Anambra Innovation Week 2024, held from November 25th to 29th, sets a new standard for creativity and technology in Nigeria. The five-day event, organized by the Anambra State Government through the Solution Innovation District, showcased Anambra's strides toward becoming Africa's Silicon Valley. Governor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, CFR, was at the forefront of this transformative event, giving out over one hundred million naira (₦100,000,000) in cash prizes awarded to groundbreaking innovators.
The event, themed "Creating the Future of Africa, Now," brought together a vibrant mix of innovators, thought leaders, startups, students, researchers, academia, tech enthusiasts, and global stakeholders to celebrate Anambra’s technological transformation under the visionary leadership of Governor Soludo. The event, which was declared open by the Deputy Governor of the State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, on behalf of the Governor, featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, hackathons, workshops, exhibitions, fitness breaks, masterclasses, pitching sessions, and other competitions aimed at showcasing the pathways to a smart and digitally transformed Anambra State.
The five-day experience was structured as follows:
• Day 1 focused on demystifying innovation through foundational panels and thought-provoking keynote addresses.
• Day 2 engaged secondary school students in an ICT competition at local government levels, coding workshops for young professionals, digital literacy masterclasses, and the beginning of the Battle4Solutions Hackathon.
• Day 3 highlighted technology’s impact on governance and SMEs with discussions on Africa’s digital potential, competitions for government ministries, departments, and agencies, and high-level workshops on the National Digital Economy and e-Governance Bill.
• Day 4 celebrated innovation through exhibitions and the highly anticipated startup pitching competition.
• Day 5, the grand finale, concluded the week with Governor Soludo personally awarding over 100 million naira in cash prizes to the Battle4Solutions winners, strengthening Anambra's reputation as a hub for groundbreaking solutions.
Governor Soludo, who was the chief host of the event, reemphasized the strategic role of innovation in his agenda during his address. He stated that building human capital that is productive at home and exportable to other parts of the world is at the forefront of his mission. He further noted, “Our vision is to transform Anambra into the Silicon Valley of Africa, where creativity and technology drive sustainable growth and create opportunities for all.” His commitment to fostering technological development and positioning Anambra at the forefront of digital advancement is evident in initiatives such as the Code Anambra digital training program, which graduated its first cohort during the Innovation Week.
The Governor, who personally graduated the Code Anambra participants, advised the graduates to be good ambassadors of the state by focusing on making positive use of the skills they acquired from the program. He noted that a good number of participants had already secured high-income jobs through the program, thus achieving the initiative's goals. The Governor also inaugurated over 600 Techies4Solution volunteers at the event, urging them to become good ambassadors of the Solution Innovation District (SID) by sensitizing their communities on the need to embrace digital skills. Governor Soludo also flagged off the operation train 1 million Anambra Digital Training LMS App, officially opening the floor for the Solution Innovation District to train over one million Ndi Anambra in various digital skills.
The Special Adviser on Innovation and Business Incubation, Ms. Chinwe Okoli, lauded Governor Soludo’s visionary leadership and praised the participants for their ingenuity. “This event is not just about technology; it’s about fostering a culture of problem-solving, collaboration, and innovation,” she remarked. She further attributed the overwhelming success of AIW2024, as well as other SID initiatives, to Governor Soludo's hands-on approach, his vision for Anambra, and his administration’s commitment to harnessing the power of innovation to solve societal challenges and drive sustainable development. These efforts have ignited a tech-driven movement that aligns with global standards.
The major highlight of the week was the presentation of checks to the winners of the flagship competition, Battle4Solutions, which challenged participants to develop solutions addressing real-world problems in education, healthcare, e-commerce, and sustainability. The winners, ranging from students to startups, were awarded substantial cash prizes ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦5,000,000 to scale their ideas. They received their funds a few days later at the office of the Solution Innovation District from Ms. Okoli, just as Governor Soludo had promised.
As the curtains close on AIW2024, Anambra State stands poised to lead Nigeria into a future powered by innovation and technology. The echoes of collaboration, creativity, and transformation from this week will continue to inspire as Anambra takes bold steps toward becoming Africa’s premier innovation hub.
