From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Stakeholders engaged by Abia Government are to review the State Startup Act Draft document as part of effort geared towards aligning with that of the Federal Government, with a view to adopting the Nigeria Startup Act.
Addressing participants during a one day stakeholders’ engagement in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovations, David Kalu, harped on the need for them to be committed to putting their views forward for a time-tested Act.
“I am glad to say we have here, today, all stakeholders, we have academics, we have our technology gurus, we have young people and the government as well and, hopefully, we have gathered our stakeholders to look at this Act and make sure that everybody’s voice is heard very well.
“We will put all these together to come up with an Act that would actually support, promote and push forward entrepreneurs using technology in Abia to develop applications that would support our future. I like to say thank you and I hope you will give us your full support and commitment to putting your views forward for this act,” Kalu stated.
The commissioner, who opined that Abia was known for trade and agriculture and greatly endowed with strong entrepreneurial skills, lauded Governor Alex Otti for his interest in harnessing skills of the entrepreneurs.
“We are now getting technology, and so there is a marriage of our entrepreneurial skills with the technology to underline this marriage. I think we need, in place, a very strong legal framework that can support this relationship. That is why it is very important that we have this act.”
Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Justina Ebo, and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Digital Economy, Miss Chibuzor Chijioke, highlighted the essence of the stakeholders’ engagement and expressed government’s commitment to adopting the State Startup Act for the growth of the technology driven businesses.
The State Adoption Lead of the Nigeria Startup Act, Mrs. Tracy Okoro-Isaac, said the stakeholders engagement was important to ensure that the Startup Act, which has been created at the national level, was brought down to the state level. She noted there was a need for states like Abia to co-create the environment, using legal instruments like the Act to make sure that young people are running tech-enabled companies and have a chance to build something and create a silicon valley for themselves.
Some participants, including the board chairman of Abia Technology and Innovation Network, Daniel Chinagozi and Anya Peter, commended the government for the meeting which they described as a dream come true.
They poured encomium on Governor Otti for the initiative which they said would not only ensure the Startup Act is adopted in Abia, but also would boost technology and innovation in the state.