President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has stated plans to introduce three million independent technology talents that will drive the nation’s economy as part of his administration’s renewed hope agenda.
According to the Nation, Tinubu disclosed this while speaking at the just-concluded Innovation to Market , I2M, program, represented by his Special Assistant on Entrepreneurship Development in Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, Jennifer Adighije.
I2M, an initiative of the Innovation and Technology Management Office of the University of Lagos, funded by the UKaid through the Research and Innovation System for Africa.
The grand finale of the six-week program, which was held at Arthur Research Centre, University of Lagos on Friday, November 3.
Dignitaries at the event include the varsity’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folashade Ogunsola, represented by her deputy Prof Lucian Chukwu, Management Services, along with the varsity’s senior management among others guests who commended the founders of the initiative.
50 innovators including researchers, students as well as street pathfinders, selected from across the country were trained on the nuances of their innovation in a view to helping them become fully commercialised in their respective fields of endeavours.
The project supervisor, Abiodun Gbenga Ilori, explained that the initiative with over 500 beneficiaries nationwide since its establishment, seeks to identify problem-solvers that would reshape their ideas and facilitate their marketability; more importantly, aid their longevity.
“Innovation to Market (I2M) incubator program is a groundbreaking venture that recognises the immense potential of groundbreaking ideas and seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and commercialisation.
“Its primary objective is to provide innovators with the necessary resources, and mentorship to transform their ideas into market-ready products and services”, she said.
Chukwu uderscored consistency as the major challenge of start-ups but hoped that with the training and grant, they would succeed in their sector and stay afloat for a long time.
“Over the last six weeks, this program has equipped these innovators with the know-how to run a start-up and scale up very rapidly. This is one of the major challenges we have with start-ups, consistency. Being able to move their project and scale it up to where it can get to commercialisation. And therefore, this training is very key. And we hope and believe that out of this group, we’re going to get some more Elon Musk and the rest”, said the VC (management services)
He identified the importance of the program to the current VC and “the future agenda of this great university.”
Speaking, Adighije found the president’s commitment to actualising his vision of empowering young avant-gardists to steer the rapidly-growing digital sphere as the new economy boom putting in mind the upheavals plaguing oil and gas sector which the previous administration relied majorly on to move the economy forward.
She said, “I bring you greetings from my boss, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. My mission here is simple, it is tied to his vision. What is his vision for the young people? It is to enable three million self-sustaining tech talents that will drive our digital economy. So, invariably, the future of Nigeria is in your hands because we are depending on you to drive this economy in the future.
“Previous administrations had depended on oil to drive our economy but with the many challenges bedeviling the oil and gas industry, Mr President thought it forward and right to understand that the future of our economy boom lies in your hands as our youth. And the digital economy will drive out the new economy boom in the years to come.”
Adighije pointed out several initiatives already established by the ruling administration to ensure the implementation of their vision for youth pathfinders.
“On the part of the government, we are there for you. Mr. President is so keen on investing in the creative sector.
“$600 million has been pledged through the office of the vice president to support creatives. As we speak, the honourable Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Dr Tijani has also just launched a 3MTT program called the 3 Million Technical Talents Programme, a training and empowerment program for young people, designed for your people like you to nurture your concepts to reality.
“The Honourable Minister of Trade and Investment has a similar programme as well called the National Talent Export Programme (NATEP). The honourable Minister of Science and Technology has a similar programme, the director general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) also just launched a programme for female tech founders.”
Besides the N850,000 seed grants given to 20 out of the 50 innovators, with best ideas, the president’s aide further supported two outstanding talents that resonated the most with her with N500,000 each.
One of the double beneficiaries, Chimela Anosike, the founder of Solaris Renewable Energy said she came from Aba in Abia State to partake in the programme.
