Pitch AgriHack West Africa 2017

Pitch AgriHack is a component of the AgriHack Talent program of CTA. This edition is focused on West Africa. The final will be held in Côte d’Ivoire in September 2017.

It involves:

• a pitching competition for participating start-ups and entrepreneurs
• opportunities to consolidate, pilot or upscale their platforms and services through grants or additional incubation or acceleration

The ultimate objectives are to help develop business services offered by young e-agriculture start-ups as well as to contribute to accelerating the adoption of innovations for stronger productivity by the agrifood sector.

This edition is only open to start-ups from all West African countries, whose owners are 35 years old maximum. They must be owner of a prototype or already operating a mobile application or ICT services for the agriculture sector.

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IF YOU ARE PRESIDENT OF YOUR COUNTRY TODAY; WHAT WOULD YOU DO DIFFERENTLY?

It is a common saying that spectators are usually the best players. Why? Because right where they stand/sit to watch a game, they see all possibilities more than the actual player. Hence, they tend to score goals, dribble, throw punch and whatever is applicable in any game that get good result as deem fit by their imaginations. Here, today, the question posed to us is a reality game. A game we all have been involved in, consciously and unconsciously- The game of politics. And as a spectator or inactive player, so to speak, you seem to see the path in which results can be achieved even more than the players today. The president is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of the citizens of his country. Taking Nigeria for instance, what would you do differently, if you are President, Commander-in-Chief of Armed forces today?

THE 4TH INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION: Join the train or be left out?

Ever since in Secondary school when I heard about the first Industrial revolution. I had never been keen on following the trend. But recently, I was at a mentorship programme where someone mentioned “The Fourth Industrial Revolution.” I began to think, do my research about it. But in case you are hearing this for the first time or not keenly following the subject-matter. Below is the summary of Industrial revolutions the world has experienced:

The First Industrial Revolution:

•  Occurred between the 18^th -19^th Centuries
• Involves the development of Iron and textile industries and use of Steam engines

The Second Industrial Revolution: 

•     Between 1870 -1914 (Before the World War)
•    Involves the development of Oil and Gas industries, Electric power, other major breakthroughs and use of Internal Combustion engines which replaced Steam Engines.

The Third Industrial Revolution:

•  Started in the 1980s till date
• Otherwise called the Digital Revolution
•  Involves the Introduction of Machine learning, programming, Internet, ICT

According to Wikipedia, the Fourth Industrial Revolution can be described as a range of new technologies that are fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds, and impacting all disciplines, economies and industries. So, in other words, it is like an advance prototype of the Digital Revolution.

In an article I stumbled on, HERE, Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum said, “There are three reasons why today’s transformations represent not merely a prolongation of the Third Industrial Revolution but rather the arrival of a Fourth and distinct one:

1. velocity,
2.  scope, and
3. systems impact.

But for me, I think it has begun, why? People are losing jobs every day due to the replacement of People with machines. Every human job is affected as artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, materials science, energy storage and Computer Programming is the future and only those who can see that will survive. This is no joke.  I WOULD ADVICE THAT, IRRESPECTIVE OF YOUR PROFESSION OR COURSE OF STUDY, GO AND LEARN ATLEAST ONE COMPUTER PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE, CREATE A NICHE FOR YOUR SELF AND PREPARE AHEAD FOR THE FUTURE. Mind you, there are a lot of platforms online where you can learn even free of charge. Do not rely on your Educational prowess, It won’t help you go far not at the eminent wake of the fourth Industrialization.