The Anambra State Government has announced the opening of applications for a startup competition titled “Battle4Solutions” through which it intends to award over N100 million in prizes to participating Nigerian startups.

Special Adviser to the Anambra State Governor on Innovation and Business Incubation, Chinwe Okoli, announced this on Tuesday during a press conference on the upcoming Anambra State Innovation Week. State.

According to her, the Anambra Innovation Week (AIW) will focus on growth through bold ideas, talent, technology and invention showcased by the state’s flagship competition.

“Battle4Solutions is an innovation competition with a prize pool of over one hundred million naira in cash prizes.

“This competition invites Nigeria’s brightest startups to propose solutions addressing critical societal challenges in various sectors such as digital health, renewable energy, e-commerce, agritech, fintech, environment, education, etc.” » she declared.

Open to startups across Nigeria

Stressing that the competition is not limited to startups based in the state but across Nigeria, Okoli said:

“Innovators from Anambra and across Nigeria are eligible to apply and participate in the Battle4Solutions.”

• She added that government ministries, agencies, academic institutions, startups and creators are all invited to participate in their competition categories.

• She noted that interested Nigerian startups can apply to participate in the competition through the AIW. website.

Anambra Startup Act

Highlighting the state government’s efforts to support the startup ecosystem, Okoli said the state was now working towards enacting the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) through its Anambra Startup Act.

“Our mandate is to nurture the ‘Anambra Digital Tribe’, support the startup ecosystem, incubate promising businesses, foster research commercialization and help businesses leverage technology at scale. she said.

• Okoli added that through programs such as LevelUp Anambra and Code Anambra, the state has trained over 25,000 youths in various in-depth technological skills, preparing them for jobs in the global market.

• She said the state’s SID Teen Digital Bootcamp is also training a new generation of talented teens, ready for future global impact.

• To support the ecosystem, Okoli said the government was also installing over 2,000 km of optical fiber conduits across the state for last mile internet connectivity.

What you need to know

Between October 2022, when the Nigeria Startup Act (NSA) was signed into law, and today, 12 of Nigeria’s 36 states have expressed their intention to adopt or have initiated the process of domesticating the NSA.

• The states include Nasarawa, Oyo, Rivers, Osun, Kaduna, Lagos, Kwara, Ekiti, Anambra, Imo, Niger and Zamfara.

• The NSA, which encourages the creation of innovation hubs and incubators to support startups, was signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2022.
• Like Anambra, the Lagos State government is drafting its own version of the NSA, called the Lagos Innovation Bill.

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