Nigerian Schoolgirls, 12, Build ‘AgriConnect’ App to Address Food Insecurity.
A group of pre-teen Nigerian girls has captured the admiration of many online with their innovative solution to food insecurity in Nigeria. The award-winning team, known as the ‘Smarties,’ consists of 12-year-olds Goodness Nwonanne-Chima and Tiffany Tejiri Oghenemaro, along with 11-year-olds Excel Kiisibari Barile-Nwika and Salome Obehiremen Akhabhau. These young prodigies designed an app called ‘AgriConnect,’ which is aimed at addressing the pressing issue of food insecurity in their country.
The ‘AgriConnect’ app is a groundbreaking tool that seeks to bridge the gap between farmers, landowners, and investors, creating a collaborative network that maximizes resources and expertise to boost local food production. The Smarties explained that their app allows someone with land but lacking farming knowledge to connect with a skilled farmer who needs land and funding. Through the app, investors who are willing to finance agricultural projects can also get involved. This innovative approach ensures that all parties—landowners, farmers, and investors—benefit from the venture according to a profit-sharing agreement.
Salome Obehiremen Akhabhau, one of the team members, elaborated on how the app works: “The investor brings the money to fund the farm, the farmer brings the skills and knowledge, and the landowner provides the land. At the end of the day, they all benefit from the farm according to the profit-sharing agreement they make.”
Their project aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end hunger and improve food security and nutrition by 2030. The AgriConnect app represents a tangible step toward achieving this global goal, and the girls’ dedication to solving real-world problems through technology has earned them significant recognition.
The Smarties’ innovative efforts led them to win the Beginner Division finalist team of the 2024 Technovation Girls competition. This global contest encourages girls to embrace STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education by challenging them to develop technological solutions to environmental issues. The competition awards special recognition in areas such as education, agriculture, and climate change.
While teams from China and Poland received awards for their contributions to climate change and education, respectively, the Nigerian girls were honored with the Combat Hunger Award for their work in agriculture. Their victory places them among the 15 global winners, qualifying them for further training in California, USA, where they will compete with other top teams later this year.
The success of the Smarties not only highlights their ingenuity but also serves as an inspiration to young girls around the world, demonstrating that age is no barrier to making a significant impact. Their achievement is a testament to the power of innovation, collaboration, and the importance of investing in the next generation of problem solvers.
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