A group of young girls from Nigeria has captured hearts around the world with their innovative app designed to tackle food insecurity.
The team, known as the “Smarties,” consists of 12-year-olds Goodness Nwonanne-Chima and Tiffany Tejiri Oghenemaro, and 11-year-olds Excel Kiisibari Barile-Nwika and Salome Obehiremen Akhabhau.
They developed an app called ‘AgriConnect’ to address the issue of food shortages in Nigeria.
The AgriConnect app aims to link farmers, landowners, and investors. By combining their resources and skills, the app helps to improve local food production.
The girls explained that the app supports the United Nations’ Goal 2, which seeks to end hunger and enhance food security by 2030.
Salome Obehiremen Akhabhau described 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.”
The Smarties won the Beginner Division finalist team award in the 2024 Technovation Girls competition, which encourages girls to use technology to solve environmental problems.
They received the Combat Hunger Award for agriculture, placing them among the 15 global winners.
This achievement earns them further training in California, USA, where they will compete with other teams later this year.
The girls’ accomplishment has sparked a wave of praise on social media.
Jethro Ajagbe also shared his thoughts: “Congratulations to our beautiful and brilliant girls. This is what can move us forward. Solutions to our problems can come from anyone, irrespective of age, sex, or tribe. It’s not about going to the streets on destructive missions. More wins to you all. 🙏👏👏❤️”
@olajumoke_omotayo_351: “Things I love to see ❤️❤️”
@rosamender: “Proud of you girls…. 👏👏👏👏👏👏”
@iamrubybae: “Very Demure Teenager, Very Mindful .. Congratulations 😍😍😍😍”
@.omolabake: “Beautiful and intelligent girls 😍❤🔥 Thanks for making us proud, greater wins for you girls ❤❤💯”
@kodedgeene: “Fight food wetin? 🌚😂😂 my prayers are with them jare. 🤝”
