About

Concept Notes of ECWA Tech Conference/Hackathon 2025

Theme: “Transformative Technology in Church and Society.”

Introduction

The ECWA Tech Conference 2025 is a strategic gathering designed to explore the intersection of technology and societal advancement. As digital transformation continues to reshape industries and communities, this conference seeks to leverage technology to drive progress in key sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, healthcare delivery, education, waste management, security, and remittances.

Objective

The primary goal of this conference is to showcase technological solutions, facilitate dialogue and foster collaborations that will enhance productivity, efficiency, and sustainability across various sectors critical to societal well-being and the entire ECWA community.

Hackathon Key Focus Areas

1. Agriculture and Food Security: Exploring innovations in Agri-tech, precision farming, and digital marketplaces to enhance food security and empower farmers.

2. Education: Addressing digital learning, theological education technology, and tech-driven solutions for tertiary institutions.

3. Evangelism and Discipleship Digital solutions: Highlight digital platforms and tools that enhance evangelism, discipleship, and faith-based community building.

4. Remittances: Exploring digital financial services, blockchain, and fintech solutions to ease financial transactions and support economic development.

Expected Outcomes

• Increased awareness of technological solutions in key sectors.

• Strengthened partnerships among tech developers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.

• Policy recommendations to enhance digital transformation.

• A roadmap for technology-driven socio-economic development.

Gift/Grand Prize:

In recognition of the outstanding contributions and innovative solutions presented by the participants, the following prizes are to the three top-performing individuals:

i.                Cash Prize: A substantial cash prize totaling ₦3,000,000.00 will be distributed among the top three participants. The exact distribution will be determined based on the final rankings and the discretion of the Judges. This financial reward aims to acknowledge the effort and dedication invested by the winners and provide them with resources to further their personal and professional development.

ii.               Mentorship: Recognizing the value of guidance and support,  the grand prize winners will receive a dedicated mentorship throughout the implementation phase of their projects. This mentorship will be tailored to the specific needs and challenges of each winner and will involve regular meetings, feedback sessions, and access to a network of experienced professionals. The goal of the mentorship program is to empower the winners to successfully navigate the complexities of implementation and maximize the impact of their proposed solutions.

iii.             Implementation Support: In addition to mentorship, the committee is committed to assisting the winners in exploring and implementing their proposed solutions. This support will take various forms, including:

• 1. Connecting winners with relevant stakeholders and potential partners.

  2. Providing access to resources and expertise.

  3. Facilitating the development of implementation plans and timelines.

  4. Offering guidance on monitoring and evaluation.

  5. Identifying and addressing potential barriers to implementation.

Conference Key Focus Tracks

1. Creatives & Communications:

·        Social Media Management: Focuses on developing effective strategies for engaging audiences and building community through various social media platforms.

·        Website for Business: Provides guidance on creating and maintaining a user-friendly and impactful website for church outreach and communication.

·        Multimedia Production: Explores the techniques and tools for producing high-quality video, audio, and graphic content for ministry purposes.

·        The Next Communication Tools: Examines emerging communication technologies and their potential to enhance church outreach and business engagement.

·        Creative Content Creation and Management: Teaches how to produce compelling content that will draw in new people and re-engage current members.

2. IT/Emerging Technology:

·        Artificial Intelligence tools that will change how you do business and ministry: Introduces practical AI applications that can streamline administrative tasks, personalize learning/engagement and enhance business effectiveness.

·        AI for discipleship: Examines how AI can be used to personalize and enhance the discipleship process.

·        Ethical Considerations using AI: Explores the responsible use of AI tools.

·        Future AI Trends for Today’s Business and Church Ministry: Provides insights into emerging AI trends and their potential impact on the future of business and Ministry.

·        The Metaverse: Devil’s playground or the Churches next mission field? Discusses the opportunities and challenges of engaging with the metaverse as a platform for business and ministry.

·        Cybersecurity: Covers the importance of protecting church data and systems from cyber threats.

3. Administration Management:

·        Relevant IT Package for business/church, like Google/Microsoft Apps: Provides practical guidance on utilizing popular productivity suites to streamline administration and communication.

·        Effective Virtual Meeting Platforms: Digital tools that enable remote communication and collaboration.

·        How to use Google Ad Grant to reach your community: Explains how to leverage Google Ad Grants to effectively promote your business and church events.

·        Church Management System: Explores the advantages of using church management systems to streamline administrative tasks and enhance member engagement.

·        Fundraising strategies: Provides information about modern fundraising techniques for churches.

·        Presentations software: Covers the use of software to create engaging presentations for business, worship services and other events.

4. Worship Tech Management:

·        Video production and projection for worship: Provides practical training on video production and projection techniques for enhancing worship experiences.

·        Leveraging Technology for Immersive Worship Experiences: Explores how technology can be used to create engaging and immersive worship experiences.

·        Enhancing Worship through effective sound and lighting/stage: Provides practical guidance on optimizing sound and lighting systems to enhance the worship atmosphere.

·        Incorporating Interactive Worship Elements with Mobile Apps and Devices: Explores how mobile apps and devices can be used to create interactive and engaging worship experiences.

·        Music in tomorrow’s church and technology: Examine the role of technology in shaping the future of church music and worship.

Target Audience

• Technology innovators and entrepreneurs

• Policymakers and government representatives

• Industry leaders and professionals

• Academics and researchers

• Faith-based organizations

• Investors and funding agencies

• Church leaders/Members

The ECWA Tech Conference 2025 will serve as a catalyst for technological advancements, inspiring innovation and collaboration that will drive transformative change in key societal sectors. By leveraging technology, we can build a more prosperous and sustainable future for all.