As part of effort geared towards adopting the Nigeria Startup Act, the Abia State Government has engaged stakeholders to review the Abia State Startup Act Draft document.
Disclosing this during a one day stakeholders’ engagement in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovations, Mr. David Kalu assured that Abia state government would set up a fund for the technology driven Startups and manage it to encourage Abia business ecosystem.
He therefore enjoined the participants to be committed to putting their views forward for the act.
“So I am glad to say we have here today all stakeholders. We have academics , we have our technology gurus, we have young people and the government as well and hopefully we have gathered our stakeholders to look at this Act and make sure that everybody’s voice is heard very well,” Mr. Kalu happily noted.
Mr. Kalu who pointed out that Abia is known for trade and agriculture and is greatly gifted with strong entrepreneurial skills, appreciated Governor Alex Otti for his interest in harnessing skills of these entrepreneurs.
“We are now getting technology, and so there is a marriage of our entrepreneurial skills with the technology to underline this marriage.
” I think we need in place a very strong legal framework that can support this relationship. That is why it is very important that we have this act,” He noted.
In her speech, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovations Engr. Justina Ebo and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, Miss Chibuzor Chijioke highlighted the essence of the stakeholders’ engagement and expressed government’s commitment to adopting the State Startup Act for the growth of the technology driven businesses.
Contributing, the State Adoption Lead of the Nigeria Startup Act, Mrs Tracy Okoro-Isaac said the stakeholders engagement was important to ensure that the Startup Act which has been created at the national level is brought down to the state level.
She noted that there is need for states like Abia to co-create the environment using legal instrument like the Act to make sure that young people are running tech-enabled companies and have a chance to build something and create a silicon valley for themselves.
In their reactions, some participants including the board chair of Abia Technology and Innovation Network, Mr. Daniel Chinagozi, Mr. Anya Peter described
the meeting as a dream come true and appreciated the fact that the state has taken it upin itself to ensure that the Startup Act is adopted in Abia State.
They appreciated Governor Alex Otti for the initiative which would boost technology and innovation in the state.
