By Olayinka Ezema
Towards increasing the number of startups in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and taping into the $34b innovation economy, the Ogun State government, has entered into a strategic partnership with GetFundedAfrica.
The Chief Press Secretary to Ogun State Governor, Kunle Somorin, stated this during a stake holders meeting at Oguntech Hub, kobape, Abeokuta.
Somorin who revealed that the partnership was to enable Ogun State benefit from the huge venture capital flows , noted that the partnership was a fulfilment of Gov. Dapo Abiodun’s developmental initiatives , leveraging on technology and innovations to build Nigeria’s first Silicon Valley.
He explained that GetFundedAfrica is a pan-African venture service platform that has helped African startups, investors, corporate and government bodies to raise over $150m in 2021.
The Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, noted that the partnership was already yielding fruits as 20 startups are in the process of relocating to the Ogun Tech Hub in Abeokuta, saying this would boost economic system of the state.
“The first batch of 20 startups cut across Fintech, Agritech, Healthtech, Software Development, Training and Talent Recruitment from Nigeria, Uganda, UAE, Kenya and Germany. So , GetFunded Africa will make available the fund raising, mentorship, among others, while Ogun State will support with visa, insurance, office spaces, utilities and more.” Okubadejo said.
Special Adviser to the governor on ICT, Dayo Abiodun, emphasized that Ogun State government is focused on unlocking a $34 billion innovation economy and happy to partner with GetFundedAfrica to achieve the ICT objectives set by Governor Dapo Abiodun administration.
He revealed that Startups can apply to be considered for funding and be incubated in the tech hub through https://forms.office.com/r/HXQ0vgQrdi”
Chief Commercial Officer, GetFundedAfrica, Tunji Oke, hinted that in the next 36 months, no fewer than 400 startups from across Africa would be brought to Ogun State towards unlocking billions of dollars in the innovation economy.