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Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo
Ikenna Obianeri, Awka
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed his administration’s commitment towards raising Anambra’s digital tribe.
Soludo stated this on Friday at the grand finale of the Anambra Innovation Week, 2024, held at the International Convention Centre, Awka, the state capital.
The governor said technology and innovation define the state’s future, adding that technology is key to his administration’s agenda.
He explained that Anambra is on a long journey with technology and innovation, pointing out that the vision is to transform the state from a “departure lounge to a destination point”.
He said, “The importance of this event has been underscored. The full week-long event, signposts the importance we attach to this journey.
“We are building the African Dubai Taiwan. Think of our own Silicon valley. We are building a human capital that is productive at home and exportable abroad.
“I thank all of you who have competed from the 24 states in Nigeria. This will grow from strength to strength.
“Anambra remains as Nigeria’s major commercial, logistics hub, as well as entertainment hub, this administration is deliberate about the drive to deepen technology and innovation across the state.
“Technology and innovation define Anambra’s future. Technology is key.”
The keynote speaker and co-founder of AI in Nigeria, Ehia Ehabo, who spoke on ‘Driving Investment in Africa, through investment in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship’, said for every challenge in Africa, there are multiple opportunities.
Ehabo added that the continent has a vibrant youth population to actualise its potential.
The Special Adviser to Soludo on Innovation and Business Incubation whose agency organised the five-day Innovation week, Chinwe Okoli, commended the governor for believing and driving the process.
Okoli described the Anambra Innovation Week as a historic gathering aimed at fostering collaboration, celebrating innovations and charting a digital future for both Anambra and Africa.
She outlined the objectives of the event, which include discussions on innovation demystification, a career conference for students and young professionals, and a focus on digital transformation for small and medium enterprises and government through AI.
She said, “This is the first of its kind in Anambra State; holding a week-long event on innovation and technology. This is a historic gathering designed to bridge technology and innovation gap. That is why the theme of the year is “creating the Africa now’. To building Africa that thrives in digital economy.
“It reflects the vision of the governor who is committed to digitally empowering Anambra where technology is on everything we do.
“Soludo believes in technology. His administration has the mantra of
‘everything technology, technology everywhere,’ and he is deliberately building the ecosystem.”
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Solo Chukwulobelu, Head of Service, Barr. Theodora Igwegbe, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Ernest Ezeajughi, tech gurus from AI, Meta, UNDP, among others, attended the event.
Youths, comprising of inventors, were awarded with one hundred million naira cash in the “battle for solution competition”, which marked the highlight of the event.
