🇳🇬 Lagos-based startup Akowe aims to revolutionize the verification of academic records in sub-Saharan Africa with blockchain technology. Founder Ayodeji Agboola recognized the challenges people faced in reissuing lost academic certificates due to universities' reluctance. Akowe's platform generates digital academic records stored securely on the blockchain. They've used Hyperledger and are exploring Amazon's QLDB for improved record management. While the technology is solid, the main hurdle is user acquisition, particularly in navigating the bureaucracy of public universities. Akowe is working to shed blockchain's negative connotations and emphasize data security and privacy in their pitches to universities.

Key Points:

- Akowe, a Lagos-based startup, addresses the challenge of verifying academic records in sub-Saharan Africa with blockchain technology.

- Founder Ayodeji Agboola noticed difficulties in reissuing lost academic certificates due to universities' reluctance.

- Akowe's platform generates digital academic records stored securely on the blockchain.

- They have used Hyperledger and are exploring Amazon's QLDB for improved record management.

- User acquisition, especially with public universities, remains a challenge, partly due to blockchain's negative connotations.

- Akowe focuses on highlighting data security and privacy in their pitches to universities to overcome this hurdle.

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