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The Federal Government has lauded seven Nigerian startups in a recognition ceremony where the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, presented the global champions with awards and cash prizes to further encourage them.
The presentation was made on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja this week to the startups for winning International Telecommunications Union (ITU) and World Information Technology Society (WITS) championships for three consecutive years.
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The president assured that government will continue to support the startup community, ensure the passage of the Nigerian Startup Bill into law; and seek continuous collaboration with the private sector to drive real economic growth.
Rewarding Nigerian startups
The startups won the ITU and WITS championships and awards in 2020, 2021 and 2022.
President Buhari described the startups as bearing testimonials that Nigeria is capable of producing the likes of Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates while noting that they have made the country proud within the global space.
The awardees are Franca Umasoye Igwe of Afrilingo; Martha Alade of Women and Girls Pivoting Resilience in the Digital Economy in Africa; Rachael Inegbedion of Special Needs Initiative for Growth (Initiative For National Growth Africa). Others are Ms. Maryam Abdulsalam of Women’s Technology Empowerment Centre; access to Information and Knowledge; Mr. Oluwaseyi Akinola of Chipsbrain Nigeria, Mr. Samuel Babatunde of Green Fresh Nigeria and Mr. Wisdom Ikpechukwu of Wizwish International Farm.
The minister directed the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the National Information Technology Development Agency, (NITDA), and Galaxy Backbone Limited to support the winning solutions so as to help make them global brands.
“The Startup Bill when pass into law will become the major achievement of the digital transformation era of President Buhari because there are provisions in the bill that will change the narratives of the sector. There will be a Council on Startups and Mr. President as the Chairman,” said Pantami.
Adding: “[We look] to private sector’ collaboration with government to address challenges and proffer solutions to make Nigeria produce her own Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg.”
According to the minister, startups that won the 2022 awards emerged from 996 online applications with 360 selected for votes. About 1.3 million people voted across the world in 193 member countries of the ITU for the winners to emerge.
