Anambra State marked a significant milestone in its journey towards technological advancement with the adoption of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA).
The 2-day Ecosystem Stakeholders Engagement and Validation Session, held at the Solution Innovation District Center in Awka in December brought together key stakeholders, government officials, and industry players to discuss the adoption of this ground-breaking legislation and validate pertinent issues that should be considered.
The event, hosted by Ms Chinwe Okoli, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, witnessed the presence of esteemed dignitaries such as the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim, Commissioner for Industry, Christian Udechukwu; Commissioner of Youth Development, Patrick Aghamba; Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake; MD of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA); MD of ANSIPPA, Mr Mark Okoye; State adoption lead of the NSA, Mrs Tracy Okoro, and various stakeholders including the academia, hub founders, startups, tech community, NASME, partners, tech enthusiasts and relevant stakeholders in the State.
The Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, reiterated the importance of embracing technology, stating that Mr Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR is a tech-driven leader. He emphasized the urgency for the State to embrace technology and become champions of positive disruption and leaders of the global technology revolution.
Dr Ibezim highlighted the human capital development agenda of Mr Governor, which is to leapfrog our students and youths to become Africa’s digital tribe that offers solutions to problems through technology.
He encouraged the youths to think big and unlock their great ideas, calling them the ‘gold of the state’.
The Deputy Governor appreciated Ms. Chinwe Okoli for her passion and integrity in driving the innovation ecosystem in the state.
Earlier, Ms Chinwe Okoli, in her opening address, expressed joy at the enthusiasm of Ndi Anambra towards technological advancement.
She stated:
“Mr Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo is committed to championing the ‘everything technology and technology everywhere’ agenda towards transforming Anambra to become the Silicon Valley of Africa. So the administration is intentional about building the technological capacity of Ndi Anambra through various programs of the Solution Innovation District – Code Anambra, LevelUp Anambra, business incubation, business clinic for SMEs etc-.
Ms Okoli emphasized that “adopting the Nigeria Startup Act in the state would create the required enabling environment for startups to thrive in the State”. The new act in Anambra will be expected to offer tax incentives, reduce regulatory burdens, and provide funding opportunities.
She called for collaborations between academia, government, private sectors, angel investors, venture capitalists, hub founders, startups, and other stakeholders to propel the state to the forefront of the global innovation ecosystem.
On her part, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, emphasized that the adoption of the NSA in the state would protect investors and investments while ensuring the sustainability of businesses over time.
Chukwuemeka Fred Agbata (CFA), the managing director of the Anambra State ICT Agency concurred that NSA adoption in the state needs to reflect the reality and comparative advantage of the state.
Noting that the state is known for commerce and embracing e-commerce is essential.
He called on the ecosystem to take collective action, stressing that innovation requires collaboration between the private sector and the government.
The State adoption lead of the NSA, Mrs Tracy Okoro, explained that the act was built on four pillars: funding, human development/capacity building, infrastructure (internet connectivity), and regulations.
She underscored the NSA as the co-creation of displacement and disruption enacted to establish the need for innovators and government to collaborate in creating a conducive environment for technology-enabled businesses to thrive. She emphasizes that what will become the ACT in Anambra State will reflect its peculiarities.
Members of the Anambra State innovation ecosystem, SMEs and Startups in the state are hereby encouraged to familiarize themselves with the content of the Nigerian Startup Act document, which can be downloaded via the link here.
As agreed during the engagement session, we have provided a survey form for all stakeholders to share their thoughts on what should be considered in creating the Anambra Startup Act.
Click on this link to make your input in creating the Act.
The Ecosystem Stakeholders Engagement and Validation Session were concluded on a high note, with questions, concerns, and suggestions from participants, all contributing to shaping the Anambra Startup Act. The success of the engagement signals a new era in Anambra State, positioning her as a hub for innovation and technology.
