Please describe your proposed solution

Problem Statement

Next Trend Labs, a passionate team of young Nigerian innovators, is determined to drive political and socioeconomic transformation in Nigeria, Africa, and globally through decentralized applications built on the Cardano blockchain and its partner chains. Despite our commitment to research-driven solutions, we face a critical challenge, the scarcity and high cost of skilled Cardano developers within our ecosystem. This shortage has prevented us from translating our research into tangible projects and has stifled our contribution to the growth of Cardano. Without access to in-house developer resources, we remain limited in our ability to actualize our vision and expand our efforts.

Our Solution

Our solution is to organize a focused bootcamp for 21 experienced full-stack developers, training them specifically on Cardano and its partner chain, Midnight. The scarcity of Cardano developers in Nigeria and Africa has stalled many promising projects, including our own at Next Trend Labs, which seeks to build decentralized applications to address political and socioeconomic challenges. By providing hands-on, intensive training to developers who already have strong foundational skills, we aim to fast-track their learning, allowing them to quickly contribute to our projects and the broader Cardano ecosystem.

Targeting experienced developers ensures a productive and efficient training process. These participants will be able to grasp Cardano’s architecture, smart contract development, and governance protocols faster, which will lead to quicker turnaround times for building real-world decentralized applications. By training these developers within our community, we create a sustainable model for future growth, empowering them to train other local talents. This strategic approach expands the pool of available Cardano developers, amplifying our impact beyond just the bootcamp participants.

What makes our solution unique is its scalability and direct contribution to the Cardano ecosystem. These developers will not only help accelerate our projects but will also play a role in the long-term growth of Cardano in Africa, a region with immense potential for blockchain technology. Training local talent ensures that the skills and knowledge stay within the community, driving future innovations and positioning Cardano as a key player in Africa's decentralization efforts.

Key Objectives

• Upskilling 21 Developers: Train 21 young and talented individuals in Nigeria in Cardano development, providing them with advanced knowledge of the ecosystem.
• Build In-house Expertise: Create a self-sustaining developer team within Next Trend Labs to drive the execution of our Cardano-based projects and contribute to the larger ecosystem.
• Decentralized Impact: Foster socioeconomic and political transformation by developing decentralized solutions tailored to the unique challenges in Nigeria and Africa, with potential global applications.

Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The success of this bootcamp will bring significant value to the Cardano community by addressing the critical shortage of skilled developers in Africa, specifically Nigeria. By training 21 experienced full-stack developers in Cardano and Midnight protocols, we not only contribute to the immediate development needs of our own projects but also create a pool of talents capable of contributing to the Cardano ecosystem in the long run. These developers will be equipped to build decentralized applications, enhance on-chain governance, and improve smart contract execution, directly aligning with Cardano’s vision for decentralization and innovation. Furthermore, by fostering local expertise, we create a sustainable model for ongoing talent development in a region with untapped potential.

We will measure the impact of this project through both quantitative and qualitative metrics. Quantitatively, we will track the number of developers successfully trained, the completion rate of the bootcamp, and the number of projects initiated or completed by these developers within the first 12 months after the bootcamp program. We will also monitor the contributions of these developers to the Cardano ecosystem, including their involvement in open-source projects and protocol upgrades. Qualitatively, we will gather feedback from the developers regarding their learning experience, confidence in building on Cardano, and ongoing collaboration within the ecosystem.

To share the outputs and opportunities resulting from this project, we will create an open-access repository where bootcamp participants can showcase their projects and contributions. We will also host community-driven events, webinars, and workshops to disseminate lessons learned, success stories, and best practices with the wider Cardano community. These outputs will be promoted through various channels, including social media, the Cardano Forum, and other decentralized platforms like Discord, ensuring transparency and encouraging collaboration across the Cardano ecosystem.

What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

Our team has been actively engaged with the Cardano ecosystem for nearly three years, focusing on research and the exploration of decentralized applications to solve critical socio-political issues in Nigeria and Africa. Though our development progress has been limited by the lack of experienced Cardano developers, our deep interest and consistent involvement with the ecosystem have equipped us with valuable insights and strong determination to overcome this barrier. We have a clear vision and solid understanding of what it takes to build solutions on Cardano, and our commitment to solving our mission-critical problems is what drives our capability to execute this project successfully.

We will validate the feasibility of our approach through a structured and scalable bootcamp program designed for experienced full-stack developers. We have researched and collaborated with various experts to design a curriculum that ensures rapid onboarding and learning of Cardano and Midnight protocols. Additionally, we will leverage both theoretical and practical methods to ensure participants gain hands-on experience, further proving that our project is not only feasible but also impactful. Periodic evaluations and feedback will be used to measure progress and adjust the training program accordingly, ensuring we stay on course.

To manage funds responsibly, we will provide both paper and on-chain receipts for every transaction made, ensuring complete transparency. A clear and organized budget breakdown will be implemented, and funds will be allocated in a phased manner, with progress checkpoints that ensure funds are used effectively. By adhering to these accountability measures, we will maintain a high level of trust and reliability in managing the project from start to finish.

What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Milestone 1: Milestone 1: Curriculum Design and Developer Recruitment (Month 1)

• Key Activities: Finalize bootcamp curriculum, focusing on Cardano and Midnight protocol training. Recruit and onboard 21 experienced full-stack developers to participate in the program.
• Deliverables:
• Completed curriculum and training materials.
• Selection and onboarding of 21 developers.
• Kick-off meeting with the team and trainers.
• Success Indicator: 100% of developers enrolled and curriculum ready for delivery.

Milestone 2: Milestone 2: Bootcamp Launch and Initial Training (Month 2)

• Key Activities: Launch the bootcamp and begin training on basic Cardano development, smart contract integration, and decentralized application (DApp) architecture.
• Deliverables:
• Weekly training sessions and workshops.
• Practical exercises focusing on real-world Cardano use cases.
• Feedback collection from participants.
• Success Indicator: 80% of participants demonstrate an understanding of core Cardano and Midnight concepts by the end of Month 2.

Milestone 3: Milestone 3: Intermediate Development and Project Assignment (Month 3)

• Key Activities: Move into intermediate-level topics like Plutus smart contracts, Marlowe, and Midnight privacy protocols. Assign group projects for participants to work on real-world decentralized applications.
• Deliverables:
• Mid-term assessments and practical assignments.
• Group projects based on Cardano protocols.
• Weekly progress reviews.
• Success Indicator: 70% of participants can apply learned skills in building DApps using Cardano technologies.

Final Milestone: Milestone 4: Final Projects, Closeout, and Project Video (Month 4)

• Key Activities: Participants complete their group projects, demonstrating their ability to develop functional DApps on Cardano. Produce and publish a project closeout video showcasing the outcomes of the bootcamp.
• Deliverables:
• Completed DApp projects from all participant groups.
• Final evaluation reports.
• Closeout video showcasing project highlights and impact.
• Success Indicator: 100% of participants complete their final projects, and the closeout video is published to the Cardano community.

Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

The project team will consist of the following key members;

Abdulrahman Abdulbasit Adigun (Founder/CEO, Next Trend Labs ) – Project Lead. Abdulrahman brings leadership and extensive knowledge of decentralized applications and blockchain systems. His LinkedIn profile can be found here. He will oversee the entire bootcamp, manage resources, and guide the strategic vision for the Cardano/Midnight developer program.

Bello Murufat Adebukola (Director of Events and Planning, Next Trend Labs) - Program Coordinator– Will manage logistics, schedules, and communication with participants, ensuring the smooth operation of the bootcamp. She has managed almost our events organization, working with sets of committees from our community.

Technical Instructor (To Be Recruited) – A blockchain expert with hands-on experience in Cardano development and Midnight, responsible for leading technical training sessions during the bootcamp. The ideal candidate will possess knowledge in Haskell, Plutus, and smart contract development.

Developer Mentors (To Be Recruited) – Experienced Cardano developers who will serve as mentors to the bootcamp participants, providing hands-on guidance and feedback. Candidates should have a deep understanding of blockchain and decentralized applications, with a focus on fostering growth among new developers.

Additionally, 13 functional core team members of Next Trend Labs will be supporting in carrying out activities to ensure the success of the program.

Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Budget Allocation:

Milestone 1: Curriculum Design and Developer Recruitment (Month 1) 21,000 $ADA

This covers curriculum development for both Cardano and Midnight protocols by experts within the ecosystem.

Recruitment of Cardano/Midnight developers as Technical Instructor and Mentors

Advertising the developer recruitment.

Milestone 2: Bootcamp Launch and Initial Training (Month 2) 20,000 $ADA

Booking of Venues for 3 months with 5 hours in a day, 3 days in a week, 12 days in a month, and 36 days in

3 months and 180 hours overall!

Developer refreshments and foods

Milestone 3: Intermediate Development and Project Assignment (Month 3) 14, 000 $ADA

This will cover the developer's 10K $ADA Project completion/Hackhaton

Miscellaneous: 4k $ADA

Total Budget: 65,000 $ADA

Our success will depend on the availability of any hired Technical Instructor and Mentors, with experience in Cardano and Midnight development.

How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

Allocating 55,000 $ADA towards the proposed bootcamp for training 21 experienced full-stack developers in Cardano and Midnight protocols represents a strategic investment with profound implications for the Cardano ecosystem. By focusing on upskilling developers who already possess foundational expertise, the initiative ensures rapid integration into Cardano's complex architecture, including smart contract development and governance protocols. This targeted approach not only accelerates the deployment of decentralized applications (DApps) but also strengthens Next Trend Labs' capacity to innovate and contribute meaningfully to Cardano's growth in Nigeria and beyond.

Moreover, investing in local talent development fosters sustainability and community-driven innovation. By creating a self-sustaining developer team within Next Trend Labs, the initiative builds a robust foundation for ongoing project execution and future scalability. This not only enhances Cardano's ecosystem resilience by reducing reliance on external talent but also stimulates economic empowerment and technological advancement within the region. Ultimately, the value for money lies in catalyzing long-term socioeconomic transformation through skilled workforce development and positioning Cardano as a pivotal player in Africa's blockchain revolution.