From August 26 to 31, the Algorand Foundation and its impact team traveled to Taraba State, Nigeria, for a six-day event that brought together government officials, academia, entrepreneurs, software developers, and innovators to learn more about blockchain's potential to positively impact the public sector.
The event culminated in a second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) being signed with a state government in Nigeria, following an agreement with the Plateau State Government in February.
Event Highlights
Days 1 & 2: Engaging Stakeholders and Government Officials
The event kicked off with two days of discussions focused on the potential of blockchain technology in the public sector.
Mr. Lucky Uwakwe, Chairman of the Blockchain Industry Coordinating Committee of Nigeria (BICCON), gave an extensive overview of the Nigeria Blockchain Policy, which was signed into law in May 2023. Matt Keller, Director of Impact and Inclusion at Algorand Foundation, then spoke on why blockchain is suited to the public sector.
The crowd was very engaged in these first two days. They were curious about how blockchain works in supply chains, how it can be used in agriculture, and how it solves the challenges in digital security.
Day 3: Public Sector Dinner
A special dinner with government officials solidified the relationship between the Algorand Foundation and the Taraba State government, setting the stage for future collaboration. In attendance was the Deputy Governor of Taraba State, His Excellency Alh. Aminu Abdullahi Alkali.
Days 4-6: Empowering Local Developers
The event concluded with a three-day developer training session, which attracted over 80 developers daily. This ‘Devfest’ covered everything from downloading AlgoKit to writing and testing a smart contract and building a simple user interface for interacting with a smart contract.
This initiative aligned with the broader goal of equipping Taraba's young developers with valuable blockchain development skills.
In addition to developer training, 55 attendees attended a special session on "Unlocking Creativity with Algorand," which explored innovative applications of blockchain technology in the creative arts.
A Landmark Partnership
The culmination of this event was the signing of a MOU between the Taraba State government and the Algorand Foundation. This agreement outlines plans to explore implementing blockchain technology in various government operations, including identity management, healthcare, agriculture, transport, and land registries.
The Future of Nigerian Blockchain Innovation
This six-day event in Taraba State represents Algorand’s continued commitment to aiding Nigeria's journey towards blockchain adoption following the 2023 Blockchain Policy legislation. Algorand has identified areas where the technology's adoption in Nigeria can drive real-world impact in governance, education, and economic development.
