By Jude Michael
In line with Governor Soludo’s agenda to make Anambra Nigeria’s digital and creative capital, the Anambra State Government, through Solution Innovation District (SID), has fixed 25th -29th November 2024 for the maiden edition of Innovation Week.
Addressing newsmen in Awka, the Special Adviser to Governor Charles Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation, Miss Chinwe Okoli, said SID was dedicated to developing a thriving ecosystem for digital talent, startups, and innovative businesses across the state.
‘Anambra Innovation Week is set to become an annual event and a leading platform for showcasing Nigeria and Africa’s fast-growing and vibrant technology and innovation ecosystem, while underscoring our vision to make Anambra the Silicon Valley of Africa. Over the five-day event, we will bring together innovators, policymakers, top Tech CEOs, industry, entrepreneurs, investors, digital experts, and academics from Africa and beyond. AIW will feature exhibitions, showcases, competitions, games, keynotes, high-level panels, fireside chats, workshops, masterclasses, and a TradeNovation Fair for SMEs, all designed to advance technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship across the continent.
‘AIW prioritizes growth through bold ideas, talent, technology and invention highlighted by our flagship competition called Battle4Solutions. An innovation competition with a prize pool of over one hundred million Naira in cash prizes.
‘This competition invites Nigeria’s brightest startups to pitch solutions addressing critical societal challenges in various sectors such as digital health, renewable energy, e-commerce, agritech, fintech, environment, education etc. Government ministries, agencies, academic institutions, startups, and creators are all welcome to participate in their categories of competition, with full details available on our website.
‘Innovators, both in Anambra and across Nigeria, are eligible to apply and compete in the Battle4Solutions. Application opens today (Wednesday, Oct 30) on www.innovationweek.anambrastate.gov.ng
‘We will continue to share updates on confirmed speakers and partners in the coming days leading up to the event across Solution Innovation District’s social media pages and the Anambra Innovation Week’s event website and pages.
‘The objective of this is to announce to you the maiden Anambra Innovation Week 2024 (AIW2024) slated for 25-29th November, 2024 in Awka and share insights of what Mr Governor has planned for this week of innovation and technology. The theme of the AIW is ‘’Creating the Future of Africa, Now’’. Through programmes like LevelUp Anambra and Code Anambra, we have trained over 25, 000 youths on various deep technology skills preparing them for jobs in the global market-and many others for them to secure such jobs daily, while our SID Teen Digital Bootcamp cultivates a new generation of talented teens poised for future global impact. Additionally, the Anambra State Startup Law, a domestication of the Nigerian Startup Act, is underway to boost an environment that nurtures creativity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.
‘Our mandate encompasses nurturing the “Anambra Digital Tribe,” supporting the startup ecosystem, incubating promising ventures, fostering research commercialization, and helping businesses leverage technology to scale,’ she said.
Okoli announced that the State Government had trained over 25,000 youths on technical skills, preparing them for jobs in the global market, saying that the Soludo Administration had also instituted a N100 million cash prize to be won by participants in the innovation competition.
‘Through programmes like LevelUp Anambra and Code Anambra, we have trained over 25,000 youths on various deep technology skills preparing them for jobs in the global market-and many other them secure such jobs daily, while our SID Teen Digital Bootcamp cultivates a new generation of talented teens poised for future global impact.
‘Additionally, the Anambra State Startup Law, a domestication of the Nigerian Startup Act, is underway to boost an environment that nurtures creativity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth. In support of this commitment, Governor Soludo has prioritized infrastructure, with over 2,000 km of fiber duct being laid across the state for last-mile internet connectivity.
‘A 13.7-hectare plot of land, currently home to the Government House, has been designated as the permanent site for SID.
‘An innovation competition with a prize pool of over one hundred million naira in cash prizes. This competition invites Nigeria’s brightest startups to pitch solutions addressing critical societal challenges in various sectors such as digital health, renewable energy, e-commerce, agritech, fintech, environment, education etc.
‘Government ministries, agencies, academic institutions, startups, and creators are all welcome to participate in their categories of competition, with full details available on our website. Innovators both in Anambra and across Nigeria are eligible to apply and compete in the Battle4Solutions.
‘In support of this commitment, Governor Soludo has prioritized infrastructure, with over 2,000 km of fiber duct being laid across the state for last-mile internet connectivity. A 13.7-hectare plot of land, currently home to the Government House, has been designated as the permanent site for SID. The master plan redesign is complete, and construction on the first major structure has begun, setting the foundation for what will become a hub of innovation and technology -Anambra’s own “Silicon Valley.”
‘Meanwhile, SID operates from a temporary centre equipped with a digital skills lab, robotics lab, coworking spaces, training halls, high-speed internet, and a productive environment for startups and tech enthusiasts,’ Okoli said.
