The Anambra State Government has disbursed N80 million to 80 startups and graduated 400 technology professionals as part of efforts to strengthen the state’s growing digital economy and expand opportunities in the technology sector.
- +Anambra disburses N80m to 80 startups, graduates 400 tech professionals
According to a statement signed on Friday in Abuja, by Solution Innovation District (SID), an agency established by the state government to support innovation, entrepreneurship and digital skills development, The funding and graduation ceremony took place in Awka during the Anambra Startup Investment and Technology Skills Graduation Programme organised by the agency.
According to a statement signed on Friday in Abuja, by Solution Innovation District (SID), an agency established by the state government to support innovation, entrepreneurship and digital skills development, The funding and graduation ceremony took place in Awka during the Anambra Startup Investment and Technology Skills Graduation Programme organised by the agency.
Under the startup funding initiative, 80 businesses that completed SID’s 12-week incubation programme received N1 million each, amounting to a total disbursement of N80 million. The programme focused on equipping participants with skills in business development, customer acquisition, financial planning and investor readiness.
Speaking at the event, Chukwuma Soludo, the state Governor said the investment formed part of broader efforts to diversify the state’s economy and create opportunities for young people through technology and innovation.
According to him, programmes such as the Anambra Startup Incubation Programme and the 1 Million Anambra Digital Tribe initiative are aimed at preparing residents for opportunities in the global digital economy.
The governor urged beneficiaries of the startup fund and technology training programmes to apply their knowledge and resources towards building sustainable enterprises capable of creating jobs and attracting investment.
“Our administration is committed to transforming Anambra into Africa’s Silicon Valley. This vision is driven not by politics but by a clear and strategic imperative to secure the future of our state and its people,”
Chinwe Okoli, Chief Executive Officer of the Solution Innovation District and Special Adviser to the Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, said the startup funding programme was designed to support innovation-driven businesses with growth potential.
She disclosed that more than 111 startups have benefited from various incubation and acceleration programmes implemented by the district.
Okoli also revealed that the state’s digital skills initiative had reached about 264,000 beneficiaries under the 1 Million Anambra Digital Tribe programme, which seeks to train one million residents in digital skills by 2030.
Beyond startup financing, the event featured the graduation of 300 participants from a robotics training programme conducted in partnership with Circum Technologies. The trainees were equipped with skills in embedded systems, automation, sensor programming and related technologies.
Another 100 participants graduated from an Internet Service Provider (ISP) Network Engineering Programme organised in collaboration with Connekt Broadband. The three-month programme focused on broadband deployment, fibre optic installation, wireless networking and internet service operations.
“In addition, 100 participants completed the ISP Network Engineering Programme organised in collaboration with Connekt Broadband. The three-month programme equipped participants with practical skills in broadband infrastructure deployment, fibre optic installation, wireless networking and internet service operations,” she explained.
Also speaking, Ifeanyi Adirika, Chief Executive Officer of Connekt Broadband, announced a N1 billion Connectivity Fund aimed at expanding broadband access across Anambra’s 21 local government areas.
According to him, the fund will support internet connectivity projects in schools, healthcare facilities, markets and public institutions, while creating business opportunities for graduates of the network engineering programme.
Adirika said some of the newly trained engineers would participate in the company’s planned broadband expansion projects as deployment partners and service providers.
According to the statement, the graduates are expected to contribute to the state’s ongoing 2,000-kilometre fibre optic network rollout, particularly in underserved communities where internet access remains limited.
Stakeholders at the event linked the training programmes to ongoing efforts to address skills gaps within Nigeria’s technology sector while preparing young professionals for opportunities in telecommunications and digital infrastructure.
