By Chukwuemelie Chinedu
Anambra State has reaffirmed its commitment to indigenous innovation, technology development and youth empowerment with a ₦2.5 million matching grant presented to the state’s InnovateNaija champion at the InnovateNaija and Future Makers Awards held at the State House, Abuja, on Oct. 7.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo was represented at the ceremony by his Special Adviser on Innovation and Business Incubation and Chief Executive Officer of the Solution Innovation District (SID), Ms. Chinwe Okoli, who delivered a goodwill message on behalf of the state.
The President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was represented by the Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Kingsley Tochukwu Udeh, SAN.
Organised by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), the event brought together government officials, innovators, researchers, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders to recognise Nigerian ingenuity and promote technology driven development.
Among those present were the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande; Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe; and NASENI Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Khalil Suleiman Halilu, alongside representatives of AfriLabs and NARDA.
Delivering the state’s goodwill message, Okoli reaffirmed Anambra’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for innovators to develop their ideas into practical solutions, sustainable businesses and employment opportunities.
She presented the state’s ₦2.5 million matching grant to Anambra’s InnovateNaija State Champion, bringing the total support to ₦5 million.
The intervention reflects the state government’s efforts to strengthen its innovation ecosystem through the Solution Innovation District, a flagship initiative supporting Governor Soludo’s “Everything Technology, Technology Everywhere” agenda.
“Building a thriving innovation economy requires celebrating ideas, building infrastructure, forging strategic partnerships, creating access to finance, and enabling policies that translate innovation into viable businesses, jobs and real-world solutions,” Okoli said.
The ceremony featured the presentation of more than ₦400 million in cash prizes to innovators, researchers and Future Makers across various categories. These included the Future Makers Recognition and Awards, NASENI inter agency and intra agency innovation awards, and the unveiling of state and national InnovateNaija winners.
The awards highlighted the growing emphasis on indigenous research, engineering, technological advancement and youth led innovation as tools for economic development.
For Anambra, the occasion provided an opportunity to showcase its efforts to nurture local talent and strengthen partnerships that can help innovators access funding, develop their ideas and compete in wider markets.
The state government reiterated its commitment to building an innovation driven economy in which home grown ideas can generate practical solutions, create jobs and contribute to sustainable development.
Chukwuemelie Chinedu is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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