“Nigeria’s Innovation Hub rising fast, getting Global Attention” – Minister 

The Nigerian and African technology and general innovative hub has grown to a global competitive standard.

 

This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed on Thursday in Lagos, South West Nigeria when he visited Unicorn, the popular Pan African organisation targeting innovative ideas.

 

The Minister described the innovation center as a true representation of the Nigerian Spirit, giving hope and helping to build a new Nigeria and Africa in general.

 

According to him, watering the seeds of innovation is in itself a game changer for the continent.

 

Partnership
One of Unicorn’s partners and innovators, Koniku, is a US-based Nigerian firm building a technology that digitizes the sense of smell and sense of taste that can be used in the aviation, health and oil and gas sectors.

 

The Minister promised to partner with the innovation hub to tell the world the story and take the narrative also to relevant government agencies for appropriate partnership.

 

“I am sure many government MDAs will be happy to know what is going on here and to leverage on many of them. Unicorn is showing that impossible is not Nigerian. Impossible is not African,” he said.

 

Belief in Nigeria
The Minister applauded the center for believing in Nigeria and for putting their money where their mouth is.

 

“Bringing children into this whole ecosystem is a winner especially from different disadvantaged communities is a game changer. Seeing young Nigerian authors rising to become world beaters is inspiring. This is where dreams come true. This is where ideas are born and they become reality,” he added.

 

Mohammed said having the young ones from primary to secondary to tertiary schools to see the best of Nigeria and the best of Africa is massive.

 

“We will give you visibility. We will tell the world what you are and what you do. And we will also take this to the government. I am sure many government MDAs will be happy to know what is going on here and to leverage on many of them. We will be the link between you and the government,” he stated.

 

Competitiveness
The chairman of Unicorn, Dr. Akitoye Akindele said the innovation hub has risen to the very top and competitive even on the global stage.

 

“We have done what we were told from abroad was not possible .We are focusing on capacity building to that international standard and also focused on telling our narratives as Nigerians and as Africans. We are the best we can be and there is nothing that is impossible.”

 

The story of the Nigerian and African innovative hub has been on the rise for some time now. Between January and September 2021, African Fintechs raised up to 1.4 billion dollars signalling an increasing investor appetite for Africa’s growing fintech space and Nigeria has taken centre stage.

 

According to a report by Frost and Sullivan, Nigeria’s FinTech revenue is expected to reach $543.3 million in 2022 from $153.1 million in 2017.

 

Nneka Ukachukwu