Damilola Adeyera, a freelance journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), has won an award of $10,000 to develop AwaCountry, a civic-tech organisation that will democratise access to social justice. 

Announcing Adeyera as the winner for the Brief about Rethinking Democracy, Rachel Coddington, Executive Producer, People Operations, said the jury admired AwaCountry for its innovation, which made it “an amazing fit for the problem presented”.

The BRIEF is a breakout session at the Festival of Urgent Reinventions (FOUR) 2022, where innovators are given an opportunity to present their solutions on a current systemic issue.

For this year, the Brief was focused on providing solutions to counter Health Misinformation, remedy the Digital Divide, combat Climate Change, and rethink democracy.

Jessica Rivera, an infectious disease epidemiologist, prepared the Brief on health misinformation. Olatunde Sobomehin, a serial entrepreneur, prepared the Brief on remedying the digital divide. Leah Thomas, an intersectional environmental activist, prepared the Brief on combatting climate change. Audrey Tang, Taiwan’s Digital Minister, prepared the Brief on rethinking our democracy.  

The Festival of Urgent Reinventions is the brainchild of The Great Foundation, a non-profit organisation founded in 2015 with the mission to “redefine what’s possible by inspiring others to have the courage to improve the world” through educational activities and opportunities that promote social welfare.

Speaking on his victory, Adeyera said AwaCountry’s mission is built on the urgent need to make social justice accessible to every member of Nigerian society regardless of social, political or economic background.

“Our idea is built as a response to the experiment by American scientist John Calhoun titled ‘Universe 25’. The experiment was conducted on four mice who lived together in an enclosed area with all their needs catered to,” he said.

“The experiment revealed social instability is a constant in the society. This is the problem we want to solve, first, starting with those in Nigeria who lack access to the internet.”

He further said: “In 2020, in my previous role as Social Media manager of FIJ, I received support and creative freedom from ‘Fisayo Soyombo, Founder of FIJ, to attend tech competitions in relation to AwaCountry. And since I morphed from full-time to freelance employee, he has given me unfettered access to FIJ’s facilities and always told me FIJ is forever my home.”

Previously, AwaCountry emerged third runner up at a Hackhathon organised by Budgit, a civic-tech organisation, in 2021. Pariot-It and Adkovc, emerged first and second respectively.