Abia Hosts South-East Innovation Foundry, Targets 150,000 Tech Talents

The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a technology-driven economy as it hosted the Southeast Regional Activation of the Africa Innovation Foundry (AIF), a programme targeting the training of 150,000 tech talents and incubation of 3,000 startups across Nigeria over the next three years.

This was highlighted on Wednesday during the Southeast Regional Activation of the Africa Innovation Foundry held at the Education Conference Hall, Abia State Secretariat Complex, Umuahia.

Delivering the welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Abia State Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. Mrs. Oluchi Eboh, described the South-East Regional Activation of the Africa Innovation Foundry as a major step towards positioning the region as a hub for innovation and digital entrepreneurship noting that the initiative aligns with Abia’s vision of building a technology-driven economy through investment in human capital.

Eboh highlighted key initiatives of the state, including the Abia Startup Law, the ₦2 billion Abia Startup Support Fund and partnerships with tertiary institutions to develop digital skills.

“We are not merely hosting a programme, we are opening a new chapter in innovation and digital transformation across Nigeria,” she said.

She urged stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, stressing that, “Collaboration is our greatest tool. Abia State is inviting you to join us in building a sustainable, tech-enabled future for our region and our nation.”

Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Engr. David Kalu, said the initiative was designed to strengthen human capital development and position the Southeast as a hub for innovation, digital entrepreneurship and startup growth.

“We are not just launching a programme; we are igniting a multi-regional engine designed to accelerate the future of an entire continent,” Kalu said.

He noted that the state had moved beyond policy pronouncements by domesticating the Nigerian Startup Act into the Abia Startup Law, making Abia the first state in the Southeast to establish a comprehensive legal framework dedicated to startups.

According to him, the law provides for a ₦2 billion Abia Startup Support Fund, the establishment of a Startup Administration Board, tax incentives, intellectual property protection, and stronger collaboration with tertiary institutions to equip young people with digital skills.

Kalu said the state was also pursuing strategic investments in technology parks and innovation clusters while leveraging Aba’s manufacturing and leather industries to drive a digital economy.

Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, Mrs. Elizabeth Chijioke, described the Southeast as a region with a long-standing culture of enterprise and innovation, stressing that technology presents an opportunity to expand that legacy.

“Our people have always created value from limited resources. The task before us is to connect that entrepreneurial strength with technology, research, investment and access to larger markets,” she said.

Chijioke said the state government remains open to partnerships that would strengthen the startup ecosystem, improve access to finance, promote research commercialisation and create employment opportunities for young people.

The Co-founder of the Digital Creator Africa Academy, Ifeoma Areh, urged African creatives to embrace artificial intelligence as a tool for expanding opportunities rather than seeing it as a threat.

She said Africa was well-positioned to compete in the fast-growing global micro-drama industry, citing data showing increasing global demand for African stories.

“There is an enormous appetite for African content across the world. The next global hit can come from Africa, and it can come from the Southeast,” Areh said.

She announced 30 scholarships for creators interested in AI filmmaking and digital storytelling, with successful participants eligible to access funding of between $5,000 and $15,000 for approved projects.

Global Brand Communications Leader and Executive Director of the Africa Innovation Foundry, Mr. Deji Garuba, said the initiative seeks to train 150,000 young Nigerians and incubate 3,000 startups through partnerships with governments, innovation hubs, investors and ecosystem enablers.

Garuba said the programme would adopt region-specific strategies to address local economic realities, adding that the organisation was also developing sustainable funding models to support startups beyond the incubation stage.

“We are not just creating another programme. We are building an ecosystem that equips young people with skills, supports entrepreneurs and creates jobs,” he said.

Earlier , The Founder of Solaris, Chiemela Anosike, during a fireside chat, said the South-East does not suffer from a shortage of funding but from lack of investment-ready businesses, urging founders to build fundable startups and create opportunities that would retain local tech talent, noting that many young professionals leave because they perceive better prospects abroad.

Representing the Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, Mrs. Chinyere said the future of the region depends on innovation, collaboration and investment in young people.

She called for stronger partnerships among South-East states, investors and development partners, stressing that, “No single state can build the digital future alone,” while urging innovators to develop solutions that address real societal challenges.

Also, The Executive Director of Education as a Vaccine (EVA), Oluwatoyin Chukwudozie, said the South-East has never lacked the ingredients needed to drive innovation, citing the region’s entrepreneurial culture, creativity and resilience.

She challenged successful entrepreneurs and innovators to intentionally mentor and support the next generation, saying, “If you have made it through, don’t just sit back. Hold the door open and pull a community through the same door,” stressing that sustainable innovation thrives when opportunities are shared and more people are empowered to succeed.

The event brought together technology experts, startup founders, innovation hub operators, digital creators and ecosystem stakeholders from across the Southeast to explore strategies for accelerating innovation, entrepreneurship and digital transformation in the region.