Anambra State has marked a significant milestone in its journey towards technological advancement with the adoption of the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA).
At a 2-day Ecosystem Stakeholders Engagement and Validation Session, held at the Solution Innovation District Centre in Awka, Anambra State in December, key stakeholders, government officials, and industry players converged to discuss the adoption of this groundbreaking legislation and validate pertinent issues that should be considered.
Hosted by Ms. Chinwe Okoli, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, the event 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; and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs Chiamaka Nnake.
Other dignitaries present at the event included the Managing Director of the Anambra State ICT Agency, Mr. Fred Agbata (CFA); Managing Director of ANSIPPA, Mr. Mark Okoye; State Adoption Lead of the Nigeria Startup Act (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 is a tech-driven leader, and emphasised 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 the students and youths to become Africa’s digital tribe that offers solutions to problems through technology.
While appreciating Ms. Chinwe Okoli for her passion and integrity in driving the innovation ecosystem in the state, Dr. Ibezim encouraged the youths to think big and unlock their great ideas, calling them the ‘gold of the state’.
Earlier, Ms Chinwe Okoli, in her opening address, expressed joy at the enthusiasm of Ndi Anambra towards technological advancement, and stated that “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 programmes of the Solution Innovation District – Code Anambra, LevelUp Anambra, business incubation, business clinic for SMEs etc.”
Ms. Okoli emphasised 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 the 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, emphasised that the adoption of the NSA in the state would protect investors and investments while ensuring the sustainability of businesses over time.
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, while calling 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 and emphasised that what will become the ACT in Anambra State will reflect its peculiarities.
Participants at the event encouraged members of the Anambra State innovation ecosystem, SMEs and Startups in the state to familiarize themselves with the content of the Nigerian Startup Act document, which can be downloaded via the link: bit.ly/NSAC
During the engagement session, a survey form was provided for all stakeholders to share their thoughts on what should be considered in creating the Anambra Startup Act.
They are advised to click on the link to make their input in creating the Act: https://bit.ly/AnambraStartupActSurvey
The Ecosystem Stakeholders Engagement and Validation Session was concluded on a high note, with questions, concerns, and suggestions from participants, all contributing to shaping the Anambra Startup Act.
Analysts say the success of the engagement signals a new era in Anambra State, positioning her as a hub for innovation and technology.
