After presenting a business idea for an app that could combat kidnapping and abduction in schools, two Nigerian students, Chioma Abone and Emmanuella Ilok, were named finalists in the 2021 Young Tycoon Business Challenge.
Chioma and Emmanuella, both Greensprings secondary school students, stated that their product will use wearable technology to address the disturbing cases of abduction in Nigeria, particularly those involving school children.
“We decided to work on an idea for a company called Paramount Guard, which seeks to provide security services to school students all over the world, not just in Nigeria. The company intends to launch the AirGuard Wearable, which will work in tandem with the AirGuard App to help students quickly alert family members and friends when they are in a critical situation or in a state of emergency,” they said.
The Young Tycoon Business Challenge is an entrepreneurship competition for high school students. Its goal is to engage aspiring entrepreneurs from all over the world and provide them with mentorship from Silicon Valley leaders.
More than 7,000 people from 80 different countries applied. Following three rounds of pitching and developing solid business ideas, 28 finalists were chosen to pitch in a subsequent round.
The winning team will receive $960,000 in prizes, including $10,000 in cash and $950,000 in benefits. They will also take part in workshops hosted by Ivy League Entrepreneurship Clubs.
Chioma and Emmanuella explained to the Young Tycoon Business panelists that their solution is twofold: an app called the Airguard app and a supporting wearable that will help alert family and friends if they are in danger.
According to the girls, they were inspired by the country’s insecurity because, as students, they are concerned about the constant abduction of fellow students in some parts of Nigeria.
