1. Last year, I launched a personal grantmaking program (more of an experiment) to encourage innovative thinking and assist young people in #Nigeria. 🇳🇬
(Some of) The data is out. A [🧵]
2. Growing up in a country that has very little regard for education comes with its consequences.
For example, here is a picture of a lecture hall from my undergrad college. Any sane person would think this is a ‘crusade’ or a music concert.
3. Many things can be worse than students packed in lecture halls with no place to sit, but I will not digress.
Working on interesting, potentially impactful science or tech projects for many can be a pipe dream.
This is one of the reasons for starting the microgrant project.
4. I should also add that programs like @tylercowen’s EV and @nayafia Helium grants also inspired me to start the microgrant program.
5. The first edition of the MBB grant ended with a number of winners.
Ibrahim Gbadegesin @Engrgit, an AI engineer, proposed an app (@CheckOja) to digitize prices in remote, local markets across Africa.
6. Another grantee is Olusola Ogundepo, a clinical nurse who works in Southwestern Nigeria. She proposed a pilot sociology/clinical study for cancer patients in remote places.
A cancer diagnosis is challenging enough, now imagine that in a very poor country. Wild stuff.
7. I should chip in quickly that MBB grant [mbbgrant.com] applications open in a few days. The theme will be frugal innovation.
In the meantime, here is a documentary film about the previous grant winners.
[youtube.com/watch?v=g-nMyPv87Qg]