Male’, Maldives, 18th March 2024 – On Saturday, March 2, 2024, Maldives Youth Hackathon, the esteemed hackathon event, officially commenced, bringing together talented IT professionals, programmers, and coders. Held at the Social Center, the inauguration ceremony marked the beginning of a gathering where participants unite in teams to compete, demonstrating their skills and creativity in developing innovative software applications.
This year’s event promises intense competition, with teams competing for the coveted title and a substantial cash prize of MVR 100,000 for the winning team. Divided into three categories, the hackathon covers the Innovative Marketplace Challenge, Mental Health Innovative Challenge, and Creative Economy Challenge. These categories aim to foster creative thinking and problem-solving skills among participants, aligning with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s Hafthaa-14 (Week-14) roadmap.
Esteemed guests, including Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan, and Minister of Youth Ibrahim Waheed, graced the inauguration ceremony. Minister Waheed emphasized the importance of addressing mental health issues through innovation and highlighted the significance of technology in the evolving world.
Minister Waheed expressed optimism that the hackathon would generate useful and productive ideas across all three areas. He stressed the event’s role in developing youth skills in technology and creating opportunities for global market exposure.
Notably, a considerable number of young women participated in the hackathon, with an all-female team also taking part—a testament to the inclusive nature of the event. The support of businesses such as Ooredoo Maldives, MasterCard, Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB), and RaajjeOnline (ROL) was acknowledged and appreciated.
Ooredoo Maldives serves as the main partner of the hackathon, with co-partners contributing to the success of the event. This initiative, planned within the first 14 weeks of President Mohammed Muizzu’s presidency, underscores the government’s commitment to fostering innovation and empowering youth in technology.
