🧭 Overview
Welcome to the Abuja Hub.
This space is the main coordination point for teams building through the Abuja community of place. It exists to help you stay aligned, organised, and supported throughout the hackathon and learning process.
Rooted in Abuja’s unique position as Nigeria’s civic centre, the hub brings together builders who understand that innovation here must be practical, people-centred, and resilient.
Here you’ll find:
- The flow of activities taking place in the Abuja Hub
- Submission requirements, milestones, and timelines
- Direct access to team workspaces and documentation
- Key contacts, mentors, and support channels
- Templates, guides, and shared learning resources
Use this page as your single source of truth whenever you’re unsure where something lives, what is expected, or what comes next.
🛣️ Get Started
Please complete the steps below before you begin.
1. Participant info page
This is the main hub for the hackathon — events, submissions, teams, and updates.
https://directed.notion.site/directed-cats-hackathon-info
2. Communication channels
These are used for announcements, reminders, and questions.
Announcement channel: https://t.me/abuja_hub
Q&A group: https://t.me/+yLFcebkRBflmMzdk
3. Google Calendar
All workshops, Kahoots, deadlines, and Hackathon Day events are scheduled here.
4. Zoom
Zoom will be used for workshops, reviews, and live sessions.
Once these steps are completed, you’re ready to participate.
If anything is unclear, ask in the Q&A group.
🇳🇬 About the Abuja Hub
Purpose
The Abuja Hub exists to create a grounded and supportive environment where innovators explore real community realities within Abuja and its surrounding areas, and work on problems rooted in local context and lived experience.
In a city shaped by diversity, governance, and constant movement, the hub encourages teams to look closely at everyday challenges and transform insight into practical, meaningful, and regenerative technological solutions.
“No matter how far the stream flows, it never forgets its source.”
The Abuja Hub is built on this principle — innovation that stays connected to its people.
Vision
To grow a resilient innovation community in Abuja—one that listens carefully to local needs, honours community voices, and enables young builders to design solutions that strengthen social, economic, civic, and institutional systems across Nigeria.
Mission
To guide teams through a structured but human-centred process that combines:
- Community exploration within Abuja
- Technical and design skill-building
- Collaboration and peer learning
- Prototype development and clear documentation
The mission is simple: ensure every team in the Abuja Hub has the clarity, support, and mentorship needed to deliver work grounded in real community insight and lived realities.
📅 Hub Schedule & Key Activities
The Abuja Hub follows a clear and intentional progression:
exploration → sense-making → design → prototyping → final submission
Each phase includes:
- Clearly defined expectations
- Review and reflection checkpoints
- Documentation and learning requirements
Teams are expected to show meaningful progress at every stage — not just in code or design, but in depth of understanding and alignment with community needs.
👥 Our Team
The Hub Team provides structure, coherence, and support for all teams within the Abuja Hub, guided by distributed leadership and place-based coordination.
Emerald Akhaumere
Hub Lead • Hub Communications
Provides strategic direction for the hub, leads coordination, and ensures clarity and excellence in communication. Represents the Abuja Hub within the broader DirectED network.
Ruby O
Hub Facilitator • Documentation
Oversees documentation, team formation, and structured collaboration. Maintains transparency of work and decisions.
Sylvert
Hub Coordinator
Supports operational alignment between Abuja Hub and the broader DirectED process. Manages timelines and cross-hub exchange.
Chisom
Hub Teaching & Mentorship
Provides technical and conceptual mentorship. Guides exploration, supports builder growth.
🧩 Teams in This Hub
The Abuja Hub is home to 10 active teams working on context-driven challenges. The table below helps teams stay visible to one another and quickly access project materials.
| Team Name | Focus Area | Team Folder |
|---|---|---|
| StemTrust | Blockchain-powered milestone-based STEM research funding platform | Folder |
| CATS_P | Mobile mechanic accessibility and verification for rural drivers | Folder |
| Classly | Decentralized FinTech infrastructure for education creator economy (30/40/30 escrow model) | Folder |
| Ctrl + Alt + Win | Cardano-powered medicine verification and prescription management system | Folder |
| YoTouch | Community-powered digital identity system for rural farmers and FMARD registration | Folder |
| Autofy | Transportation safety, compliance, and enforcement | Folder |
| HealthChain | Blockchain-secured patient-controlled medical records with PWA technology | Folder |
| SendWaste | Blockchain-powered waste recovery verification platform with NFT receipts | Folder |
| Cardano Moon | National Electronic Medical Records (EMR) infrastructure for Nigeria | Folder |
| $READS | Learn-to-Earn education platform with blockchain tokens and CBT simulations | Folder |
| Zeno Wallet | Cardano-native Telegram wallet for conversational blockchain interactions | Folder |
| Team excellent | Blockchain-based transparent aid distribution and verification system | Folder |
Each team is responsible for maintaining:
- Documentation space
- GitHub repository
- Clearly defined problem statement
- Working rhythm aligned with hub milestones
Teams must keep artefacts current and accessible to support peer learning and transparency.
⚙️ Operating Model
Weekly Rhythm
The Abuja Hub operates on a consistent rhythm that balances discipline with flexibility:
- Weekly team check-ins
- Two structured workshops per week
- Asynchronous team collaboration
- Regular documentation updates
This rhythm reflects a Nigerian strength: the ability to adapt and keep building—even in shifting conditions.
📚 Hub Resources & Templates
This section holds shared tools used across all Abuja Hub teams:
- Participation and submission guides
- Interview, insight, and documentation templates
- Technical + Cardano integration references
- Evaluation rubrics and review criteria
- Workshop slides, session replays, and guides
Teams are expected to actively engage with these resources to ensure quality and consistency.
🗓️ Calendar
Stay informed about upcoming events, open calls, and sessions.