives such as the Sierra Leone Economic Diversification Project, the future looks promising for budding tech entrepreneurs in the country.
