Since the beginning of 2021, Africa-based tech startups have raised more than $2.9 billion with Nigerian startups which are creating new products, services, and platforms raising $1.7 billion of this total or about 60% of it, a new report has found.
According to business consultant and
venture capitalist Maxime Bayen’s business database Africa report, otherwise
known as the Big Deal, Africa boasts a total of seven tech “unicorns,” or
companies valued at over $1 billion.
The US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Berth
Leonard, in her remarks at the 2021 Nigeria Tech Summit organised by US Embassy
in Nigeria, Abuja said the US Mission will continue to do its part to support
Nigeria’s burgeoning tech scene and encourage the creation of the enabling
environment necessary to foster a sector that will, in turn, launch still more
global businesses and contribute to a more prosperous future for all its
citizens.
Leonard said it is very exciting to note
that three of these of seven African tech companies – OPay, Flutterwave, and
Interswitch – are born and bred of Nigerian talent as she firmly believes that
Nigeria, with the proper support, has enormous potential to do even more.
According to Leonard: “At the US Mission in
Nigeria, we pride ourselves on building, celebrating, and accelerating
entrepreneurship. Throughout the year we amplify the work of innovation
stakeholders by providing exposure, partnerships, training, and conferences
like this Nigeria Tech Summit.
Speaking further, Leonard said science,
technology, and innovation are cornerstones of the US economy, and the United
States has long-established global expertise and leadership in the digital
space.
“Strengthening these areas can foster open,
transparent governance throughout the world. By implementing capacity-building
programs in emerging markets that train young women and men to become science
and technology entrepreneurs.
“Our efforts to strengthen innovation
ecosystems around the world have real economic impacts and propel prosperity in
Nigeria, the United States, and beyond.
“I am proud of the United States’ many
contributions to this necessary transfer of Skills and mentoring here in
Nigeria. For example, I began December by travelling to Ife to meet with
graduates of the Academy of Women’s Entrepreneurs.
“This program combines mentoring and
networking opportunities with a curriculum developed by one of the top US
business schools: Arizona State University’s Thunderbird School of Global
Management.
“We have seen over 550 women entrepreneurs
graduate from this program since its inception in 2019. These women continue to
engage each other and share business successes in a wide range of ventures,
from book creation to food products, consultancy to artisanal production. We
look forward to mentoring future cohorts.
“I also want you to know that our
commitment and support to such key populations within Nigeria was not hindered
by the pandemic. We continued to recruit and promote Mandela Washington
Fellows.
“We were thrilled this October when Vice
President Osinbajo took time to engage our most recent cohort of Nigerian
fellows, encouraging Nigerian youth to get involved in political processes and
effect change in their communities.
“More than 250,000 Nigerians engage with
the United States through the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Network.
Do you know that YALI offers eight free online courses related to
entrepreneurship? Just this week, we introduced a new course, ‘Digital
Marketing for Entrepreneurs.’
“Targeted to help online businesses, this
course addresses personal branding, website design best practices, and
development and execution of a digital marketing strategy. These digital skills
have real-world impacts on entrepreneurs and small businesses across sectors.
“In addition to training and networking
opportunities, I would be remiss if I did not Mention important programs that
the United States supports to strengthen small businesses through competition
and exchange.
“In April 2021, USAID Nigeria together with
the USAID Exploratory Programs and Innovation Competitions (EPIC) Team launched
a COVID-19 Food Security Challenge. Thirty-two small and medium enterprises
from 33 of Nigeria’s states won and received awards totalling $4 million in
funding and technical assistance to implement their solutions that improve food
security here.
“We know that some of the Startups that
participated in yesterday’s Bootcamp focused on addressing this challenge, and
we encourage you to keep reaching.
“In 2021, we were also proud to see
Nigerians among the eight finalists of the US-Africa Tech Challenge. For 10
years, the US Department of State’s Global Innovation through Science and
Technology (GIST) Initiative has empowered science and technology innovators in
over 130 emerging economies.
“GIST enables US experts and businesses to
make direct connections with the most promising global entrepreneurs and
innovators. Nigeria’s Farm Speak and Babymigo came in the top 25 of this year’s
GIST catalyst competition.
“Our exchange programs such as Techwomen,
Techgirls, and Study of the U.S. Summer Institutes for social entrepreneurs,
all include a business and entrepreneurship track. These are just a few of the
many ways we support and promote Nigeria’s vibrant entrepreneurial spirit.
“As you know, Secretary of State Antony
Blinken visited Nigeria last month, and during this visit, he was struck by
Nigeria’s remarkable spirit of innovation. He was eager to get a firsthand
glimpse of some of the incredible innovative work that is being done. We were
excited to highlight a market where cutting-edge, tech-enabled companies such
as U.S. medical logistics drone delivery company Zipline and US-supported
Nigerian renewably energy firm Havenhill Synergy can push new boundaries and
grow:
“Of course, just as digital technologies
create exciting new opportunities, particularly for a young, entrepreneurial,
and innovative population like Nigeria’s, these technologies also introduce new
threats and risks of misuse. As our businesses and indeed our lifestyles
increasingly move onto digital platforms.
“It becomes even more important to
establish an internet that is open, interoperable, secure, and reliable. We
know the importance of access to information. We understand the role that
social media plays in the livelihoods of entrepreneurs and the acquisition of
talent.
“We have witnessed the disruption that
hackers can cause to critical infrastructure, the human costs of ransomware
attacks on hospitals, and the consequences when foreign interference undermines
democratic processes.
“You, armed with the technological know-how
and the communication skills to share with civil society, government officers,
and the private sector, will be the drivers of solutions and the creators of
the tools necessary to prevent such threats and protect unsuspecting citizens and
businesses.”
0 comments:
Post a Comment