Participant Challenge Brief

QUANTUM ADVANTAGE FOR NIGERIA

Can quantum computing give us a better answer to a problem Nigeria already struggles with? We are looking for researchers, developers, and domain experts to find out.

1. The Challenge

We aren't looking for theoretical toy solutions.

We are looking for practical, real-world solutions to bottlenecks affecting Nigerian industries, where current classical computing methods (like optimization algorithms or machine learning) struggle to find the absolute best answer quickly.

2. Industry Tracks

Pick your battlefield.

Find a bottleneck within these core sectors and model it for quantum investigation.

Energy

How can we optimize electricity distribution when supply is unreliable and demand varies?

Grid optimizationLoad balancingBattery placement

Logistics

How can we move goods across Nigerian cities more efficiently despite traffic and road conditions?

Vehicle routingFleet schedulingWarehouse allocation

Agriculture

How can we optimize limited agricultural resources to improve productivity?

Crop allocationIrrigation schedulingResource allocation

Finance

How can institutions make better decisions when allocating limited capital?

Portfolio optimizationCapital allocationRisk optimization

Healthcare

How can we optimize scarce healthcare resources to serve more people effectively?

Hospital schedulingAmbulance routingStaff allocation

Telecoms

How can providers optimize network infrastructure and resources across growing cities?

Network optimizationBandwidth allocationInfrastructure placement

3. The Journey

How it works.

01

DISCOVER

Find a meaningful bottleneck within your chosen industry. What is the actual problem? Who experiences it?

02

MODEL

Turn the real-world problem into a computational problem. What route minimizes distance while satisfying constraints?

03

SOLVE

Develop an approach using quantum computing, quantum-inspired algorithms, or hybrid methods.

04

BENCHMARK

Compare your approach with an appropriate classical method. Does the new approach actually give us something better?

05

VALIDATE

Test your idea using datasets or quantum simulators. Your goal is to produce evidence, not assumptions.

06

SHOW THE VALUE

Explain what your result means outside the code. Who could use it? What value could it create?

4 & 5. Choose Your Path

There is no single way to participate.

Research Path

Investigate a meaningful Nigerian problem and produce a rigorous research paper.

Your result does not have to prove that quantum wins. A well-supported negative result is still a result.

Build Path

Design and build a working prototype, simulation, proof of concept, or optimization system.

You can use simulators, classical systems, or available quantum hardware. You do not need access to a quantum computer.

6. Guidelines

What counts as a strong project?

A strong project is not necessarily the one with the most complicated quantum circuit. We care about the quality of the investigation.

A Real Problem

The problem should matter beyond the competition.

A Clear Model

Explain how the real-world problem becomes computational.

A Fair Baseline

Include an appropriate classical approach for comparison.

Evidence

Claims should be supported by experiments, simulations, data, or analysis.

Quantum Relevance

Explain why quantum or hybrid methods are worth investigating.

Real-World Value

What the result could mean for Nigeria or affected people.

Don't build quantum for the sake of quantum.

You are allowed to discover that quantum is not currently the best solution. We are looking for evidence, not hype.

8. Who can participate?

Anyone in Nigeria.

You do not need to be a quantum computing expert. Bring a difficult problem, your industry knowledge, your software skills, or your product thinking. Then learn the quantum side as you go.

We welcome students, developers, physicists, mathematicians, data scientists, engineers, researchers, academics, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals.

9. Build with a team

Diverse perspectives.

Great solutions often come from different perspectives. Find people who complement what you already know.

  • A domain expertwho understands the problem.
  • A researcherwho investigates the underlying question.
  • A developerwho builds the solution.
  • A product thinkerwho connects the solution to real value.

The Grand Finale — November 2026

Let's find out what quantum can actually do for Nigeria.

Find the problemBuild the modelFollow the evidence
Register Your Team