The Anambra State Government has allocated one hundred million naira to reward winners of the 2024 Anambra Innovation Week competition, tagged “Battle4Solutions.”
The Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation, Chinwe Okoli, shared this at a briefing with journalists at her office in Awka on Tuesday.
She announced that the event, set to take place at the International Convention Centre, Awka, is scheduled for 25th-29th November 2024.
According to Okoli, “The objective of this briefing is to introduce the maiden Anambra Innovation Week 2024 (AIW2024), scheduled for 25-29th November in Awka, and to share insights into what Mr Governor has planned for this week of innovation and technology.”
The theme of the week is ‘Creating the Future of Africa, Now,” she said, noting that the event aligns with Governor Soludo’s agenda to make Anambra Nigeria’s digital and creative capital.
She added, “The Solution Innovation District (SID), organisers of the event, are dedicated to developing a thriving ecosystem for digital talent, startups, and innovative businesses across the state.
“Our mandate includes nurturing the ‘Anambra Digital Tribe,’ supporting the startup ecosystem, incubating promising ventures, fostering research commercialisation, and helping businesses leverage technology to scale through programmes like LevelUp Anambra and Code Anambra. Under my leadership, SID has trained over 25,000 youths in deep technology skills, preparing them for jobs in the global market.
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“Our SID Teen Digital Bootcamp is also grooming a new generation of talented teens for future global impact. Additionally, the Anambra State Startup Law, adapted from the Nigerian Startup Act, is underway to foster an environment that supports creativity, entrepreneurship, and sustainable economic growth.”
She highlighted Governor Soludo’s infrastructure commitment, mentioning that “over 2,000 km of fibre optic cables are being laid across the state for last-mile internet connectivity. A 13.7-hectare plot, currently home to the Government House, has been designated as the permanent site for SID.”
She added that Innovation Week is set to become an annual platform showcasing Nigeria and Africa’s dynamic technology and innovation ecosystems, with the vision to make Anambra the ‘Silicon Valley of Africa.’
The five-day event will gather innovators, policymakers, top tech CEOs, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, digital experts, and academics from Africa and beyond.
“AIW emphasises growth through bold ideas, talent, technology, and invention, highlighted by our flagship competition, Battle4Solutions. This innovation competition has a prize pool of over one hundred million naira (N100,000,000) in cash prizes, inviting Nigeria’s brightest startups to pitch solutions to critical challenges in sectors such as digital health, renewable energy, e-commerce, agritech, fintech, environment, and education,” she explained.
“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, expressing gratitude to the governor for this initiative, announced that applicants from Anambra and across Nigeria are eligible to apply for the 100-million-naira Battle4Solutions competition. Applications open today, 29th October 2024, at www.innovationweek.anambra.
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