Anambra State has taken another step in its push to build a technology-led economy, with the disbursement of N80 million to 80 startups that completed a 12-week incubation programme under the Solution Innovation District.
The announcement was made at the Anambra Startup Investment and Technology Graduation Ceremony in Awka, where the state also celebrated the graduation of hundreds of young people trained in robotics and network engineering.
Each of the 80 startups received N1 million after completing the incubation programme, which focused on business development, customer discovery, market validation, financial planning and investor readiness. The funding is intended to help the businesses move from training and validation into stronger market execution.
The programme was organised by the Solution Innovation District, a state-backed innovation platform created to support startups, develop technology talent and attract investment into Anambra’s digital ecosystem.
Governor Chukwuma Soludo, speaking at the event, said the investment reflects his administration’s ambition to position Anambra as a major technology hub in Africa. He linked the startup support to a broader plan that includes entrepreneurship development, digital skills training and broadband expansion across the state.
The governor said initiatives such as the 1 Million Anambra Digital Tribe and the Anambra Startup Incubation Programme are meant to prepare residents for opportunities in the digital economy. He described the state’s technology agenda as part of a long-term effort to secure Anambra’s economic future through innovation, enterprise and digital transformation.
Beyond the startup grants, the ceremony highlighted the growing scale of the state’s skills development programmes. The Solution Innovation District disclosed that more than 111 startups have now passed through its incubation and acceleration programmes.
It also said 264,000 residents have so far benefited from the Anambra Digital Tribe initiative, which has a target of training one million people in digital skills by 2030. Digital tribe champions were also rewarded with laptops for their role in expanding digital literacy across communities.
A major part of the ceremony was the graduation of 300 participants from a robotics training programme delivered in partnership with Circum Technologies. The training ran across eight cohorts and covered embedded systems, automation, sensor programming and other emerging technology areas linked to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Another 100 participants graduated from a three-month Internet Service Provider Network Engineering Programme organised with Connekt Broadband. The training focused on broadband infrastructure deployment, installation, wireless networking and internet service operations.
The programme is expected to create job opportunities while building the technical workforce needed to support Anambra’s expanding digital infrastructure.
In a further boost to the state’s broadband plans, Connekt Broadband announced a Connectivity Fund aimed at accelerating internet access across Anambra’s 21 local government areas. The fund will support connectivity in schools, healthcare facilities, markets and public institutions.
It is also expected to create business opportunities for graduates of the ISP programme, some of whom are set to participate directly in broadband deployment projects as partners and sub-licensees.
The newly trained engineers are also expected to contribute to the state’s ongoing 2,000-kilometre fibre-optic project, especially in extending internet access to underserved communities and supporting digital inclusion.
The Solution Innovation District described the initiative as an example of how government, academia and the private sector can work together to drive economic transformation and open new opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
The organisation also disclosed that the former Government House premises, which currently houses the innovation district, is being converted into a permanent technology centre. The facilities are expected to be commissioned soon as part of efforts to strengthen Anambra’s innovation infrastructure.
Connekt Broadband has already secured space within the planned technology campus and plans to establish a Business Process Outsourcing centre there. The centre is expected to create additional jobs for technology graduates and skilled professionals.
The event drew government officials, investors, technology companies, academic institutions and innovation ecosystem stakeholders. For many of them, the combination of startup financing, digital training and broadband investment points to Anambra’s growing attempt to build a more competitive technology ecosystem.
With N80 million now placed directly into the hands of early-stage businesses, and hundreds of young people gaining practical technology skills, Anambra’s digital economy plan is beginning to take a more visible shape.
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