Abia and Enugu states have called for stronger regional collaboration to train 150,000 tech talents and incubate 3,000 startups across Nigeria.
The call was made on Wednesday during the South-East Regional Activation of the Africa Innovation Foundry (AIF) held at the Abia State Secretariat Complex, Umuahia.
The event brought together government officials, innovators, investors, and tech founders from across the South-East.
Delivering the keynote address, Abia State Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. David Kalu, said the state has positioned itself as the heartbeat of innovation in the region.
He noted that Abia had domesticated the Nigeria Startup Act into the Abia Startup Law, becoming the first state in the South-East to provide a legal framework for startups.
The commissioner outlined key commitments, including a ₦2 billion Abia Startup Support Fund to improve access to finance.
He also announced the establishment of the Abia State Startup Administration Board to handle startup labelling, tax incentives, and intellectual property protection.
Kalu said the state was merging its traditional strengths in manufacturing and leatherwork with digital innovation through technology parks and innovation clusters.
He cited the recent launch of Nigeria’s first manu-tech innovation hub at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umuahia, in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Education and UNDP.
Also speaking, Enugu State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Dr. Lawrence Ezeh, represented by Mrs. Chinyere Otuonye, Lead, Enugu Tech Ecosystem, said innovation remained a core pillar of Enugu’s economic transformation agenda.
He said that under Gov. Peter Mbah, the state had invested heavily in digital infrastructure, smart education, and startup support.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at making Enugu the premier destination for tech investment in Eastern Nigeria.
He described the AIF activation as timely and urged South-East states to align policies through the proposed South-East Digital Economy Policy Roundtable.
“Let us compete not against one another, but against underdevelopment, unemployment, and the digital divide,” he said.
In a speech, Special Assistant to the Abia Governor on Digital Economy, Miss Elizabeth Chijioke, said the region’s historic entrepreneurial and apprenticeship culture provides a strong base for a tech-driven economy.
She urged innovators to form cross-state partnerships and see Abia as a partner for testing, scaling, and commercialising ideas.
“However, we are not here merely to provide a venue. We are open for collaboration. We invite everyone present to see Abia as a partner and a place where promising ideas can be tested, supported and scaled,” she said.
Mrs. Justina Eboh, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, said Abia’s hosting of the activation reflected a deliberate strategy to build a sustainable, tech-enabled future.
She added that human capital remained the most powerful infrastructure for prosperity in the 21st century.
Executive Director of AIF, Mr. Deji Garuba, explained that the programme stands on two pillars: upskilling talent and incubating startups.
He said the goal was to train 150,000 Nigerian youths and incubate 3,000 startups within 24 months, averaging 100 startups per state.
Garuba noted that the programme would run both virtually through a Learning Management System and physically through local innovation hubs.
He added that selection was open to all, with training tracks at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.
On funding, he disclosed that AIF has partnered with the Development Bank of Nigeria to provide a ₦100 million fund accessible to startups nationwide.
He said more local and international partners are expected to join.
Participants drawn from Abia, Enugu, Imo, Anambra and Ebonyi expressed optimism.
Miss Vivian Ugwuaneke, CEO of D-City Foods from Enugu, said the training reinforced the need for business agreements and the role of Artificial Intelligence in scaling enterprises.
Other speakers included Ifeoma Areh, CEO, Digital Creator Africa; Toyin Chukwudozie, Executive Director, Education as a Vaccine; Chiemela Anosike, CEO, Solaris; Japhlet Nwamu and Osigwe Momoh.
The activation ended with a renewed call for deeper regional collaboration to position the South-East as one of Africa’s leading technology and innovation hubs.
