Oluchi Chibuzor
The Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) has empowered small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) in the Lagos East Senatorial District with asset grants to scale up their businesses.
Out of 47 individuals that enrolled for the training, 41 entrepreneurs successfully completed the three months intensive business training handled by Co-creation Hub (Cc-Hub).
SAIL is an initiative of the Tokunbo Abiru Constituency Team (TACT) Foundation, a dedicated innovation and tech lab that provides relevant technology, business and digital skills to tech enthusiasts and young entrepreneurs across the Lagos East Senatorial District.
In his remarks to the recipients, Abiru, a former bank Chief Executive, said his Foundation established the Innovation Lab in response to growing unemployment in the country and also to position the younger generation for the enormous opportunities available in this current fourth industrial revolution.
“Now, we are in the digital revolution age, we therefore cannot as a nation afford to miss out on the enormous opportunities available in this innovation and digital age. Also, the rise in the deployment of robotics and artificial intelligence all point to the fact that we either brace up for technology or we lose out again.
‘’So, I knew, when I became Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that the most enduring empowerment I can give to young people and entrepreneurs, in my constituency is to leveraging my global exposure and experience to make them globally competitive by equipping them with premium digital, innovative and technological skills which are in high demands globally. This was in keeping with the social contract that I had with the people of the Lagos East Senatorial district when seeking their votes,” Abiru said.
Commending the programme, the Managing Partner of the Creative Economy Practice at CcHUB, Ojoma Ochai, challenged the graduating participants to harness the huge opportunities in the creative sector.
She said, “I want to begin this speech by saying thank you to Senator Abiru for his investment in developing opportunities for talent to thrive. The creative sector employs millions around the world and in Nigeria.”
The event also featured a pitch session of 10 aspiring entrepreneurs in the graduating class who had the opportunity to pitch their business ideas to a panel of business professionals for seed funding and mentorship.
