Connect with us

Thursday 8th June, 2023

TechExtra

NITDA, LEAP Africa Collaborate To Harness Youths’ Potential In Technology, Entrepreneurship

Published

on

The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, and members of LEAP Africa's Management led by its Executive Director, Kehinde Ayeni during the visit at Corporate Headquarters of the Agency.

The National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has agreed to partner with LEAP Africa, a non-profit organisation that focuses on leadership development, to harness the potential of young Nigerians in the field of technology and entrepreneurship.

The partnership is also intended to equip young Nigerians with the necessary skills to take advantage of emerging opportunities in the tech industry.

The Director General of National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa made this disclosure during a visit by a team from LEAP Africa led by its Executive Director, Kehinde Ayeni to the Corporate Headquarters of the Agency.

Inuwa lamented that the surge of migration of Nigerian youths to other countries which is largely attributed to the quest for a better life is gradually depleting the nation’s talent resources and consequently made it imperative for the Federal Government of Nigeria to create enabling opportunities through the implementation of developmental guidelines, mentorship programmes, establishment of social infrastructures and funding that will enable innovation and entrepreneurship thrive in the country.

He stated that it is necessary to harness the talents of Nigerian youth and exploit the potential for their individual benefits and that of the country, adding that the country has a global competitive advantage due to its large population of young people.

While stating that technology is the major driver of the economy globally with people as its critical component, he opined that enormous attention should be given to the needs of innovators in order to create a flourishing and innovative ecosystem in the country.

Speaking on possible areas of collaboration with LEAP Africa, the NITDA boss said that the newly enacted Nigeria Startup Act is an instrument both organisations can leverage to unlock and ignite activities in the innovative and entrepreneurship ecosystem.

ALSO READ  NITDA Pledges Support For Indigenous Startup That Developed Sexual Abuse Reporting App

According to him, “The Act has been signed into law, the Council has been inaugurated, we have developed the implementation framework and we need partners to work together to implement it. We believe in collaboration because we cannot succeed in isolation. So, we need to work together as an ecosystem to achieve that.”

Giving further insight into the ingenuity and prospects of the Act, the DG revealed that the implementation committee has been further broken down into sub-committees to identify thematic areas in catalysing the process.

While highlighting Ecosystem Development, Capacity Building, Funding, Tax and Fiscal Incentives as some of the thematic areas identified, he gave his assurance that the Federal Government is committed to giving infrastructural support to boost the ecosystem, engaging in massive programmes to build capacities in soft skills, providing adequate funding into the ecosystem and influence policies that will act as an enabler to the ecosystem.

Inuwa added that the National Outsourcing Strategy and the National Digital Talent Strategy are other initiatives developed by the agency in upskilling players within the innovative and entrepreneurship ecosystem thereby making them marketable globally.

He added that innovation hub clusters would be built across the country to develop the capacities of talented Nigerian youths and make them marketable globally.

“We want to focus on services which are digitally driven and provide the talent to build those services. You can live in Nigeria, then connect to the global value chain and earn better. You don’t need to travel and that’s what will help us to build the Nigeria we want,” he said.

ALSO READ  Obadare, Cybersecurity Expert Keynotes 2020 BoICT Lecture/Awards

While giving her remark earlier, Kehinde Ayeni said that LEAP Africa in its 20 years of existence has been involved in several projects such as the Social Innovation Programme, Nigerian Youths Futures Fund and the iLEAD programme to build capacities of youth and bridge the digital divide in the country.

She however expressed the organisation’s desire to partner with NITDA to leverage Information Technology in creating solutions to challenges daunting the innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem in the country.

“As we continue to look at our impact over the last 20 years, one of the shortcomings that we found is what technology could do for us and the power of innovation in ensuring that the Nigeria and Africa that we are striving for is possible,” she concluded.

Share Post

Innovation

Applications Open For 4th Edition Of The Future Is Female Mentorship Programme

Published

on

Photo Credit: fundsforNGOs

C. Moore Media and Allison+Partners have opened applications for the fourth edition of The Future is Female Mentorship Programme.

The initiative is the first and only PR and communications programme dedicated exclusively to African female tech founders.

This year, the programme is being done in partnership with Google Africa. The collaboration will enable selected alumni from the Google for Startups Accelerator programme to take part in the Future is Female Mentorship Program.

The initiative provides PR and communications expertise, insights, knowledge, and skills exclusively to African female founders to support the increased visibility and growth of their startups.

The fourth edition of the programme also welcomes the Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund which will support the program by hosting a session on VC funding for the selected female founders from across Africa.

Salesforce Ventures Impact Fund has an active interest in Africa and continues to assess opportunities across the Continent. The Fund has invested in some of the region’s top Africa-focused tech startups including Flutterwave and Andela.

“African female tech founders are often unsupported in the male-dominated world of tech, which is why The Future is Female Mentorship Programme was established. We are excited to launch the fourth edition of the initiative with Allison + Partners, who acquired C. Moore Media, International Public Relations,” said Claudine Moore, The Future Is Female Mentorship Programme Founder and managing director of Africa at Allison + Partners.

“We are also delighted to collaborate with Google Africa and their Women Founders Africa Programme, and Salesforce, who will be hosting a session on VC funding with the selected finalists of the programme.”

ALSO READ  Nigeria Needs To Reboot Its Entire Ecosystem With Digital Technology- Pantami

Launched by the Africa tech-focused PR agency, C. Moore Media International PR, which was recently acquired by global agency Allison+Partners and originally launched on Africa Day in 2020, Applications to the programme have grown by over 160% in recent years, with applications received from 36 African countries in 2022.

“We are excited to be collaborating with The Future is Female Mentorship Programme as it aligns with the mission of the Google for Startups Accelerator: Women Founders Africa Programme to support and empower women founders building great tech startups in Africa or for Africa,” said Folarin Aiyegbusi, Head of Startup Ecosystem, Sub Saharan Africa.

“By increasing the representation of women in the startup ecosystem, we can help bridge the gap between the number of women-led startups and the amount and quality of support they receive, ultimately leading to more diversity and innovation.”

Techcabal alongside Africa Communications Week, a global platform that builds bridges between communications professionals focused on Africa’s transformation will return for the third consecutive year as official partners of the program.

Tope Adubi and David Idagu will join founder Claudine Moore as the lead mentors.

The programme is delivered virtually, and the mentees are invited to participate in masterclasses and sessions customized to the specific needs of their sector and business.

African female founders will learn insights into VC funding, PR and communications, storytelling, media relations and more.

During the selection process, special consideration is given to startups that focus on health, education, finance, agriculture, and sustainability.

In addition, startups that provide solutions and/or address African women’s and girls’ needs will also receive special consideration.

ALSO READ  LCCI’s 2020 ICTEL EXPO Goes Virtual As Pantami, Danbatta, Opeke Lead Other Eminent Speakers

The applications are now open and close Monday, June 26, 2023. Interested female founders can apply here.

The successful candidates will be announced on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.

Share Post
Continue Reading

Innovation

Nigeria Leads West African Region, As Winners Of Global Startup Awards Africa Emerge

Awabah, Salubata, Crop2Cash, Emergency Response Africa, Dataleum Limited, and Xend Finance are the Nigerian Startups that made the list of winners.

Share Post

Published

on

Photo Credit: Global Startup Awards Africa Facebook page

Nigeria led in the West Africa regional Awards list of 71 startups from across Africa, named at this year’s Global Startup Awards (GSA) Africa, the largest, independent startup ecosystem competition on the continent.

In the West Africa region, Nigerian startups scooped up six awards, followed by three winners from Ghana. Additional winners came from Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Senegal, and Benin.

The Nigerian startups who made the list are Awabah (Best Newcomer), Salubata (Startup of the Year), Crop2Cash (Agri Tech), Emergency Response Africa (Health Tech), Dataleum Limited (EdTech), and Xend Finance (Best Web 3.0).

Twenty-three African countries are represented in the line-up of regional winners.

The 2022/23 season attracted 8,272 entries from all 54 African states, resulting in 71 regional winners being named across the Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, and Central Africa competitions.

Launched in 2021, GSA Africa is a platform dedicated to showcasing and scaling Africa’s most promising startups.

This year’s competition focused on solutions in agriculture, climate change, commerce, education, healthcare, and mobility & logistics, with a particular interest in startups championing Web 3.0 technologies, sustainable business models, green innovation, and diversity in the workplace.

The competition saw entrants first compete at a national level before vying for their spot as a regional finalist. Winners were then decided by an independent panel of judges, offering a wholistic view of the African tech ecosystem.

In the Northern Africa competition, thirteen startups from Egypt were named winners, followed by finalists from Morocco and Tunisia. Similar results were seen in Southern Africa, where South African startups secured eleven awards, while the remaining titles went to entrants from Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Namibia.

ALSO READ  Pula, African InsureTech Platform Closes $6mn TLcom-Led Series A Fundraise

Meanwhile, Eastern Africa saw Kenyan startups walk away with seven titles, as those from Uganda secured three, Ethiopia with two, and startups from Mauritius, Rwanda, and Tanzania also claiming awards.

Central African startups had a strong presence this year, with innovators from Cameroon earning five titles and those from the Democratic Republic of Congo winning four. Winners from the Congo and Gabon were also recognised.

All 71 regional winners will now advance to the Continental Finals of the GSA Africa competition, where they will compete to be crowned an African winner.

This final group of startups will join the GSA Grand Finale where they will have the opportunity to showcase their solutions alongside some of the world’s top entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and ecosystem enablers.

In March 2023, two African startups were named Global Winners at last season’s Grand Finale.

Competing against more than 120 companies from 115 countries, Ethiopian green-tech startup, Kubik, was recognised as ‘Startup of the Year’, while the Ugandan fintech, Emata, was proclaimed ‘Best Newcomer’.

African winners will have the exclusive opportunity to engage with the Global Innovation Initiative Group (GIIG), the competition’s dedicated investment partner.

Through its GIIG Africa Fund and the GIIG Africa Foundation, the organisation aims to find, fund, and grow globally relevant African innovation.

Reflecting on this year’s regional winners, GSA Africa and GIIG co-founder, Jo Griffiths, said “With 747 finalists across all five regions, this year’s competition did not disappoint! Our panel of judges was blown away by the quality and diversity of solutions from all corners of the continent, that are actively working to solve some of our greatest challenges.

ALSO READ  NITDA Sponsors 5 Startups To Taipei Smart City Summit & Expo 2021

“It was particularly interesting to note that – from Algeria to South Africa, Senegal to Somalia, and everywhere in between – 34 percent of this year’s entrants were tackling green innovation. These startups are proof that Africa is the tech continent of the future.”

The announcement took place at the launch edition of GITEX Africa 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco, last week.

GITEX Africa 2023 is the biggest gathering of innovation stakeholders on the continent, bringing together global leaders in the public, private, and civil sectors to spur the adoption of next-gen technology in Africa.

Speaking from GITEX Africa 2023 was GSA Africa and GIIG co-founder, Caitlin Nash, who remarked: “These winners represent the top startups in both their home country and region – and it’s all the more significant that we announce them here in Morocco, the industrial powerhouse of Africa.

“This competition is all about building global bridges between our continent’s most exceptional solutions and the people, markets, and communities where they can make the most significant impact.

“In that vein, this event has been the ideal launch pad for these startups’ global ambitions, and we’re excited to help take them to the world.”

The full list of this year’s Global Startup Awards Africa regional winners is available here.

Share Post
Continue Reading

Innovation

Nearpays, A Nigerian Startup Wins $10,000 At GITEX Africa Morocco

Published

on

Nearpays Technology Limited, a Nigerian startup, has been awarded a cash prize of 10,000 US Dollars and a free all-expenses trip to GITEX Global to be hosted by the Dubai World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates, in October 2023.

Nearpays won the cash award after emerging as the best in the Fintech and Blockchain category of the Supernova Challenge at the just concluded GITEX Africa, Morocco.

The startup is a full-service financial payment platform that acts as an end-to-end financial service for clients.

It has various features to simplify online payments as much as possible, based on the principle that payments should be seamless.

It also offers a wide range of services including personal and corporate banking, virtual debit cards, and online banking.

The platform, founded by Victor Daniyan, uses blockchain technology to create a decentralised payment and makes the network more secure and efficient than traditional payment systems.

Nearpays, a fintech payment company, seeks to promote financial inclusion by making card transactions more accessible and convenient using NFC and scan-to-pay technology.

It is currently making inroads into the Nigerian market and aims to expand into other African markets with plans to launch its services in Europe and the United States in the near future.

Kashifu Inuwa, Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), commended Nearpays for, yet again, putting Nigeria’s name on the global stage.

He added that the victory was a “proud moment for Nigeria and that it was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the company’s founders and team.”

ALSO READ  LCCI’s 2020 ICTEL EXPO Goes Virtual As Pantami, Danbatta, Opeke Lead Other Eminent Speakers

Inuwa also said that the Nigerian government is committed to creating a favourable environment for startups and that it would continue to support the sector.

“The government is committed to creating a conducive environment for the growth of the startup ecosystem. We will continue to provide support to startups through enabling policies, programmes, and initiatives,” he added.

He further said that the Nigerian government has made a number of policies in recent years, particularly the National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS) that provides a favourable environment for digital innovation and entrepreneurship to thrive.

In addition, the Nigerian government equally enacted the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) to provide an enabling environment for the establishment, development and operation of startups in Nigeria.

“The government’s policies have helped to attract investments in the Nigerian digital economy sector and have led to the growth of a number of thriving startups, such as Nearpays.

“The government’s continued support for the sector is helping Nigeria to become a leading hub for talent and innovation in the world.

“The success of Nearpays is a testament to the potential of the Nigerian startup ecosystem. The country has a large and growing population of young and tech-savvy entrepreneurs.

“With the support of the government, these entrepreneurs are poised to make a significant impact on the global economy,” he added.

Victor Daniyan, the CEO and Co-founder of Nearspays, while appreciating the honour, said that the award is a “significant milestone” for the company and that it would “help us to further accelerate our growth and expansion plans.”

He also said that it was “an honour to represent Nigeria at the global stage” and that they are “committed to using technology to solve some of the most pressing challenges facing Africa.”

ALSO READ  NITDA Pledges Support For Indigenous Startup That Developed Sexual Abuse Reporting App

Nearpays’s victory at GITEX Africa Morocco is a sign of many things to come for the Nigerian startup ecosystem, especially now that the Nigeria Startup Act is in the implementation stage.

The country has a large and growing population of young and tech-savvy entrepreneurs. With the support of the government, these entrepreneurs are poised to make a significant impact on the global economy.

Sixty-seven Nigerian startups participated in the inaugural edition of GITEX Africa, which reaffirmed the country’s burgeoning tech ecosystem, and provided a platform for them to exhibit their cutting-edge ideas, gain invaluable exposure from the global tech community, and attract potential investments that will catalyze Nigeria’s digital economy.

As Nigerian startups continue to shine on the global stage, they are reshaping the narrative around Africa’s tech potential.

With their innovative ideas, entrepreneurial drive, and the support of the government and international investors, Nigerian startups are poised to drive a transformative change, positioning the country at the forefront of technological innovation in Africa and beyond.

Share Post
Continue Reading
Innovation3 days ago

Applications Open For 4th Edition Of The Future Is Female Mentorship Programme

Innovation3 days ago

Nigeria Leads West African Region, As Winners Of Global Startup Awards Africa Emerge

Innovation5 days ago

Nearpays, A Nigerian Startup Wins $10,000 At GITEX Africa Morocco

Innovation5 days ago

Soludo Launches ‘Solution E-ID Card’ For Anambra Civil Servants

Innovation5 days ago

Lagos State Govt Partners Dubai World Trade Centre, Sponsors 25 Nigerian Startups To GITEX Africa Morocco

TechExtra5 days ago

Why NITDA Is Advocating For Pan-African Approach To Harnessing Digital Economy

Fintech6 days ago

Report Shows Global Fintech Deals Dropped 42% In May 2023 YoY

TechExtra6 days ago

Ruto Hails Technology Impact On Governance, As Kenya Turns 60

REPORT6 days ago

Nigeria, 4 Other African Countries ‘Backtrack’ On UN Internet Pledge

TechExtra6 days ago

NITDA @GITEX Africa Reiterates Need For Regional Collaboration

Telecoms6 days ago

Nigeria’s Telecom Industry Has Witnessed Several Milestones- Danbatta

TechExtra1 week ago

Vatican City, Most Literate Country In Cybersecurity

Telecoms1 week ago

9mobile Ranked Among Top 25 Best Workplaces In Nigeria By LinkedIn

TechExtra1 week ago

Elon Musk Regains Position As World’s Richest Person

REPORT1 week ago

Survey Ranks Shanghai 2023 Leading Smart City In The World

REPORT1 week ago

Research Shows Digital Prepaid Card Usage To Rise

BROADBAND1 week ago

Liquid Dataport Launches Shortest Fibre Route

Emerging Tech1 week ago

Experts Warn That Artificial Intelligence Could Lead To The ‘Extinction’ Of Humanity

Telecoms1 week ago

Danbatta To Be Conferred With National Productivity Order Of Merit Award

TECH PRODUCT1 week ago

TECNO Launches New SPARK 10 Series Magic Skin Edition

FINANCE2 years ago

Financial Inclusion: Remita Partners MTN’s Yello Digital Financial Services

FINANCE1 year ago

Financial Inclusion: 9PSB CEO Calls For Targeted Content To Accelerate Growth In Nigeria

BANKING9 months ago

FirstBank Hosts Financial Market Dealers Association (FMDA) Quarterly Meeting

FINANCE1 year ago

MTN’s MoMo Payment Service Bank Formally Commences Operations

FINANCE1 year ago

Mastercard, OPay In strategic Partnership To Advance Africa’s Digital Financial Inclusion

FINANCE10 months ago

Verdant Capital Raises $10m Of Debt Funding For Zeepay

FINANCE7 months ago

Crypto Giants, Binance Plans To Acquire Major Rival FTX

Opinion9 months ago

Resiliency Is the Cornerstone Of Future-Proofing Business Continuity

Telecoms3 years ago

5G Services Go Live In Madagascar, As Telma Launches Ericsson-Powered Network In The Country

Opinion9 months ago

Price Vs Quality: The Nigerian E-Commerce Shopper’s Dilemma

Opinion8 months ago

Femi Falana, SAN: Your Client’s Publication On Zinox Chairman, A Cheap Blackmail

BROADCASTING2 years ago

tvN, Korea’s Number 1 Entertainment Channel Debuts On DStv March 1

BROADCASTING10 months ago

NBC Fines DSTV, Trust TV, 2 Others N20m For ‘Terrorism Glorification’

Opinion8 months ago

The Savvy Story Of National Pension Commission (PENCOM)

BROADCASTING10 months ago

MultiChoice Partners BON To Upskill 200 Broadcasters

BROADCASTING11 months ago

Tribunal To Rule On MultiChoice Price Increase July 25

FINANCE4 months ago

monieworx Enables 3 SMEs Raise N100M In 10 Days Through Regulation Crowdfunding

Opinion9 months ago

The Savvy Story Of National Pension Commission (PENCOM)- Part 2

SOCIAL10 months ago

Meta Invites Applications For Training In AR/VR Across Africa

FINANCE5 months ago

Global Software Spending On Financial Crime Prevention To Exceed $28bn

Advertisement

Trending