A legal expert, Osigwe Momoh, has commended Abia State for enacting the Abia Startup Law 2025, describing it as a “genuine game-changer.”
Momoh, Lead Counsel at Robson Legal, urged other states to domesticate the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 to unlock opportunities for innovators and entrepreneurs.
He made the call during his lecture at the South-East Regional Activation of the Africa Innovation Foundry (AIF) held at the Abia State Secretariat Complex, Umuahia, on Thursday.
The activation brought together government officials, innovators, investors, and tech founders from across the South-East.
Momoh noted that Abia’s example showed that Nigeria’s problems could largely be solved through honest leadership and a commonsensical approach.
He introduced the “sin of Esau” as a guiding metaphor, explaining that Esau’s failure was in not appreciating, protecting, and preserving his birthright.
Drawing a parallel, he said many Nigerian creatives undervalued their ideas because they came easily and were God-given.
“Failing to cherish and protect your gift undermines the drive to actualise it. Once an idea is conceived, incorporate a company to allow room for growth, choose a catchy and marketable name, and trademark it,” he advised.
Momoh stressed the importance of copyrighting ideas, noting that reducing an idea to material or literary form offers protection.
However, he added that this alone is not fully adequate because software is sui generis and distinct from patents or literary works.
He identified the Nigeria Startup Act 2022 as a critical tool that strengthens ownership of a product, especially when a startup is duly registered under the Act.
Momoh also urged creatives to spread awareness of both the Federal Act and the Abia State Startup Law 2025.
The legal expert further encouraged citizens to engage government structures to access available funding, including the ₦2 billion Abia seed fund and the ₦10 billion federal legislative fund.
He advised innovators to secure Non-Disclosure and Non-Circumvention Agreements (NDAs/NCAs) before sharing ideas with third parties.
“Value your ideas properly, avoid underselling them, and always remember that your ideas are worth protecting and preserving,” he concluded.
Also speaking at the event, Founder of Digital Creator Africa, Ifeoma Areh, said Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents endless possibilities for Nigeria and Africa to tell African stories to the world, especially in the film industry.
She stressed that global interest in African stories has never been higher.
According to her, the continent is rich with unique narratives that remain largely untold, presenting a major opportunity for creative expression and cultural impact.
Areh urged young people, innovators, startups, and tech talents to leverage AI in creating and producing films.
She emphasised that the creative industry offers significant economic potential, with revenue streams extending internationally and paid in foreign currency.
Areh added that her organisation is touring Nigeria and other African countries to sensitise and train interested persons, noting that “the demand is huge.”
Executive Director of Africa Innovation Foundry, Deji Garuba, explained that AIF is a national incubation programme designed to upskill tech talents and incubate startups.
“The programme stands on two legs. Leg one is to upskill talent — that is, to train people — and leg two is to incubate startups to help them build sustainable, investable, and profitable businesses,” he said.
Garuba disclosed that the goal is to upskill 150,000 Nigerian youths and incubate 3,000 startups within 24 months, averaging 100 startups per state.
He explained that training would be delivered virtually through a Learning Management System and physically through local innovation hubs.
Selection is open to all, with tracks at basic, intermediate, and advanced levels.
On funding, Garuba announced a partnership with the Development Bank of Nigeria that has made a ₦100 million fund accessible to startups nationwide, with more local and international partners expected to join.
He lauded Abia for hosting the South-East activation and for demonstrating strong commitment, adding that engagements are ongoing with other South-East states including Enugu, Imo, Ebonyi, and Anambra.
Other speakers at the event included Toyin Chukwudozie, Executive Director, on “Education as a Vaccine”; Chiemela Anosike, CEO, Solaris; and Japhlet Nwamu, who spoke on “Building an AI Powered State”.
