By Ovat Abeng
A sum of one hundred million naira has been mapped out by the Anambra State Government to reward winners of of this year, 2024 Anambra Innovation week competition, tagged; “Battle4Solutions”.
The Special Adviser to governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, on Innovation and Business Incubation, Chinwe Okoli, disclosed this while briefing Journalists at her office in Awka, on Tuesday.
She said the event expected to take place at the International Conversation Center Awka, is scheduled to hold between 25th-29th November, 2024.
According to Okoli, 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 also to share insights of what Mr Governor has planned for this week of innovation and technology.
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The theme of the Week is “Creating the Future of Africa, Now’, she said the long week event is in line with Governor Soludo’s agenda to make Anambra Nigeria’s digital and creative capital.
“The Solution Innovation District (SID), the organisers of the event is dedicated to developing a thriving ecosystem for digital talent, startups, and innovative businesses across the state.
“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 through programs like LevelUp Anambra and Code Anambra, SID under my watch have trained over 25,000 youths on various deep technology skills preparing them for jobs in the global market.
“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 also 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 product 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 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 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 (N100,000,000) 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..
“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.
Okoli while commending the governor for the kind gesture, announced that Anambra and across Nigeria are eligible to apply and compete in the 100 million Battle4Solutions quiz, noting that the Application opens today, 29th October, 2024 on www.innovationweek.anambrastate.gov.ng.