Digital entrepreneurship hackathon held

NIZWA: The Department of Culture, Sports, and Youth in cooperation with the Directorate of Education in Al Dakhiliyah Governorate celebrated Omani Youth Day 2023 by hosting a two-day hackathon at the Nizwa Cultural Centre. Over 100 youths are taking part in the event on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The hackathon aims to foster innovation in digital entrepreneurship in the governorate. The event featured a series of specialised workshops conducted by experts.

The primary objective of this event is to raise technological awareness, aligning with the goals of Oman Vision 2040. It encourages members of the local community to embrace innovation to enhance the quality of life Hilal bin Hamad al Maadi of the General Directorate of Education in Al Dakhiliyah, said, "We conducted three workshops on 3D printing, artificial intelligence and digital content creation using mobile phones in collaboration with the Science and Technology Centre of the Directorate of Education in the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate, Younis bin Ayoub al Harrasi, expressed his enthusiasm for the workshops, saying, "These workshops have attracted participants who have a deep passion for technology entrepreneurship." Al Harrasi said,” We have a presentation by Abdullah al Bahraini, who will delve into 5G applications and its social impact. Participants will have the opportunity to present their projects to the public, which will subsequently undergo rigorous evaluation by a panel of esteemed judges." The outcomes of this hackathon will be meticulously documented and submitted to the General Directorate of Youth at the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Youth headquarters, as well as the Office of the Governor of Al Dakhiliyah Governorate.

“Our aspiration is that this event serves as a launch pad for these young talents, propelling them towards successful entrepreneurship. We anticipate that they will accrue valuable experience and engage with the established entrepreneurs," Al Harrasi said.

Halima bint Khalid bin Ahmed al Shaibaniyah, an entrepreneur from Adam, said, "I joined this workshop to enhance my skills and prepare myself to become a trainer and lecturer in entrepreneurship someday. I benefited from the workshop by learning how to think outside the box and innovate, coming up with new ideas beyond the ordinary.” Halima hopes that both government and private institutions will support the ideas of young entrepreneurs. She emphasised that these ideas and projects are not just for personal gain but benefit society as a whole, by creating jobs and providing essential guidance to aspiring entrepreneurs.

Drawing from her personal experience, Halima believes that being an entrepreneur and an innovator offers far more potential than a routine job with a limited salary. She stressed that success in entrepreneurship mainly requires effective marketing, dedication, and a focus on training workshops that foster idea generation and the exchange of experiences.

Halima and her friends participation in the entrepreneurship workshop reflects the growing interest in fostering a culture of innovation and business development in Oman, ultimately contributing to economic growth and job creation.